Very cold start up- harsh noises

[ReadS13]

so it was -22 degrees this morning when I started the car up. I have never heard the noises I heard before in any car at this temp but they sounded bad.

To put it best, it sounded like an amplified version of what a small draft in a window sounds like on a windy day along with some whinning noises. They lasted for about 20 seconds and then diminished by a minute. The car actually died the first time I started it right away. I have a full tank in and syntheic oil. I want to know if anyone else has heard this or knows maybe what the noise is so I can maybe prevent it in the future if it gets this cold again. The only thing I could think of was the crankshaft bearing killing itself in gummy oil...

 

[LukeP]

I live in an extremely cold climate for most of the year and can say that whining noises and whirring/squeeling in extremely cold climates is fairly normal. My MS3 makes some whirring noises for the first few seconds of running in -20 and below, but so did my civic. My father's Toyota truck makes all manner of complaints, where as my mother's Corolla is fairly quiet. A friend's Accord probably puts up the least amount of banter on cold start.

The serpentine belt is probably the culprite here, as they tend to be noisier on cold starts.

As for the stalling, in extreme temperatures the tranmission fluid gets thick like molasses and when you let the clutch out in neutral, the resistance provided by the main shaft can actually stall the car. Let the car run for 10 seconds or so with the clutch in before releasing, and let the clutch out slowly and watch rpms. When it first starts the engine has absolutely no power (and nothing but a little bit of black smoke comes out the tailpipe) because it has to push around the slushy goo that oil turns into at -22, and because it's shape has changed due to metal shrinking at cold temperatures. Once steam starts billowing out the exhaust pipe, normal combustion has been achieved.

You'll notice that when it's extremely cold, letting out the clutch in neutral will actually cause any car to move forward a bit, powered by some kind of phantom kenetic force....I don't know how to explain this phenomenom, other than it having something to do with the syrupy cold oil in the tranny and differential.

If you have a block heater installed (mandatory with every car sold here), plugging in the car will eliminate or considerably reduce the above issues.

In my opinion, the MS3 handles extreme cold starts very, very well. Mazda has put a serious battery in this thing, as it cranks quite healthily even with non synthetic dino in the pan. The friend's accord has a dinky sissy battery and it turns so slowly I'm always worried I'll have to boost it. Three years old and his battery finally packed it in from being overworked (too small for that size of car).

 

[acidbug]

I started my car in 7 degree weather..that was sitting for 24hrs..covered in snow and it didn't sound like what you are describing.

The suspension on the other hand...it was making all kinds of noises..and it sounded like I was rubbing when i went over some pot holes.

I am running on oem rims, tires, and suspension.

 

[LukeP]

I started my car in 7 degree weather...

lol try subtracting another forty degrees and see what it sounds like...7 degrees is balmy warm tropical weather.

 

[Abilor]

It was only 31F here this morning. Brrr.

I used to live in Buffalo southtowns though, a Lake Erie breeze in january is p a i n f u l. Freezes wet hair solid in under a minute.

 

[08cosmic3]

The last two mornings my car made all kinds of noises when backing out of the drive, the tires even flat spotted. It was 10 and 3 above the last two mornings. I think my car and ALGORE hates this cold weather. On another note though, once it warms up the car is a beast in these low temps. I went WOT yesterday at 10 above in 3rd gear and the wheels broke loose at 50 MPH.