boomerman

For those of you with superchargers that live in cold weather areas are you using some kind of engine warmer or anything like that?

The reason I ask is I noticed on Vortech's owners guide they talk about cold weather issues.
http://www.vortechsuperchargers.com/...streetfile.pdf
They talk about either storing the car in a heated garage or using some kind of engine block heater or engine blanket.

The problem I see is since my car would be a daily driver and I drive it to work I have no way of plugging in a engine block heater.

Does this cold weather problem only affect the Vortech's or does it affect all S/C's

What about superchargers that come on cars that come from the manufacture as OEM equipment such as Pontiac Grand Prix?

Thanks
boomerman

metroplex

The only reason I can think of to use an engine block heater for a centrifugal blower is to heat up the engine oil so the blower gets its lube quickly.

With a roots blower, it has its own supply of oil (Ford/Motorcraft Synthetic Supercharger Oil).

The colder denser air in the winter usually suits supercharged engines (more oxygen content!).

NiteHawk422

Metroplex is right on! Centrifugal blowers need to be heated up so blower gets lubed otherwise it can freeze/Seize in place, where as the roots (magna/roush/saleen) have there own supercharger oil supply so there is no warm up required during cold temps.

CannonBaller

From first hand experience.
I had a Vortech SC on my 1999 stang.

I live in Canada. One winter it was very very very very cold. Im talking -40 Celcius (dont' know what that is farenheit, but its **** cold).

I use my Stang as daily driver rain, shine, snow....

So one freezing (-40) morning, i start my car on my way to work.
As soon as the engine turns over, i hear crunching and ratlning.
It's LOUD!

So, i take the day off work. Have to pul the SC and send it in to Vortech.
THey ended up replacing the whole impeller unit. (Basically the SC, minus hte case).

So what happend you ask....
Well because of the extreme weather, the impeller shattered (think Terminator).

During that winter Vortech had a lot of warranty repairs from Canada.
SO they had to adjust the manuals, as you see now, with the weather warnings.

So how low can you go, safely.... Vortech says 0 Celius (thats 30 Farenheit) min temp.

But you can safey go to -15 celcius (don't know the farenheit on that one).

And Yes the block heater would keep the oil warm and part of the block.

But one thing is for sure. Vortech will no longer honor warranties from freezing damage.

hope that helps.

boomerman

Thanks, that is exactly what I was asking this question.
They must have had issues to put this statement in their users guide.
With the close tolerances they run I can understand why cold weather could be an issue.

blkstang06

Wow! thats interesting, this could be an issue in a lot of Northern States!..not just for the brothers of the Stang in Canada!

bentpushrod

-40 Celsius equals -40 Farenheit. We see temperatures that cold here on occasion. When the time comes, guess I won't be installing a centrifugal supercharger, will be going roots. Which is the direction I was leaning in.

metroplex

Always use a Group IV/V synthetic engine oil in colder climates. It may not prevent your centrifugal from grenading, but it's better than running a dino or synth blend at -40 degrees.

Glenn

Good thread. One more reason I want to get a turbo now. I agree roots sc is the way to go if your going sc!!

CannonBaller

lol...that make an easy conversion.

97svtgoin05gt

I like the Avitar Glenn. Pretty cool.

FRITZ

I know one thing when i had my '01 SVT lightning with the roots S/C. It ran great in cold weather, it did not like the summer time.

tom281

Wow, this is really interesting. I'm considering a Paxton- but the car will be driven alot including the winter time and temps here get down to single digits for weeks at a time......

max2000jp

I thought that Vortech lowered the temperature recommendation?? I run 5W30 Mobil One, so it remains viscous in colder weather in comparison to Dino oil.