February 1, 200521 yr I outta start a club for people who've worked on soobies outside when its colder then -25F. Its -40F right now and I just got done with the 10 minute timing belt swap... broke my right side belt... thats what I get for using belts found on the floor at the shop.
February 1, 200521 yr I assume you're running open covers then? I've done alternator swaps, fuel pump swaps, and electrical work at about 20 below, as that's the coldest it gets over here. Represent!
February 1, 200521 yr Changed the oil in a truck a couple of weeks ago when it was -35C (-45C with windchill). Even with the truck warmed up a bit, it took a while, because the truck had 10W30 in it. I started doing some work on my '92, but I chickened out and waited for warmer weather.
February 1, 200521 yr I fit right in here Did a thermostat off the highway on my old Legacy wagon in about -20 wind chill weather. I like garages
February 2, 200521 yr Okay, it wasn't NEARLY that cold here, but I spent a lot of time outside or in an unheated garage working on getting the RX running a couple weeks ago. The weather got into the teens, and I think it ws almost 70 today:confused:
February 2, 200521 yr Although this only has four posts so far.. the four I've read make me glad I live in Flarda.
February 2, 200521 yr I've done an oil change in the teens (without windchill) - and that is about as cold as it gets here. I think that should count because I was born in Florida (South Miami - but have lived in NC for over 16 years now)
February 2, 200521 yr Hey, it's like 34 degrees here right now, and I just got done messing with the disty and changing plugs, does that qualify me? -lol- My parents say I've got to be either one of the best mechanics they know or the dumbest, because I'm the only one around here(Wichita Falls) who will go outside in the flippin' cold to complete a job concerning a car. I just hate starting a project(even in the cold) and leaving it half finished.
February 2, 200521 yr Author thats about how it is here. all my friends call me crazy..... I'll pull an engine in this temp is the $$$ is right... OH well.. the car is running.... wonder whats gonna go next...
February 2, 200521 yr Your fingers are probably going to fall off The older I get , the less time I spend out in the cold working. Cant wait to get the garage built
February 2, 200521 yr I outta start a club for people who've worked on soobies outside when its colder then -25F. Its -40F right now and I just got done with the 10 minute timing belt swap... broke my right side belt... thats what I get for using belts found on the floor at the shop. imagine removing all that plastic. it would probably break off in that cold! go open belts
February 2, 200521 yr Yeah, but when those are not a even a remote possibility like when the car you have to work on is in the middle of a parking lot, it's night, it's 30 something degrees out, and you have a 10-15mph crosswind on top of it all(And this really happened to me). Sometimes you just have to adapt. You just got to remember not to bundle up so much that you can't accomplish what you need to get accomplished.
February 2, 200521 yr It doesn't get that cold here thankfully, though I did put the clutch in my hatch during a fricken hail storm.
February 2, 200521 yr When I had my car towed home the last time it broke, it was -40C and a blizzard. My dad was towing the car with his truck, and I was in the subaru, with 1 hand on the steering wheel and 1 with an ice scraper. I had to constantly scrape the window because it kept frosting up. I don't know which I hate more though, fixing a car in freezing weather, or fixing it in the spring when I'm up to my knees in mud.
February 2, 200521 yr Author I don't know which I hate more though, fixing a car in freezing weather, or fixing it in the spring when I'm up to my knees in mud. The mud is worse.... expecially if you gotta jack the car up.. wow -45 F this morning and I gotta go get my roomates brat to start..
February 2, 200521 yr Yeah, but when those are not a even a remote possibility like when the car you have to work on is in the middle of a parking lot, it's night, it's 30 something degrees out, and you have a 10-15mph crosswind on top of it all(And this really happened to me). Sometimes you just have to adapt. You just got to remember not to bundle up so much that you can't accomplish what you need to get accomplished. 30 degrees is nice n'breezy over here. i bet torxxx would be in a t-shirt! anyway im good til about 20 deg, once it gets around 15 its too cold for me. i can stand the cold for a while till my feet get too cold. steel toe boots dont help. a hat and gloves go a long way, and keeping the wind off you as well. wear sweatpants under the jeans and you will stay warm for a while
February 3, 200521 yr Hats, jackets and gloves help... but I find the "anger factor" helps the most... these cars can get your blood boiling!
February 3, 200521 yr I found an electric wok at a yard sale for cheap. You know, one of those cooking bowl thingys. It has an adjustable heat setting and a lid, so I put all my tools in there, adjust the heat just right and have heated tools. I've ruined the teflon coating on the wok, but its never going to be used for cooking anymore. The one thing I hate most about working in the cold is tools freezing to your hand. I heat up the arosol cans in the wok too, helps get them spraying again. Best winter tool I bought.
February 4, 200521 yr I found an electric wok...adjust the heat just right and have heated tools... Never thought of that. Such a good idea it deserves a bump. An old electric bathroom heater/blower with a windscreen works nice to cure underbody tar overnight at 30-ish. Never mind that its 70 degrees warmer here than in Alaska. Makes my fingers stiffen up, my mouth gets so cold that words can't get out.
February 4, 200521 yr I heat up the arosol cans in the wok too, helps get them spraying again. I can see the warning labels already once this goes awry:drunk: .
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now