How's the heat affecting yor car?

[ion]

Hi everyone, as per the title, how are you finding the car recently?

My 1.9 with CR1 feels way down on power when the weather is this hot.

I read on another forum that the effect is approx a power loss of 2% per deg C above 18 deg due to the decreased expansion at combustion.

This means that at 30 deg it could lose >20%

Put the AC on as we all are I presume & its more of course.

I don't know if the figures are correct but it doesn't feel too far away, the car seems much less powerful & responsive than when it's cool, especially if I'm stuck stop/starting in traffic, then accelerate.

What do you guys & gals think?

Petrol & Diesel replies welcome as it will affect both to varying degrees.

[Beavis]

mine shot home like a rocket this morning temp was 18c on the M65 no air con on though as it was just nice plus had it on most of the night in the truck and needed a bit of a change(windows down and let loose!!!!)watching out for the local bobbies of course!!!!!!

[ion]

mine shot home like a rocket this morning temp was 18c on the M65 no air con on though as it was just nice plus had it on most of the night in the truck and needed a bit of a change(windows down and let loose!!!!)watching out for the local bobbies of course!!!!!!

Yes, mine feels pokier in the morning as well, must be due to the lower temp.

I also notice its not so bad if the car is either on or after a run on the motorway.

I assume it's due to the intercooler being cooled by the moving air.

[Andy]

Vectra seems mostly unaffected and runs nice and cool. The Astra, being a bit older is running like a bit*h. Its nearly always up near the red or has the fan on, and its totally flat after a long period of queuing traffic. Plus I don’t have aircon and the heater is just blowing out warm air lol

[Spikey©]

It will be more powerfull in the morning when it's cooler, because the ECU will advance the timing until the car heats up, then it will retard the timing hence the loss in power. One of the reasons I fitted a cool running thermostat (well Mark did the actual fitting) this keeps the engine at 82 degrees therefore stopping the timing from being retarded and full power all the time

Having an induction kit though the hotter air temp does affect power more so than with an airbox. The air being less dense when it's hotter so less oxygen getting into the engine.

[Beavis]

all part of the fun eh? Andy
I'm sure you still enjoy it though!!

[Brake buster]

ah , you petrol heads.....

get a diesel , even better , det a DTi , lol

that little 'i' doesnt stand for injection , it stands for intercooler

and as such ensures that the turbo'd air ( which gets hotter under compression ) gets cooled down again to the right temp for efficient combustion , lol

BB ........with no power loss in this fine weather

[Beavis]

ah , you petrol heads.....

get a diesel , even better , det a DTi , lol

that little 'i' doesnt stand for injection , it stands for intercooler

and as such ensures that the turbo'd air ( which gets hotter under compression ) gets cooled down again to the right temp for efficient combustion , lol

BB ........with no power loss in this fine weather

who you calling a petrol head 3 motors in are house everyone an oil burner !!

[Brake buster]

who you calling a petrol head 3 motors in are house everyone an oil burner !!

well, as you posted at the same time as me, how was i to know you got an oil burner , lol

just think of the power loss in my 5.3ltr V12 Jaguar XJS in this hot weather , i'm better off running , lol

BB

[Beavis]

its all in the sig much earlier
but I would leave the jag at home for now mate!!