Car comes to life in the colder Weather

[bandt]

Anyone else experience this?

My Challenger runs so much better in the cold its like a different car. Most cars do but this is a drastic difference. What does that say about my tune?

Brian

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Colder air will always make more power. Your tune may have been a bit rich, but you won't find an engine out there that doesn't prefer cool air. 

[Strawdawg]

colder air is denser air...all else being constant.. This leans the A/F down which means your current state of tune is probably on the rich side as he said above.  And as suggested, colder air cools the charge more which lessens the tendency for detonation so MAYBE you have a hair too much timing at wot if it runs better there...too much for hot weather, that is.  Most likely your part throttle is rich would be my guess.

[PlumCraZRT]

colder air is denser air...all else being constant.. This leans the A/F down which means your current state of tune is probably on the rich side as he said above.  And as suggested, colder air cools the charge more which lessens the tendency for detonation so MAYBE you have a hair too much timing at wot if it runs better there...too much for hot weather, that is.  Most likely your part throttle is rich would be my guess.

+1

[Road_Runner]

Definitely been there.  Back when I was running the Roadrunner as a teen, I was racing one crisp cool night and when I launched I actually had it float the front end to the point when it started drifting to the right steering to the left didn't do anything.  I straightened the wheel and let off the gas or I was going off the road.  This hadn't ever happened before, I learned real quick that my built 383 really loved the cool air.  It had to add significant HP to make that big car lift the front end!

Later, Jim

[BIGSHCLUNK]

No question about it! I swear I pick up horsepower just between a saturday afternoon cruise comparied to a saturday nite cruise. 

[Matt70]

Same here feels much stronger

[BadJoey]

I have heard the colder air in a hot chamber makes for a stronger explosion in the cylinder .The same could be said for cold gas (cool can) in a hot motor . There is a name for this but it escapes me . 

[bandt]

I'm sure its a combination of things. The cooler weather would also effect the tires giving them less grip. The engine runs cooler plus the dense, colder charge would make more power.
In the heat of the summer if I floor the pedal from a stop the car pulls ok, nothing special. Right now from a stop it will go 20-30 feet before it hooks. Thats a dramatic difference, I think a lot of it has to do with colder tires.

Brian

[CUDA JAS]

I'm sure its a combination of things. The cooler weather would also effect the tires giving them less grip. The engine runs cooler plus the dense, colder charge would make more power.
In the heat of the summer if I floor the pedal from a stop the car pulls ok, nothing special. Right now from a stop it will go 20-30 feet before it hooks. Thats a dramatic difference, I think a lot of it has to do with colder tires.

Brian

Mine is the same in the summer, maybe I better get it out this weekend and see if it will spin the tires!!! That would be fun!!!!

Jason

[PlumCraZRT]

I have heard the colder air in a hot chamber makes for a stronger explosion in the cylinder .The same could be said for cold gas (cool can) in a hot motor . There is a name for this but it escapes me . 

Ideal Gas Law?   

[BadJoey]

Ideal Gas Law?   

I have a F-7 Artic Cat snowmobile which makes 140 HP , pretty good for a sled . I have taken that thing out when it was like -15 . You had better have a good grip .