• Car enthusiast? Join us on Cars Connected! iOS | Android | Desktop
  • Hint: Use a descriptive title for your new message
    If you're looking for help and want to draw people in who can assist you, use a descriptive subject title when posting your message. In other words, "I need help with my car" could be about anything and can easily be overlooked by people who can help. However, "I need help with my transmission" will draw interest from people who can help with a transmission specific issue. Be as descriptive as you can. Please also post in the appropriate forum. The "Lounge" is for introducing yourself. If you need help with your G70, please post in the G70 section - and so on... This message can be closed by clicking the X in the top right corner.

4.6 Cold Weather Performance

pscmj84

Hasn't posted much yet...
Joined
Apr 20, 2015
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Hello,

I don't post often on the forums, but didn't see anything else posted on this topic and was curious if anybody else has noticed the same thing. In relatively cold weather (< 50 degrees for here in Florida), the 4.6 in my 2009 Genesis feels much more responsive (particularly in the mid-range) than in 70+ degree weather. I understand the physics of it with the air being more dense, but the difference with this car is much more pronounced than any car I've ever owned.

For those of you that switch back and forth between regular and premium on the 4.6, the power curve would look something like this:

Best - Premium fuel and cold weather
Very Good - Regular fuel and cold weather
Very Good - Premium fuel and warm weather
OK - Regular fuel and warm weather

My guess is that Hyundai is extra conservative with the timing on these engines (particularly in the early years), and as a result the car is more sensitive to fuel changes / temperature changes than most cars. When the car has regular fuel and warm weather, the car really seems to loaf around a bit in the 3-4.5k RPM range compared to the other scenarios I mentioned. As you approach 5k RPMs, the cutover to the high RPM cam profile with the variable valve timing is much more pronounced and less natural with the regular fuel / warm weather combination.

Anyways, this is more of an observation rather than an issue. With this being Hyundai's first attempt at a world-class V8, I think it is overall a pretty good effort. I wouldn't be surprised if the 10 HP bump in the later years for the Tau 4.6 was related more to Hyundai figuring out the engine tuning than anything else.
 
As with any high performance car (dad owns a Porsche) they love the cold dense air. That is what Cold Air Intakes exist. Denser, colder air, more fuel, big explosion, more powaaa!
 
i live in south florida and the temperature has cooled off definitely. i also noticed the car felt stronger last night driving around. I love it! I wish this weather was like this all the time!
 
Looking to update and upgrade your Genesis luxury sport automobile? Look no further than right here in our own forum store - where orders are shipped immediately!
The 4.6 loves sub zero temps even more. The roads dried out nicely and I got on it a few times and literally peed myself. The car felt like a rocket ship and just kept pulling. Temp was -8 F so the air density was probably -2500 feet lol...
 
Back
Top