Tacoma hates cold weather

I just started my Tacoma at -25F today (true temperature, no windchill factor). It stayed outside without running it since three days.

Engine was turning square. It started like this: "WOF ... WOF ... WOF ... WOF" and then it turns over.

My clutch pedal was hard to push.

I have a block heater but it's on the table in my garage.. Just didn't have time to put it on

P.S: I use synthetic oil only.

 

Mine has been a little rough to start a couple times with the cold day lately. No other issues. Temps are great for business though so I won't complain.

 

Well it got to a balmy 3.4F today in the afternoon sun Only thing I noticed was the idle was a little higher then normal till it warmed up.

 

well this morining it was 2 degree in NY.. certainly my taco was stiff. took a few min to warm up and let her roll down the road before hitting the highway. With the manual shift stick. man.. it like pushing in jar of honey. Once I get to 40000 mile mark, it going to change to sythic oil all the way thru. on the gearboxes.

 

If it started up, its doesn't hate the cold too much. The things you mention are not tacoma specific, as the laws of physics apply to all vehicles in cold. If it gets that cold often in your area, I wouldn't be without a block heater and a timer. Set it to turn on about 4 hours before you're planning to start the truck, and it will save a lot of wear & tear and warm up time. The toyota cartridge style block heaters run about $60 ish from the dealer, and pretty easy to install.

 

That's the shitty thing to when it comes to owning a standard. Over the last decade I've had many vehicles and they were like how you described in the winter time. When it would be -30C with a -40C wind chill, they didn't like it very much. I noticed with my automatic took a minute or two to start. But once it started, we were good to go. I do miss driving standard sometimes, I am just glad that I don't have the cold issues that come along with a standard since I have an automatic now.

 

For the Love of Tacomas if nothing else, move to warmer climates ASAP!

 

Workman's Tacoma loves sub zero temps. Whenever he starts it below zero, his engine makes a high pitched squeal. A squeal of happiness!

 

Mine has been hard to start. I stuck my foot in my mouth earlier in this thread. I think it needs a heating blanket.

 

Never had any problems with mine until the last few days. It's been below 0 at night, my clutch gets stuck when I first start the truck in the morning,turns over slow,makes some weird sounds like the starter sticks for a split second.

 

My automatic has loud piston slap which is very noticeable in the winter for the first 6-8 minutes- dealer said it's normal! Maybe normal for the 4.0 'cause my Camry 2.5 doesn't do it and neither has any other vehicle I've owned...

 

What viscosity grade of engine oil and gear oil are you using? Try 0W20 for the engine and

$28 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75W-90 for gear if you haven't already.

 

Workman's post just crack me up everytime.

When it is -30 -> -35C outside, the cluth is really stiff and not responsive, takes like 5 seconds to come back after beeing pressed. A few minutes of idling and truck is drivable again.

I do plug it in in temperatures below -20C. All fluids are changed at the dealer at recomended intervals.

 

Same here, I like to just stay indoors on subzero days. Even the dogs don't wanna go out in that weather which says something, because they love being outdoors for the most part! My 2.7 does clatter as well, but stops after a few seconds. Clutch pedal and tranny is stiff too but I let it sit and warm up good before I take off. Starting up and taking off in bitter cold like that is really hard on a rig.

 

My Tacoma takes forever to warm up during the winter. Will never get to operating temperature in the city. Gas mileage is horrible. Seriously thinking about getting a winter front.