Cold Weather=More power. Why? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

JoeCFRS · 12-01-2013, 02:18 AM

Just curious why our cars feel more powerful in colder temps? It seems the torque dip is not as noticeable and just overall better acceleration. No complaints here because I love it, but im just curious what the reason is? My last car was the complete opposite. I also have a few thousand miles on my motor now so maybe its just broken in?

Anyway, would love to hear your thoughts. Thx.

dave77 · 12-01-2013, 02:21 AM

Lol, so many newbie car questions on this site. It's all good tho.

Cold weather means the air is denser, so the engine takes in more air, and more air in engine means more power.

radroach · 12-01-2013, 02:23 AM

because atoms

kALMIGHTY · 12-01-2013, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave77

Lol, so many newbie car questions on this site. It's all good tho.

Cold weather means the air is denser, so the engine takes in more air, and more air in engine means more power.

Yup. Exactly why people invest in COLD air intakes.

headlikeahole · 12-01-2013, 02:40 AM

Divert A/C into intake...

Infinite POWEERRRRRR

humfrz · 12-01-2013, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeCFRS

Just curious why our cars feel more powerful in colder temps? ........... I also have a few thousand miles on my motor now so maybe its just broken in?

Anyway, would love to hear your thoughts. Thx.

Yep, the engine getting broken it may be part of it.

You're getting more comfortable with it may contribute.

As mentioned, colder air contains more oxygen per unit volume, which enhances combustion.

humfrz

ET86 · 12-01-2013, 03:23 AM

Cooler air is more dense

Speedy000 · 12-01-2013, 03:37 AM

because u dont have your ac on!

jk jk

i miss winter when i had a turbo. +100000000hp heat soak ftl

Nothing · 12-01-2013, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave77

Lol, so many newbie car questions on this site. It's all good tho.

Cold weather means the air is denser, so the engine takes in more air, and more air in engine means more power.

fazm · 12-01-2013, 04:00 AM

It's the same reason your car drives better at night.

regnak · 12-01-2013, 04:18 AM

I'll make this fairly simple, if anyone wants a more detailed and scientific based explanation let me know and I'll write something more official up later, but as mentioned before, cold air means more dense air, or, more atoms per unit volume of air. Since air is what's required to ignite the fuel potentially more power as you can combust more fuel. Additionally, cylinder temperatures directly affect when the onset of knocking/pinging occurs. With colder air your cylinder will run slightly cooler allowing the ECU to advance spark timing a little more to gain slightly more power that way too.

Rico415 · 12-01-2013, 02:14 PM

The internal combustion engine is an AIR PUMP.

More air in = more power out.

(as long as the fuel delivery system can keep up with the correct mix)

Cold air = more air
Turbo = more air

As for all the inexperienced want to be gear heads out there there is one book that will answer all your questions about how an internal combustion engine works at a easy to understand teaching level.

Even cover clutches throw-out bearings how and when to shift, wheel alignment.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101"]How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot: John Muir, Tosh Gregg, Peter Aschwanden: 9781566913102: Amazon.com: Books[/ame]

root · 12-01-2013, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by headlikeahole

Divert A/C into intake...

Infinite POWEERRRRRR

Ford actually did this on a couple concepts. Power boost for a short time.

finch1750 · 12-01-2013, 05:38 PM

12-01-2013, 02:18 AM	#1
JoeCFRS Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: 2013 Firestorm red FRS manual Location: Falls Church, VA Posts: 104 Thanks: 8 Thanked 28 Times in 18 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Cold Weather=More power. Why? Just curious why our cars feel more powerful in colder temps? It seems the torque dip is not as noticeable and just overall better acceleration. No complaints here because I love it, but im just curious what the reason is? My last car was the complete opposite. I also have a few thousand miles on my motor now so maybe its just broken in? Anyway, would love to hear your thoughts. Thx.

12-01-2013, 05:38 PM	#14
finch1750 Undisputed El Presidente Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: Zenki 37J ZN6 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 11,593 Thanks: 9,403 Thanked 9,411 Times in 5,270 Posts Mentioned: 374 Post(s) Tagged: 33 Thread(s)	__________________ "Just like how a strut bar somehow enables you to corner 20MPH faster around a cloverleaf on-ramp, when the reality is, you can do it already but you just don't have to balls to do it." - CSG David

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12-01-2013, 02:21 AM	#2
dave77 Big Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Drives: 2014 FR-S Location: Los Angeles Posts: 284 Thanks: 216 Thanked 91 Times in 56 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Lol, so many newbie car questions on this site. It's all good tho. Cold weather means the air is denser, so the engine takes in more air, and more air in engine means more power.

12-01-2013, 02:23 AM	#3
radroach Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Drives: car Location: usa Posts: 2,162 Thanks: 1,028 Thanked 867 Times in 530 Posts Mentioned: 35 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	because atoms

12-01-2013, 02:40 AM	#5
headlikeahole Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Drives: Ultramarine toyobaru Location: NS Canada Posts: 605 Thanks: 311 Thanked 576 Times in 221 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Divert A/C into intake... Infinite POWEERRRRRR

12-01-2013, 03:23 AM	#7
ET86 Perfectionist Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: 2014 Scion FRS Location: Hayweird, CA Posts: 152 Thanks: 19 Thanked 65 Times in 47 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Cooler air is more dense

12-01-2013, 04:00 AM	#10
fazm Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Drives: 2014 FR-S Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 149 Thanks: 60 Thanked 32 Times in 29 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	It's the same reason your car drives better at night.

12-01-2013, 04:18 AM	#11
regnak Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Drives: FR-S Location: California Posts: 30 Thanks: 1 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I'll make this fairly simple, if anyone wants a more detailed and scientific based explanation let me know and I'll write something more official up later, but as mentioned before, cold air means more dense air, or, more atoms per unit volume of air. Since air is what's required to ignite the fuel potentially more power as you can combust more fuel. Additionally, cylinder temperatures directly affect when the onset of knocking/pinging occurs. With colder air your cylinder will run slightly cooler allowing the ECU to advance spark timing a little more to gain slightly more power that way too.

12-01-2013, 02:14 PM	#12
Rico415 Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: 13FR-S Location: Charlotte Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	The internal combustion engine is an AIR PUMP. More air in = more power out. (as long as the fuel delivery system can keep up with the correct mix) Cold air = more air Turbo = more air As for all the inexperienced want to be gear heads out there there is one book that will answer all your questions about how an internal combustion engine works at a easy to understand teaching level. Even cover clutches throw-out bearings how and when to shift, wheel alignment. [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101"]How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot: John Muir, Tosh Gregg, Peter Aschwanden: 9781566913102: Amazon.com: Books[/ame]

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