How ECU reacts to EXTREME cold

chads09 · 12-09-2009, 11:00 PM

Its been getting pretty cold lately around here about -10 for a low and 10 for a high. My car is only hitting about 12 psi. Just wanted to see how it would react in these cold temps. Just wondering if anyone could explain how the cars ecu reacts to these cold of temps. I figured temps this low would obviously negatively effect the cars performance.

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

rkramer · 12-10-2009, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chads09

Its been getting pretty cold lately around here about -10 for a low and 10 for a high. My car is only hitting about 12 psi. Just wanted to see how it would react in these cold temps. Just wondering if anyone could explain how the cars ecu reacts to these cold of temps. I figured temps this low would obviously negatively effect the cars performance.

If your tune is on it should be fine, I hit full boost yesterday at -13. There are temp compensation tables down to -40 but the stock tune sets all the values the same below zero IIRC.

chads09 · 12-10-2009, 04:49 PM

Well today it warmed up to 25 and my car is acting normally boosting all the way to 15.

fragment · 12-11-2009, 04:22 PM

nothing to add here really...

But -10 isn't EXTREME cold

Subies work fine till -44 and beyond.

Its why they do cold weather testing in places like northern Canada before products are released to market (all major manufacturers do something similar)

As for tuning, I wouldn't mess with the cold tables much, as they seem to be well sorted...

talsnic · 12-11-2009, 07:23 PM

-10 is nothing. i personally enjoy doing big pulls at atleast -30. its like insta-boost.

If your having issues, take a look elsewhere.

bcblues · 12-14-2009, 01:01 PM

Yeah, here in America's Outback, we typically see at least a couple weeks of -20F temps. turbo cars LOVE cold air! You should NOT be seeing any reduction in boost due to cold temps.

When it gets really cold (below zero, but much more so below -10F), the entire drivetrain will be really cold and any and all grease and oil will be the consistency of clay. That can really increase your parasitic losses and make your car feel sluggish.

You know it is really cold when your seat feels like it is cast in concrete!

Airboy · 12-15-2009, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcblues

You should NOT be seeing any reduction in boost due to cold temps.

The 08+ wrx and STi has very drastic reductions in both WGDC and boost targets at low temperatures. In other words, you will see boost drop when it gets cold.

bcblues · 12-15-2009, 08:31 AM

Thanks for the heads-up, Airboy. I was not aware of those temp compensations in the newer ECUs.

FYI - -16F (air temp) as I type this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airboy

The 08+ wrx and STi has very drastic reductions in both WGDC and boost targets at low temperatures. In other words, you will see boost drop when it gets cold.

96convt · 12-16-2009, 11:25 PM

all i know i that around 15 my car feels like a monster ! but maybe thats due to the 30r who knows

watchunglava · 12-21-2009, 04:19 AM

airboy speeks .... it's over , i run n/a so the colder the better . coldest my impreza has seen was -22.

RallyImprezive · 12-21-2009, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcblues

Thanks for the heads-up, Airboy. I was not aware of those temp compensations in the newer ECUs.

FYI - -16F (air temp) as I type this.

The 04 STI has compensations as well. If I remember, I will post of screen shots of the tables tomorrow.

GlobalWaste · 12-22-2009, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by talsnic

-10 is nothing. i personally enjoy doing big pulls at atleast -30. its like insta-boost.

If your having issues, take a look elsewhere.

+1, my wrx was exposed to -30ish temps every winter when I was going snowboarding and the car pulled stronger then ever. (I don't recall any differences in boost either) I loved it

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v623/*************/net/8fbd5681.png[/IMG]

RallyImprezive · 12-22-2009, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RallyImprezive

The 04 STI has compensations as well. If I remember, I will post of screen shots of the tables tomorrow.

oops. I was wrong. There are WGDC compensation tables for intake temp, but there are not any for target boost.

There are comp tables for target boost and coolant temp, but they are zero'd out.

12-09-2009, 11:00 PM	#1
chads09 Scooby Newbie Member#: 209076 Join Date: Apr 2009 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Tigard,OR Vehicle: 2012 sedan DGM	How ECU reacts to EXTREME cold Its been getting pretty cold lately around here about -10 for a low and 10 for a high. My car is only hitting about 12 psi. Just wanted to see how it would react in these cold temps. Just wondering if anyone could explain how the cars ecu reacts to these cold of temps. I figured temps this low would obviously negatively effect the cars performance. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
How would Henry Ford react to today's automakers?	AVANTI R5	Non-Subaru News & Rumors	2	06-21-2009 06:46 AM
Not sure how I would react to this....	UberWilhelm	Off-Topic	9	02-08-2006 03:09 PM
How does your Subaru React to the Cold?	Smart_alek	Canada Region Forum	25	01-31-2005 05:14 PM
Extreme Cold	oh_BS	General Community	13	10-02-2003 09:11 AM
How does the WRX "instantly" react to IC changes?	makofoto	Factory 2.0L Turbo Powertrain	8	06-02-2003 11:13 AM

12-10-2009, 04:49 PM	#3
chads09 Scooby Newbie Member#: 209076 Join Date: Apr 2009 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Tigard,OR Vehicle: 2012 sedan DGM	Well today it warmed up to 25 and my car is acting normally boosting all the way to 15.

12-11-2009, 04:22 PM	#4
fragment Scooby Specialist Member#: 8050 Join Date: Jul 2001 Chapter/Region: W. Canada Location: Bugeye EJ207 - T3T04S Vehicle: 2007 Wagon VF36	nothing to add here really... But -10 isn't EXTREME cold Subies work fine till -44 and beyond. Its why they do cold weather testing in places like northern Canada before products are released to market (all major manufacturers do something similar) As for tuning, I wouldn't mess with the cold tables much, as they seem to be well sorted...

12-11-2009, 07:23 PM	#5
talsnic Scooby Newbie Member#: 163097 Join Date: Oct 2007	-10 is nothing. i personally enjoy doing big pulls at atleast -30. its like insta-boost. If your having issues, take a look elsewhere.

12-14-2009, 01:01 PM	#6
bcblues Scooby Specialist Member#: 17256 Join Date: Apr 2002 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: America's Outback Vehicle: 04 STi Blue w/ custom bug splat	Yeah, here in America's Outback, we typically see at least a couple weeks of -20F temps. turbo cars LOVE cold air! You should NOT be seeing any reduction in boost due to cold temps. When it gets really cold (below zero, but much more so below -10F), the entire drivetrain will be really cold and any and all grease and oil will be the consistency of clay. That can really increase your parasitic losses and make your car feel sluggish. You know it is really cold when your seat feels like it is cast in concrete!

12-16-2009, 11:25 PM	#9
96convt Scooby Specialist Member#: 182092 Join Date: Jun 2008 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: WA Vehicle: 11 titan White	all i know i that around 15 my car feels like a monster ! but maybe thats due to the 30r who knows

12-21-2009, 04:19 AM	#10
watchunglava Scooby Specialist Member#: 168862 Join Date: Jan 2008 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Portland Maine Vehicle: 2007 ej253n/a 5speed Red Sox Nation Lifer	airboy speeks .... it's over , i run n/a so the colder the better . coldest my impreza has seen was -22.