Cool/Cold weather driveability

[rmicroys]

<I don't get how this forum searches, but it sucks to look for stuff>

Not sure if this has been covered before, but what cold weather driveability issues have other people had here? The weather is starting to get pretty cool here in Ottawa. I had the car at work the other day, and I park outside. The temperature dropped to around 5C (about 41F) and going home at the end of the day, I just get in start the car and drive off. The car REALLY doesn't like that. It's hesitates, surges and bucks. It feels like it runs on 8 then 6 then 10 then 8cyls... etc until I drove around my office's campus and finally made it out to the main road. It cleared up after that, but it's rather annoying and makes you look like you can't drive as people watch you leave the parking lot.

[RS4Cab]

41 really not that cool, I had my car out on nice days last winter when temps were in the 20's. Let warm up for a good 5 minutes and it drove fine. Now tires a different story, Was out last night and temp was just under 40, Punched it and car hopped on the cold road

[rmicroys]

Well, there is "cool" and then there is below freezing. Yes, experienced the hopping for sure. I certainly don't let the car idle for 5 minutes before driving away, certainly that could make a difference. The manual recommends starting the car and driving away as soon as possible (for the benefit of the environment) for reduced emissions. Certainly they make no mention of driveability.

[RS4Cab]

(for the benefit of the environment) for reduced emissions. Certainly they make no mention of driveability.

We drive gas pigs, are we that worried about the environment? When I said I let it warm up a good 5 minutes that was in winter and car hadn't run for a couple weeks. A minute or so would have prevented the problem you had. The fact it got better pretty quick confirms that.

[rmicroys]

True enough. Most of my other cars have never suffered from this. The 2010 R8 V10 and my brand new 2011 BMW 335ix both suffer from surging and hesitations within the first kilometer of driving. None of my other cars even suffer from this, not even my racecar which has god ****ed individual 44m carburetors and a 298 duration cam (it has a choke at least, but hey) !!! Seriously, I'm not worried too much about the environment, otherwise I'd be driving a Smart CDI. Just with all the fancy electronics in the engine management, I'd figured these cars would be better at this.

[BlueSander]

you guys can do a few things to help the prob. I'm not sure what oil you have on the car but 0W-40 would help on cold start and works better a low temp. Also, turn the key to On position first and leave it there for at least 15 seconds or so, you will hear a few basic mechanisms runnin to prep the car. The first mile or so, the car will feel a big sluggish but not as much as if you were to jump in and start it right away. Audi cars sure don't like running with cold engine much but once they warm up, they are fantastic.

[mngolfer]

If you are going to drive your car in the cold contact toecutter. He drives his car in Idaho all winter. Summer tires on the R8 in winter is downright scary. I know from personal experience. Get winter tires and the car is a dream in the cold.

[rmicroys]

you guys can do a few things to help the prob. I'm not sure what oil you have on the car but 0W-40 would help on cold start and works better a low temp. Also, turn the key to On position first and leave it there for at least 15 seconds or so, you will hear a few basic mechanisms runnin to prep the car. The first mile or so, the car will feel a big sluggish but not as much as if you were to jump in and start it right away. Audi cars sure don't like running with cold engine much but once they warm up, they are fantastic.

Seems to be not just Audis that are like this. My 2011 335ix BMW doesn't like this either, and it's much worse than the Audi.

[RS4Cab]

Seems to be not just Audis that are like this. My 2011 335ix BMW doesn't like this either, and it's much worse than the Audi.

I drove my RS4 Cab with snows for two winters, was great and never had a problem. You would think Audi's and BMW's would be good in the cold since most Europeans drive them year round.

[rmicroys]

Needless to say, I'm going to drop by the BMW dealership and talk to them about it...