Cold mornings have their redeeming features.

wildturkeycanoe said :

devils_advocate said :

wildturkeycanoe said :

Another great thing about the cold is that car engines run better as the density of oxygen in the air increases, providing better combustion [more air = more power].

Not really, most cars that have a MAF also have an air temp sensor that corrects for this, otherwise your car would run super lean in the cold and super rich in the heat.

The exception is for turbocharged cars, where the compression of the air heats it up and the cold air keeps the charge air cooler, and also helps the intercoolers work more efficiently. It’s particularly effective when the car is running a small factory intercooler because it results in a vastly more efficient heat exchange. But on a naturally aspirated car it shouldn’t make a difference.

Alas, I only have a carburettor, which means cold is good. So, you are saying that those souped up power cars with cold air intakes and no turbo are wasting their time? If it is so, why do manufacturers bother to direct the air intake away from the engine bay? Because hot air does not help with power or efficiency.

In the old days it might have been the case but nowadays this sorts of things are a solved problem, the car manufacturers are chasing down every little bit of efficiency they can. Cold air intakes have bugger all effect on NA cars, unless they are big and forward facing, in which case they can create some mild positive pressure in the front of the air filter and a mild supercharging effect. A lot of people trick themselves into thinking it’s effective but really it’s just the increased noise/resonance from the larger pipe. Dyno testing tends to show it is pretty ineffective on NA cars.

But really who cares about NA cars. Life is too short to rely on atmospheric pressure.

Not to mention severe Vitamin D deficiency, which should not affect those sensible enough to stay inside…(-:

It frightens me even to read of icebreaker socks. Cold feet are the worst thing possible.

I forgot to say that it’s a pretty picture, and as near to dawn as I ever intend to get. Aubade is all bad.

devils_advocate said :

wildturkeycanoe said :

Another great thing about the cold is that car engines run better as the density of oxygen in the air increases, providing better combustion [more air = more power].

Not really, most cars that have a MAF also have an air temp sensor that corrects for this, otherwise your car would run super lean in the cold and super rich in the heat.

The exception is for turbocharged cars, where the compression of the air heats it up and the cold air keeps the charge air cooler, and also helps the intercoolers work more efficiently. It’s particularly effective when the car is running a small factory intercooler because it results in a vastly more efficient heat exchange. But on a naturally aspirated car it shouldn’t make a difference.

Alas, I only have a carburettor, which means cold is good. So, you are saying that those souped up power cars with cold air intakes and no turbo are wasting their time? If it is so, why do manufacturers bother to direct the air intake away from the engine bay? Because hot air does not help with power or efficiency.

carnardly said :

Reply

Reply

wildturkeycanoe said :

Another great thing about the cold is that car engines run better as the density of oxygen in the air increases, providing better combustion [more air = more power].

Not really, most cars that have a MAF also have an air temp sensor that corrects for this, otherwise your car would run super lean in the cold and super rich in the heat.

The exception is for turbocharged cars, where the compression of the air heats it up and the cold air keeps the charge air cooler, and also helps the intercoolers work more efficiently. It’s particularly effective when the car is running a small factory intercooler because it results in a vastly more efficient heat exchange. But on a naturally aspirated car it shouldn’t make a difference.

Another great thing about the cold is that car engines run better as the density of oxygen in the air increases, providing better combustion [more air = more power]. Ice is the only drawback, as it takes a while for the demister to start working.
Beautiful photo though, bravo.

amazing photo!!! inspires me to do the same thing. might buy me some icebreaker socks first though 🙂

poetix said :

carnardly said :

Given Canberra is cold in the mornings for a lot of days through winter I guess we’re all insane as we all get up and do our thing. 🙂

Yes, but if you have a good whinge about it, that means you’re not crazy. I suppose the really mad are the jolly ones. Or those who use words like ‘brisk’.

I actually think winter is the best time to go camping in this part of the world. Nice and ‘brisk’ and then you can get a roaring fire up and going to sit around and sip some nice wines (or whisky)

I love crawling out of the tent at dawn, shaking the frost off and stirring the remains of the fire to get the billy boiling in the fog.

After a bit over a decade I have finally convinced the missus that it is actually glorious.

carnardly said :

a clue for winter riding – Icebreaker socks. They are *the* best $50 you will ever spend. I gulped at the price when i heard about them but trust me, you won’t go back.

Paddy’s have them.

I have wind breaking shoe covers, only cost half that. They have made the cold mornings really comfortable along with my Ground Effect top & gloves.

Look at the Torpedo 7 website, you will never go back 😛