thicker which makes the engine work harder. In addition, the fuel/ air ratio needs to be enriched until the engine begins to warm up. Modern electronic controls take into account many operating conditions, including outside temperature, and make adjustments to engine parameters to ensure optimum performance. Owner’s can maximize their fuel economy in extreme cold by driving moderately until the engine warms up. JP: I’ve been called for an emergency at 4 am. It’s 40 below, I don’t let the engine warm up, and I accelerate at full throttle the instant it turns over. That’s’ really bad news for the motor. Are there preventative measures taken to ensure such abuse doesn’t cause extensive damage?
ATDT: It’s not wise to force an engine to deliver maximum performance without giving all fluids a chance to start warming up and circulate. You should drive moderately until the engine warms up, but some vehicles include control strategies that limit engine output until certain operating conditions are achieved. The best practice is to drive moderately during the warm up period. Just think of an athlete stretching before a workout.
To To Advertise Advertise Call: Call: 416-398-6444 416-398-6444
JP: Can you share any specific exercises that vehicles are put through in cold weather testing?
ATDT: Vehicles are “soaked” at a very cold temperature for a period long enough for all fluids and parts to reach the same (cold) temperature. Typical cold tests are cold start and heater warm up with juries, made up of normal people who get in the cold vehicle and then rate their comfort level as the vehicle warms up.
We also start the vehicle and drive away, to assess powertrain performance. There are some federally mandated tests to assess defroster performance. Sometimes we do “snow packing” tests where we assess the affect of snow being ingested into the underhood environment. We can make it snow indoors (and rain or sleet too), so all of these tests can be done at our test facility. JP: What’s a day in the life of an engineer on a cold weather testing assignment like?
ATDT: When the engineers go out on a cold trip, they awake at 3am to make sure all of the data recording equipment is ready to go. Then they jump into vehicles that have been sitting out all night in the cold and begin their testing. Sometimes it doesn’t get cold enough and testing has to resume another day. The test facilities at the Chrysler Technology Center make it possible to have cold miserable days anytime of the year, even in the summer. Having the ability to simulate real world conditions will help us meet our promise of “Customer First” and “Quality Period”.
BDSC Second Chance
Financial Group
AFFORDABLE CAR LOANS & MORTGAGES Car Loans
All makes and models Approval regardless of credit Little to no money down! Sign and drive today! Refinance your old loan for a lower interest rate Trade-ins welcome We can finance your vehicle to free up YOUR cash
Mortgages
1st & 2nd Refinance Low interest rate Bad credit no problem Now is the best time take advantage of the low rates and save thousands
Consolidate your debt for one low monthly payment save $$$ 32 Taber Rd, Toronto, ON M9W 3A8
Tele: 416-242-2779 Fax: 877-277-6830 E- info@bdscfinancial.com
www.bdscfinancial.com