The coldest outside temperature your XC ever displayed [Archive]

tolgatt

02-06-2009, 04:18 PM

Last week i've started my XC to go to work and as soon as i got out from the garage ,the temp display started to climb down to this (see pic)...it runs like a champ,,i am very happy about its performance in snow and loving the brakes also..

so what was your coolest temperature ever displayed on your volvo ?

928911

02-06-2009, 04:31 PM

-30 celcius :eek:

XCHauler

02-06-2009, 04:36 PM

My XC was subjected to some very cold temperatures last winter and had no problems starting, but it took a while before it could get it moving. The lowest temperature was -24F and the wind chill was about -55F. I had installed an oversized battery to get the highest CCA that was available from Fleet Farm. Volvo has engineered the battery compartment to accept a larger battery by merely using another mounting hole for the bracket.

Has anyone else had issues with the key being stuck in the ignition when the temperatures dropped below 10F degrees? The shifter also cannot be moved out park when the temps exceed -10F degrees. I heard this was a problem with the shift interlock cable and possibly the brake switch. I have lubricated the ignition opening and interlock cable with every type of lubricate I have with little success.

Has anyone else had this same problem?

striperhound

02-06-2009, 05:19 PM

-11 which is cold, but definitely warmer than your temps. I saw 107 displayed last summer.

pdk

02-06-2009, 05:57 PM

tolgatt

02-06-2009, 06:15 PM

The coldest mine was -6F. It's nice to see that yours also does what mine does around 10 and below and that's the "snow" icon kinda disappears....thought it was just mine.

Last summer it also saw 104...

i kinda was going to ask a question about that,,good to know that mine is not alone on that disappearing icon :D

Aviator

02-06-2009, 06:24 PM

The snowflake icon signifies the temps at which icing, and "black" ice occur.

Dave.

Art

02-06-2009, 07:29 PM

pdk

02-06-2009, 07:55 PM

The snowflake icon signifies the temps at which icing, and "black" ice occur.

Dave.

well that's good to know, but it's still a different color when it's below 10. If it's around 15-20 it still appears and that's way below that, right? My VW stays on anything below 36.

tolgatt

02-06-2009, 08:22 PM

Recorded this temp a few years ago that was taken from our 01. Coldest that I ever witnessed on the display was a skin blistering -40 C. Hottest ever was 42 C. :eek:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b249/Batstar/130-3005_IMG.jpg

that's what i wanted to see art ;) i'm moving to calgary next month,,i've had the chance to test the car before i hit the road...how much do you think will cost me to install a block heater to my 01 XC ?

PaperToast

02-06-2009, 08:46 PM

it was a little chilly back in December for us here in the mile high.
so far the coldest since ive been here.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll223/PaperToast/1214082057a.jpg

Art

02-07-2009, 12:17 AM

that's what i wanted to see art i'm moving to calgary next month,,i've had the chance to test the car before i hit the road...how much do you think will cost me to install a block heater to my 01 XC ?

I would expect you would be looking upwards of $400 to have the dealer install one for you. If your XC is going to be garaged, I wouldn't bother with it.

You could always try installing one yourself on a weekend when it's a bit warmer. It doesn't seem that tricky as the oem units are just bolted on to the cylinder block. Instructions can be found in the link below.

Engine Block Heater (http://vccs.volvocars.se/accessories/ii/Details.aspx?uid=83a3ba0d-0bab-47b4-98ef-fedc094e2d4a)

billr99

02-07-2009, 06:45 AM

Recorded this reading a few years ago. Coldest that I ever witnessed on the display was a skin blistering -40 C. Hottest ever was 42 C. :eek:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b249/Batstar/130-3005_IMG.jpg

Damn, you beat me! Lowest I've seen is -32C when I was back in North Bay and the highest was 38C on a drive last summer on the TCH in Quebec. On the other hand, I would not be too put out by a range of +10C to +25C throughout the year. [thumbup]

Bill

tgwillard

02-07-2009, 04:17 PM

Interesting on the lowest temperature displayed. I have a friend who lives in northern Maine and owns a Subaru. They had some temperatures a couple of weeks ago around minus 45 F. His Subaru and those of his co-workers all read no lower than minus 24 F indicating that at least for that car the thermometer bottoms out at that reading.

Au_xc70_03

02-08-2009, 12:01 AM

mine was about 3 weeks ago

MLPVT

02-08-2009, 02:56 AM

doublecheese

02-08-2009, 03:39 AM

You guys are lucky, the coldest I ever witnessed with my XC was -5C :( just a few grades below the freezing temperature

Hottoest 42 C though ;)

budrichard

02-08-2009, 08:14 AM

My XC's while garaged both have Volvo block heaters. The difference on a day below 10F is perceptable on starting and I have all our Volvo's on timers for morning start. Last really cold morning was a few weeks ago at -21F and both started right up. Coldest I have seen with the 99XC was -28F.-Dick

pauljloz

02-09-2009, 02:01 AM

Saw 52C (126F) in the shade the other week

frank_a

02-09-2009, 05:23 AM

-22F a few weeks ago. Central New Hampshire.

colin

02-09-2009, 04:37 PM

We had an extended period of below 30 C days here last month. The coldest -saw on the dash was -46 one morning. Mornings like that make you really appreciate those heated seats!!! The XC has always started fine in the
I have our vehicle block heaters on timers set to come on 3-4 hrs before morning coffee.
Up here in winter we call a vehicle without a block heater an ice sculpture;)

gpaul3

02-12-2009, 10:25 AM

Jan. 14/09. I've seen -42C but this is the only one I photographed. I bought the car in August and haven't installed a block heater yet and the car is outdoors. A little pressure on the throttle while cranking helps ;). It wasn't very happy when it started though. My wife's XC90 doesn't have a block heater either but it seems to start in the cold a little better. By the way, we had this temperature for 4 days straight. :mad:

BG60

02-12-2009, 06:48 PM

-31C. No problems starting without a block heater.

colin

02-13-2009, 12:33 PM

At -30 temperatures many vehicles will start fine without a block heater but the damage that is done to moving metal parts can be considerable. Just say'n

gpaul3

02-13-2009, 08:16 PM

At -30 temperatures many vehicles will start fine without a block heater but the damage that is done to moving metal parts can be considerable. Just say'n

Which is why I've always had block heaters and will install one in this car too. I'll use mine at -20C.

Aviator

02-13-2009, 08:48 PM

At -30 temperatures many vehicles will start fine without a block heater but the damage that is done to moving metal parts can be considerable.

That's pretty much a thing of the past given the oil technologies of today.

Dave.

colin

02-17-2009, 09:00 AM

that's pretty much a thing of the past given the oil technologies of today.

bs

Aviator

02-17-2009, 02:53 PM

bs

Not really, and right back at ya. Do a little research on oils, especially synthetics, and then post something meaningful.

Dave.

colin

02-18-2009, 01:05 PM

and then post something meaningful.
Not all oils are created equal.
While modern oils are better overall in very cold weather (and hot) than in the past, synthetics being preferred, it really depends on what oil you are running and how often it gets changed.
10W rated oils for example are only cold-crank tested for something like -20C (-4F)I believe. That is a chilly to cold day here.
All oils, including synthetics, do break down over time and loose their ability to fully protect your engine. This is compounded by condensation in cold climates.
If you pick the best combination of oil type and maintenance schedule your problems will be few.
If you pick the wrong combination you are asking for problems.

Using a block heater is strongly recommended when temperatures reach -15 or -20C.
MTCW