ACCCCKKK!! I hope someone can help

[selavia]

So I go to my car after class and I start it up; it is cold as anything outside and it has been raining. Just absolutely horrible weather. l start it up and it's fine; then 30seconds later, the rpms dip and the engine starts to choke; she rebounds and is fine. Another 30 seconds later this happens and then it's fine. Like nothing was wrong. Although I did hear a metal to metal sound coming from the bottom half of the engine for a few seconds; then no problems.

This is the 1st time it's been this cold since last winter; ws it just my car adjusting to the weather or does it sound like there is a problem somewhere?

Thanks Guys and gals.

Sean

 

[jrt67ss350]

What weight oil are you running?

 

[chief]

Absolutly check your oil level, and make certain that your not running anything thicker than 10wX40w in your engine. In fact, 5wX30w is most likely the best you can hope for.

 

[JGM3E3632]

yes thick oil in cold temperatures is not a good idea. What were the rpms at when you heard this sound? How long had the engine been running?

 

[newguy]

I do believe its the oil viscosity, and the cooler weather. I live slightly north of you, and after the car sits out overnight, it takes awhile to "warm up"..the gasoline loses RVP, the oil is thicker. The revving, and RPMS going up and down, are just the engine electronically "choking," or enrichening the fuel mix to let the engine fire. Justin, Jared, and Bill have got it exactly right...make sure its got a full oil system, and its a proper viscosity for the weather...good luck

 

[mjbst111]

Absolutly check your oil level, and make certain that your not running anything thicker than 10wX40w in your engine. In fact, 5wX30w is most likely the best you can hope for.

5 weight? Thats a bit low isn't it?

 

[selavia]

So taking all your comments in, I got nervous cause I just had my oil changed. They used synthetic 5w30. When I described the problem to the mechanic he said (no shock here) that there is no way it's the oil. Also, I thought 5w30 synthetic would be even thinner. Furthermore, ever since my oil change and coolant change, my car has been starting stronger (kind of like new, if that makes any sense). And when my car is warmed up, even slightly warmed up, the engine feels alive. I dunno if any of that makes sense.

Is there anyway to check what weight oil they actually used without draining and refilling?

Thanks. Sean

 

[jrt67ss350]

5w30 should be perfectly fine. I just wanted to see if they car had like 20w50 or something in it. No way to check the weight of the oil without chemically analyzing it - definitely not worth it, and you'd have to drain it to do it anyways.

 

[///M SPEED]

5w 30 is perfectly fine in cold weather. It was the only oil I used in my last car during all weather temps and it worked great. I never had problems starting in the winter. You should be good to go....