Do they handle (proper) cold?

[JCviggen]

Just wondering...night temps are going to be hitting or passing -20C next week, not sure how the RS6 is going to like that. -30 will probably happen as well this winter but that's already a rare kind of cold.

I imagine the gearbox oil is going to be very viscous in such conditions for one thing.. anyone any very cold experiences?

I wish I could put it some place warm but there isn't. No closed parkings in the area and the underground parking of our apt building is full with no chance to rent a space any time soon

So it's going to get frozen and snowed in.

[amanda1]

I have no idea to be honest but make sure your antifreeze is capable of taking those temps as that the only advice i can give .........where are you?

[el_ringo]

I guess you could test a sample of the coolant in the freezer to check it?

[JCviggen]

Yeah they checked it was OK till -33 last month.

Moscow, Russia.

[amanda1]

Ekkkkkkkkk Makes -5 here look warm

[bam_bam]

-33 last month.

<beep>. That.

[RS6Steve]

That is cold, can't honestly say I've been at that temp I'm my 6. What to VAG test to?

[Daveperc]

We used to get temps like that when I lived in Norway 30 years ago. Main winterisation included:
- lighter engine oil to avoid killing the engine and turbos in the first few miles
- an additive that went in the petrol which prevents the residual water in the fuel forming ice which it does below about -20C
- most cars had electric elements in the sumps to keep things warm, but there are also small petrol burning versions (http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/p ... eater.html )

The wierdest thing was to see truck drivers who had got stuck overnight lighting fires under the diesel tanks as the fuel turns to jelly at low tems! Every now and then there would be news reports of when they set their vehicles on fire - oops!

Dave

[JCviggen]

I've got 5w30 in it now, technically should support down to -30 but I don't think I'd like to start it at anything below -20. Not to mention feel -20 leather under my bum.

No power plugs outside so electric heaters are out

[el_ringo]

I did see a gadget that you connect to the coolant system and it heats and pumps the water round before the engine is started.

[Daveperc]

Much head scratching and trawling through dusty memory files.....

Know it begins with a "W"

Here you are www.parkingheater.co.uk - Webasto

Burns petrol, runs from car battery - only challenge may be finding space under the bonnet of the six

Dave

[Daveperc]

Oh - and there is a russian site so almost certainly dealers in Moscow who could fit it for you - link bottom right on screen - but I couldn't read the russian when it loaded!

[JCviggen]

Cool, thanks! Will check it out

[JCviggen]

Not off to the best of starts, lol, froze my door shut yesterday (car wash the day before doh) and after opening it wouldn't close anymore. Eventually got it to lock again after liberal use of de-icer.

Yesterday all was well, but this morning is the first cold day -15C on the dash display. Engine turned over a lot slower than usual and battery volts were down to ~11 and the red batt light was on. So that's the battery due for very urgent replacement.

What worries me though is that after a short trip driving the gf to work, volts did not rise but stayed around 11, then just when I was reaching home they were down to 10 ish and while parking the ABS and traction lights went on as well so things were running very low on power.

Interestingly I remember having the exact same happen on my volvo once, the first thing that malfunctioned at low volts was the ABS controller.

So I'm confused now, I would have expected the alternator to recover the battery slightly but it seems it was only going downhill. The volt gauge was never below 14 at all times before including last night so it'd be strange if both the battery and alternator call it quits at the same time? Or is the failing batt dragging it all down? I'd expect the car to be able to keep running normally with or without battery with a normally working alternator

Will hook up VCDS, are there any codes for alternator output?

[Shoppinit]

Sounds like classic alternator failure. No alternator DTCs as far as I'm aware.

Maybe your serpentine slipping? Gone hard with the cold?