Tacoma hates cold weather

So do i, the last few days its been stupid cold. my truck hates it. i go start her up in the morning and push the clutch pedal down, release my foot off it, and then i usually have to pry it back up with my hand. she starts right up, has a slight knock for 5 seconds and then goes away after the oil "thaws" and starts circulating. It feels like i'm shifting through molasses until she warms up. i know this is all probably common stuff when its below 0 with the windchill, i'm basically just ranting lol.

Cliff notes: my truck does not enjoy sub 0 temps.

 

That is weird my truck is running better in the nice fresh cold air, it is currently 10 degrees here.

 

Run synthetic for all of your oils, it's more consistent. The same goes for the lube on the clutch pedal. Mine is sluggish as hell in cold weather. After a few cycles, it becomes useable.

 

Check your plugs and boots, clean your MAF, run some Seafoam through the vac tube and gas tank. That should take care of your miss.

 

My old 2.7 would clatter for a second or two when it was really cold no big deal yeah syn gear oil would help the shifting. By the way wind chill does not apply to trucks. We hit -32 a couple of years ago and nothing I owned was much interested in going any where including me.

 

Hmm.I have had no trouble at all with mine the last couple of days.

 

yeah -5 here
I do remember my old 94 Toyota pickup 4x4 that was a stick shift & that always made horrible noises in the ADD & the clutch was stiff until it warmed up.
It went 200k in over 10 Vermont winters...& actually saw it on the road the other day man should have never sold that beast.

My 2006 no issues whatsoever in 5 years.

My 2013 is doing good.

Both of those are autos

 

i have a fresh plug change, i lube my clutch pivot points and pedal every oil change, and i have been running synthetic oils everywhere for the last 65K miles. i change the motor oil every 5K, and everything else every 30K

 

oh and the brake fluid has been changed within the last year too

 

Time for a block heater.

http://www.metrotpn.com/ProductDetails.aspx?CollectionID=13&ProductID=191&SortIndex=9

No too expensive. Easy to install. The engine block already has a slot built in just for it.

 

-26 C (-15 F) here this morning and my Tacoma was a bit slow to turn over but it did go. A block heater or in-line coolant heater would be nice.

 

Same here! My 98 4x4 3.4l 5 speed always started rough when cold and clutch was non reactive, but once it warmed up it ran perfect. Took it several different mechanics they all said it looked great. Dad has it now with over 200k no problems.

Op I wouldn't worry about it personally. I know when my old one did it the first time I was like wtf but it hasn't caused any problems.

 

My 2012 has the same issues when it is cold out - little knocking for a minute or two (normal for these beasts) and the clutch is filled with honey until I get the truck warmed up. Just start it up ten minutes before you have to leave and she will be purring like a kitten when you take her out.

 

Where I live , it takes 30 minutes of idling to bring the truck to operating temps using the command start .
Thats where your vehicle is supposed to perform best - once its hot .
Synthetic fluids have a lower viscosity and as others have indicated using synthetics is best for colder climates .
Think about the grease that Toyota puts on the release bearing support at 0 degrees.
I wouldnt want to move well either .
Most auto manufacturers dont know where you live when you purchase the vehicle so they install lubricants that work well at 25 degrees which is a base standard .
Most vehicles do not come with an engine block heater . A $350.00 dollar option .
You can purchase transmission heaters ,transfer case heaters and differential heaters in the aftermarket . I have all 3 installed heaters on my Yota . Wish they made something for square tires mind you

 

Come to Winnipeg. You want to test your tacoma? Its -41 with a wind chill here right now. Good thing I have a garage.

 

Back in a Tacoma?

 

Thats funny you say that I just had the exact same problem with the clutch like 20 minutes ago. It was in the teens this morning. I never had a cold weather issue with my first gen so its a little disappointing

 

Had the same experience this morning (I live in Cranberry Twp). I have an automatic. It would sloooowwwllly accelerate because all the oils have turned to molasses. I've never noticed any vehicle lose that much power due to thickening oils. After driving about 100 yards it was fine.

It was 5 degrees this morning.

 

Thanks! Yes I got the tundra out of my system.
Love the tacoma (i shouldda never left oh well)

 

actually wind chill does affect a warm engine up until the engine reaches ambient temps, after that wind chill doesnt affect it.

ie:

In the wind, your car (parked outside) will cool down faster, after you turn the engine off. Wind blows away the warmer air (warmed by the warm car) next to the surface of the car. This increases the temperature difference between air and car. The car, therefore, cools faster.

But the car will arrive at the ambient outside temperature, not a lower value. For example, if the temperature outside is -20 degrees F (-29 C) and the wind is blowing 30 mph (48 km/h), your car will cool to -20F faster than in calm conditions, but it will just cool to -20F — the same temperature as the air around it.