3rd & 4th Generation (1992–1996 & 1997–2001)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 1992-1996 & 1997-2001
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What happens when Camry gets exposed to -0 degree weather!
Just as I was writing this I was thinking maybe I should upload a video or something tomorrow as I start the car...but I'll say I have NEVER heard my engine sound the way it has been the past 2 days. For one, it didn't start at all when I tried to leave out of Denver Intl. where I parked it for 2 days. Needed a jump and the battery is only 1 year old. Everything that was liquid was frozen except the bottle of Meguirs X-Treme Tire Shine, which didn't even have an iclcle in it.
Cranking up the engine, it sounds like a bag of rocks was put in the block for about 2-3 minutes. It shakes and shutters and sounds awful! I had to bring the battery in last night, but tonight stayed above 0 so thinking it may be okay...
To get an idea of how friggin cold -0 is...I had on 2 pairs of gloves, deerskin leather on the hand, and another glove on top of that. By the time I was done removing my battery and went inside...my fingers were shriveled and purple and burning cold for another 10 minutes. I almost called 911 until my friend suggested me to run a sink full of warm water and soak.
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Last edited by 96ToyoCam164K; 02-03-2011 at 05:28 AM.
Cranking up the engine, it sounds like a bag of rocks was put in the block for about 2-3 minutes. It shakes and shutters and sounds awful!
To some degree, that's normal. Starting my Camry leaving work the other day, it was about 0 degrees F. It cranked slowly (batt's 4 or 5 years old, maybe more - due for replacement), and when it started it rumbled and shook like an old diesel tractor. Back when I lived in Minnesota/North Dakota (-30 F), the cars/trucks that I owned did the same thing, probably worse!
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1992 Camry LE, V6 (3VZ-FE), ABS brakes, 330k miles, dark emerald pearl, owned since new.
1996 Avalon XLS, ABS brakes, moonroof, white, acquired w/ 139k miles, now at 261k.
2001 Yamaha FZ1, Ivan's jet kit, resprung all around, Ohlins in the rear, Race Tech cartridge emulators in the forks, 45k miles.
yeah, those engines can run rough in sub-zero (Fahrenheit) temperatures. Mine used to do the same. Before Winter this year I used Lucas Oil Stabilizer (synthetic formula) together with M1 FS 5W-30 oil and it seems to help the rough rumbling on very cold starts, however now I have a valvetrain chatter on cold starts LOL
just stick to 5W-30 (or 5W-40 or 0W-30) oil and it's fine. 10W-30 is not enough at such low temperatures.
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Yeah stick to the original 10w30 and you should be okay. At -20/25 Fahrenheit here my car starts with some weird sounds too but it usually clears after a minute or two. Even at -40 celsius my car starts the first time, and the battery was 6 years old. Just that little rattle and then it clears. But damn, power steering is so bad at that temperature, it takes all you got to make a 360.
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1994 Camry Wagon LE V6 Supercharged at 4-5psi (peaks at 5.25(6 in cold weather) w/Projector Headlights and no rust!
Yeah, power steering can be awful at those low temperatures. We just had 4 days of -45 Celsius in Saskatchewan. I have to make a U-turn to head the right direction to get to work less than a block away from my house...a nice morning workout.
Gosh, if it gets down that low all the time, what about installing a block heater in the car? I guess you just have to find a place to plug it in each night thought, not possible at an airport parking lot I would guess.
I'v never really noticed engine noise on my car when it's real cold out, i run full synthetic in it tho and recently went to 0-20 weight oil. i also plug in the pan heater when it gets below 10 above (which is most of the winter)
last winter when we went out to the cabin it was -52 when we got there, i forgot to bring an extension cord and woke the first half of the night every 3 hours to start the car and let it warm but didnt wake up the last half the night.
the car started (barely) in the morning and it was around -45, it had m1 5-30 with a optima red top, i since had a remote started installed
if you live in a cold climate i would definitely install a block or pan heater, i have a timer on mine set so it turns on 4 hours before i wake to save money and i also plugin at work.
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I love it when my Camry sounds like a diesel in the morning. 
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