Cold Temps

Kind of a weird question but does anyone have experience driving 4Runners in extreme cold? How are they in super cold weather? I am planning a trip friday, about a 4 hour drive, and it is supposed to be -15 degrees F, wind chill/real feel -30 F. I have a 2023 SR5 and love it, just havent driven in temps like this before.

Im hoping some of you guys up north can help me out with some info, thanks in advance!

 

Check your antifreeze mixture and enjoy your trip. Your 4 runner will fine.

 

If it'll be there a while maybe add some air to the tires in anticipation since pressure will go down but I wouldn't expect anything other than maybe a longer crank if it's parked out there.

Maybe consider a new battery if it's original or topping it off. But that's general car things.

 

I live in a cold climate, here are some things to consider:

1. Tire pressure drops a lot once it gets very cold. Make sure you tires properly inflated.
2. Oil does not flow well below -4F or so, you really need to use synthetic and 0w* OR engine block heater.
3. Warm up your car on cold starts, +5 minutes (usually spent scraping ice/snow) of idle time before you start driving.
4. Make sure to minimize wetness inside, otherwise you have frost forming on the inside of windows.
5. When you start driving, do so very gently as all other fluids (diff, transfer, transmission) are cold and not flowing well.
6. Unless you have winter tires equipped, rubber on your tires harden to the point of you having no traction. You really ought to get winter tires if driving in the cold is regular thing.

 

Thank you for the info. The tires usually sit at 32 but i put air in them to get to 34, hoping that is good. It will be in a garage to start so i dont anticipate any issues getting it started, and I do have snow tires on right now thankfully!

Im in WI so I am familiar with winter, just dont think ive ever driven anything when its -30 and just was curious what others have experienced with 4Runners.

 

Having lived in cold to very cold climates agree w/what others have said. Your T4R will do just fine. To be safe carry a stash of snacks, water, and maybe some extra warm clothes…just in case, safe travels and ENJOY!

 

I keep one of these in my trucks

$25 Tuanse 58 x 43"es 12 Volt Heated Car Blanket Plug in Portable Car Electric Blanket with Cigarette Lighter, Temperature Controller and Storage Bag for Rv Truck Traveling(Green,Snow Monster)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQ51RZC8

 

its -25 here right now. Make sure you got rated windshield washer fluid, the -45 stuff is the best as the milder stuff can and has frozen. Have lock deicer handy if you use keys. Start truck up and give it alittle to warm up, try not to bag on it till its warmed up abit. I find quality oil like Redline 0w30 makes motor nice and happy at sub zero temps. Seat heaters work great, truck has pre heater in it that warms up electrically before actual coolant heat warms up via the heater. Use the heated wiper button when you need it. I park one in doors and one in the driveway, the other day the entire floor of the driveway one which was slush prior to parking froze solid..no worries, just have decent mats.

Have fun.

 

I once drove on the highway for about an hour it was -55. Anyhow, the engine temp only ever got up half way and never fully heated up. ANything past -40 and it starts getting hard on stuff to the point if its much colder people leave them running overnight and never shut their vehicles off...even when pumping gas

 

Looking at the special preparations "ice road trucking" companies do to prep - you will notice partial blocking radiator from the very cold air to allow coolant to get to proper operating temperature.
As said by experienced drivers-use lubes that actually function at cold temps.

 

Forgot to mention. Coolant and washer fluid could freeze if parked outside in deep freeze temperatures. OEM coolant is fine, but if you were at any point topping it off with water, it may freeze. Car battery will have severely reduced cranking amps, so if you have older battery you may have non-start issues.

None of this will be a problem if parked in the garage.

Also, if parking car outside, you don't want it to be warm inside as it causes all kind of frost formation as it cools. What you do is shut heat off as you getting near your destination and then keep all doors open and air it out when you park. Before I started doing that, I once actually had snow form inside my car.

 

I put in a new cabin air filter before the cold weather so I get maximum air flow for defrost.

 

Depending on how cold it actually is you need to keep an eye on your temperature gauge. If its not getting up to operating temperature you may need to block off part or most of the front grille or the coolant may not warm up enough for you to get warm air out of the heater.

Something those of us who drive diesels do routinely in bitter cold temps.

 

Anymore I personally would not travel unless really needed to in the temps and snow but maybe that’s just me getting old. I am sure the vehicle would be fine but if you had an accident or issue and in a remote area in these temps that could stink.

Best wishes for safe travels

 

We live in Clark Co. Wisconsin, the same temps and wind chill predicted for here, not sure where you're at in Wisconsin, but -30 wind chill.. just make sure your vehicle fluid levels are where they are supposed to be, carry a couple of blankets along, plenty of warm clothes, boots, gloves, you'll be fine, have fun and a safe trip.

 

Check your windshield wiper fluid... and I'm not joking.

Driving from TX to PA last year my washers froze up. Luckily for me the roads were dry. But had they been sloppy I would not have been able to clean the windshield.

So find some -30 fluid. Or add a quart of denatured alcohol to your reservoir, if you can't find the -30 fluid.

I was lucky. A buddy in PA had a heated garage. The only way to thaw out was to leave the truck in there for about 5 hours until things thawed out. Cost me two cases of beer... but, on the bright side, I didn't need to buy any ice...

It is a serious issue. Imagine following an 18 wheeler on a sloppy winter highway...