Cars outside in the winter...

metload1 · 01-31-07, 09:05

Hey,

I recently had to start parking my car outside, it's always been garage parked so I'm inexperienced as far as the difference in a car's behavior due to extreme tempuratures. This morning I got up to go to work, and when I started my car, thick white/yellowish exhaust was coming out and the engine started making a screeching sound. It wasn't a loud sound, but you could hear it. I turned it off and took the other car for today, but I'm worried about what it could be. The engine is in great shape and has had no problems so far. It's a 3800 series II, and I have 78,000 miles on it. My next recommended oil change was in late December, but I never did it because I'm still way under the 3,000 mile interval (I live close to my job so I don't do much driving). Should I change the oil? Could that be the problem? Or is that normal and the sound will go away after it warms up? This is the coldest day I've had my car out overnight, right now it's only 1 degree fahrenheit, so maybe it's just something that happens that I'm not used to. Either way, I don't want to drive the Civic to work again tomorrow! Any ideas?

Thanks!

rydawg · 01-31-07, 09:57

Hmmmm. It's hard diagnosing a vehicle without seeing it, but I know on those supercharged engines that they are know for blowing head gaskets. I would change the oil and see what happens. Check your anti-freeze and see if there is oil inside of your overflow and radiator. I have bought a bunch of these cars with similar problems. I think the cause of it is the orange anti-freeze eats the gaskets. I have my own shop that fixes cars and we use the green stuff that can be mixes with any color. Please let me know what happens! I hope it is not that and just something stupid! Good luck!

velobard · 01-31-07, 10:09

Sounds like it might just be a belt that got stiff in the cold and is slipping for a bit.

Grimm · 01-31-07, 10:32

I don't know if the exhaust is an indicator, but the 3800 is notorius for coolant leaks. Make sure you haven't been losing coolant. If so, you could be in for replacing the upper and lower intake gaskets, and maybe the upper intake manifold.

yakky · 01-31-07, 04:46

Most cars with some mileage make noise when really cold. Skipping one oil change wouldn't cause mysterious smoke, however driving short distances all the time and going past the recommended time will.

MorBid · 02-03-07, 05:14

IIRC white smoke from the exhaust is coolant in the mix. But it would be coming out all the time, not just when you started the car.

You can always check the coolant in the radiator, if there is oil floating in it you've got probelms.

I doubt just leaving the car parked outside overnight would do any damage, even in the winter. Now leaving the car parked for a few weeks/months (esp in the winter) without any prep, that I could beleive.