reliability in the winter

[WarriorBC]

Howdy i was just wanting to know your opinions on which is better in the cold winters of indiana, the 3800 or the lt1, my 3800 has a heckk of a time starting in the winter, it always does, but still it takes forever for it to for some reason. i was wondering if an lt1 would do any better or if it would do about the same or worse, i dont have a garage to put it in, parents ws6 and truck goes in there well i was just seeing if an lt1 would be better for starting in the winter or not, thanks in advance
Brady

[wrightz28]

Must be something in the way the oil gallies are set up affecting drainback to the pan. My 3.8 Buick is pain to start first thing in the morning for the last few days, I'm west of Chicago where it's been about +2* when I go to start. Defeats the puropose of remote start. But, once the oil gets flowing, everything is fine.

[instantkevin]

neither is better for starting. sie of the engine is not going to effect how it starts (for the most part). whether it starts like it should is just a matter of tuning and correcting pre-existing problems.

[WarriorBC]

yeahi know the size of the engine isnt going to effect starting, but i didnt know if the 3800 had been known to have problems starting in cold weather or not, cause my parents ls1 hasnt had a problem, yet but mine is like wrightz28's a pain to start then works wonderfully when started

[FormulaLT1]

Any engine can have a hard time starting if they are in need of a tune up or some other mechanical problem or not recieving enough fuel or the battery is on its way out. My car starts up real easy but 99% of my compenents are only a few months old.

[wrightz28]

Originally Posted by instantkevin

. sie of the engine is not going to effect how it starts .

Quite true.

my point was:

Oil supply and viscosity will.

[SG007]

Mine drives really well in the cold...it's not an LT1 though.

[wrightz28]

Drives, yeah, drives great, it's jsut that initial cranking first thing on a way cold morning (10 degrees F or less). Thinking of changing grades of oil for the dead of winter to maybe mobile 1 or something that flows a little better than the 10w-30 the mtotor calls for. I just hate playing around with oils/differnt parts than I'm accuustomed to using.

[92zcamaroperson]

synthetic oil is supposed to protect engine internals better on cold starts. I dont see how that could effect starting though. My starts right up in the cold. But it may of only gotten into the low 40's or high 30's in the morning. Takes forever to warm up with this 160 t-stat. Could have something to do with the computer and the timing. If the intake air temp sensor is making the computer adjust the timing it can throw off some things.

[wrightz28]

No, the colder oil gets, the less viscous it is, pretty much why when it's below 10 degrees with mine, I start getting problems because I use 10w-30. However yes, I have used the same all year round in other cars and not had noticable problems, only with the 3.8 which has been this way all 6 years I've had it and it is in good tune and jsut makes me think it's something with it particularly.

[92zcamaroperson]

...........umm.....dosent oil get thicker as it gets colder? Thats why some use heavier oil during the summer and lighter oil during the winter. Or am I backwards? Im sticking with my intake air senser/ timing theory....

[wrightz28]

no, your not turned around, I am polski, it s/b more viscous when colder, but ya get the idea I was getting at.

[Rally Sport]

Might want to give your car a little tune up, I bet that it will start up fine after that.

[wrightz28]

Rally, I change my plugs and wires, 02, PCV, air fuel and charcoal filters every 6 months on a vehicle that calls for it every 2 years/30K, how much more in tune would you like me to be?

[Rally Sport]

I was talking to the thread starter, not you.