Does it feel like your car has lost power when it's hot out?

Topic: Does it feel like your car has lost power when it's hot out? (Read 2020 times) previous topic - next topic

Does it feel like your car has lost power when it's hot out?

May 27, 2006, 05:17:25 PM

I was just wondering if anyone else with a 5.0 has experienced this or not. When it's between 55*-75* my T-bird runs great. If I punch the gas about half way down from a stop the car will lay about 3-4 feet of rubber and it feels nice and strong. When it gets hot out, like today when it's 84* out it feels like the car has lost power. If I do the same thing I just get the tires to chirp and the car feels like it has lost about 15-20 hp. The cooling system is in good shape and I just flushed it about a month ago. It has a new water pump and a 180* thermostate. The car never gets above 4 bars on the digital dash temp guage and dosen't overheat. I was just wondering if this is normal or not.

Does it feel like your car has lost power when it's hot out?

Reply #1 – May 27, 2006, 05:54:14 PM

Its all cars. Air intake temps have more significance than your cooling system in your case.

Does it feel like your car has lost power when it's hot out?

Reply #2 – May 27, 2006, 06:16:47 PM

It's partly do to the air temp. and density....ie; cooler air is more dense than hot air...
kinda has the opposite effect of an intercooler, if you will.
hope this clears it up some..:D

Does it feel like your car has lost power when it's hot out?

Reply #3 – May 27, 2006, 10:20:49 PM

lets not forget that auto tranies dont like heat verry much. and the aod tobegin with isn't verry good with HP and the hot roads warm sticky tires = traction

Does it feel like your car has lost power when it's hot out?

Reply #4 – May 28, 2006, 12:24:33 AM

That and if you have a AC blowing you put a little more strane on your engine, not too much but enough.

Dan

Does it feel like your car has lost power when it's hot out?

Reply #5 – May 28, 2006, 12:37:56 PM

actually when i put the ac on in my car it's gets alittle more pep in it's step. dont know why. but it does. my car has it's moments of fame and alot of shame

Does it feel like your car has lost power when it's hot out?

Reply #6 – May 28, 2006, 02:01:52 PM

No I'm talking when the a/c is off. I guess I just notice the power loss more in this car than others because I'm used to being able to break the tires free at will, where as in other cars I don't notice it as much. I know the car runs real good when it's about 50* at night. It likes that temp about the best and runs real strong.

Does it feel like your car has lost power when it's hot out?

Reply #7 – May 28, 2006, 02:41:48 PM

Air temp, humidity, and barometric pressure have a major effect on how a engine performs... Low temp, low humidity, and high baro pres is key to best performance.

Basically Low temp = more dense air(higher oxygen content).

The higher the humidity, the less oxygen in the air charge. There is some misconseption on this, 90% humidity at 50* really ain't that bad. It's the "dew point" that is important(do some net searches if this interests you). Dew points above 50*-55* start making noticeable reduction in performance.

The higher the baro pressure the more air that is drawn** into the engine.

**Actually this is a incorrect term.. The air is "pushed" into the engine by the atmosphere. So the higher the baro pressure the more "push" there is... A turbo or SC just enhances this process. As does anything(to a point) that will improve the air's path into the engine. But it is equally important the air(exaust gasses)can exit the engine. So headers, free flowing exaust, etc. makes it easier for the pistons to "push" the exaust out so the atmosphere/TC/SC can "push" it in the top end...

Yea I got a little carried away, but it's stuff you should know if you really want your $hit to run better than Joe Blows...

Generally my Bird will loose approx .25 at the track on a 80s day vs say 50s(1/8 mi)... Doesn't sound like much, but there is a HUGE difference in the way the car feels... Probably a loss of a length and a half or more on the big end...

Does it feel like your car has lost power when it's hot out?

Reply #8 – May 28, 2006, 02:50:11 PM

Yeah yesterday it got up to 86* with 90% humidity and a 55* dew point. It sucked out. Like I said I just notice it more in the Tbird because it just feels like it is affected more than 4 cylinder cars I drive by the heat. Like you said there is a HUGE difference in the way the car feels on a nice cool day and a warm day. Then again if I had a stronger engine it probably wouldn't feel as bad but I'd still feel it. I have under the bumper ram air (ie cold air intake) but it only helps a little, and that's after I'm already at speed. Now if I could only find a way to dump 50* air into the engine on a 85* day.....

Does it feel like your car has lost power when it's hot out?

Reply #9 – May 28, 2006, 02:57:32 PM

Quote from: thunderjet302

Now if I could only find a way to dump 50* air into the engine on a 85* day.....

Can you say.... NITROUS????

Does it feel like your car has lost power when it's hot out?

Reply #10 – May 28, 2006, 03:34:03 PM

You think you have it bad? My car feels like a slug covered in salt during the summer.

Does it feel like your car has lost power when it's hot out?

Reply #11 – May 28, 2006, 03:39:03 PM

Quote

Can you say.... NITROUS????

Can you say fragged pistons?

Quote

You think you have it bad? My car feels like a slug covered in salt during the summer.

Yeah I forgot you live in AZ. At least we get some cool days in Chicago in the summer.

Does it feel like your car has lost power when it's hot out?

Reply #12 – May 28, 2006, 06:38:37 PM

Do what I'm gonna do. Spring for an oil cooler. It should help somewhat. I'll be using the one here: http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/iwwida.pvx?;item?item_no=M6642S101%20%20%20%20%20%201&comp=LRS

Does it feel like your car has lost power when it's hot out?

Reply #13 – May 28, 2006, 11:22:44 PM

Hmm oil cooler would be good but it's only really warm her for about 2-3 months and the car is out for about 7 months a year. I'm afraid that in the cooler months the car wouldn't get up to operating temp with the oil cooler.

Does it feel like your car has lost power when it's hot out?

Reply #14 – May 29, 2006, 12:50:32 AM

Quote from: Paul Flockhart

Do what I'm gonna do. Spring for an oil cooler. It should help somewhat. I'll be using the one here: http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/iwwida.pvx?;item?item_no=M6642S101%20%20%20%20%20%201&comp=LRS

I'm curious. How much with this help the performance of the engine?
Again It'd help the AOD. But how much cooler will the oil get when this is being used? Might be something that I will look into as I only drive my car during the late spring-->Summer-->Early Fall months.