Is it good for your car to run cool during cold weather?

Realistically, it's not gonna hurt the car one bit. Anybody that's ever watched the gauges can tell you that during the winter, you'll see the engine temp drop when you get onto the highway. It's just a lot more cold air passing over the cooling system. "Oh no! You'll get water in your crankcase!" pffft!!! puhleeese...

Auto thermostats can be purchased in a wide range of operating temperatures...I run a 160 degree stat in the summer months, and a 210 in the winter. Newer cars also sport a lot of synthetic lubricants that reduce engine temps as well...but since you're seeing colder weather, just drop a hotter stat in it, and keep your 50/50 water antifreeze mixture in line.

Funny that you have so many answers and yet no right answer. Whoever replaced your starter lied to you because your starter is still bad. If you turn the key and hear a 'click' then the solenoid of the starter is good an the brushes and/or armeture are bad. If you turn the key and hear nothing then either the solenoid of the starter and/or the connectons are bad. Either way, the solution is a new starter. In a 68 Cadi, the igniton pretty much directly interfaces the starter so there's no wiring to disrupt the signal to start. If you turn the key and she doesn't light then it's either the ignition switch (which when broken, is broken) or the starter (which is widely known to intermittently go bad when hot) A new starter for a 68 cadi should run about $40 plus labor. Don't get screwed on the labor though; a starter job is about as easy as it gets on those older cars. A decent mechanic should be able to complete the job in 30 minutes or less. It's almost as simple as changing the oil. If you live near Lubbock, I'll do it for a 30 pack.

The main reason for the engine to operate at a normal ( 180-190 F.) is to allow the condensation to escape from the crankcase. When you shut the car down for the night in cold temperatures, condensation forms in the crankcase and water in the oil is very bad for an automobile engine. When the oil temp is above 160 or higher, the water will evaporate and the PCV valve will remove it.

You probably need to replace the coolant thermostat. It is a $10 parts and usually easy to replace on most cars. It controls the flow of coolant to the radiator. When the engine is cold it is closed to prevent flow to the rad. When the engine is hot it opens.

It is bad for fuel economy and long term maintenance to run cold.

The computer that controls the engine is programmed to operate at a certain engine temp. If the coolant is not getting warm enough, the engine is not going to perform at max effeciency.

If you are getting warm/hot air from heater vents, I would think the engine is getting warm enough. You can always take back to dealer and have coolant temp checked with engine at operating temp. You could have a temp gauge that is not indicating properly.

It is not good for the engine to run cool.(normal at 1/2 gauge is the best).You better check the engine thermostat and replace it if defected.

Talk to your dealer about what "normal" is for your car. Many cars don't run at the 1/2 line but below when they are running at the correct temperature. There is often a wide range in the "normal" area for your car.

Mr. SS and Bumbles are both right! For your engine it is just as bad to drive with a temperature too low as it is with a temperature too high!

As Mr. SS pointed out, you can easily solve that with a piece of cardboard in front of your radiator, however as long as the temperatures are not extremely low, you should not cover the entire cooling area of your radiator! Just try it out!

*******let your car warm up before you drive it. also on big rigs you will some time notice they have a cover on the front . that keeps the wind off th radior. you may have to do this also. but i would diffently take to the dealer ship and have them check it out. it is bad for you engine not o get up to normal running temp.

congrats on your new car.

Engines are designed to run at a certain temperature, usually between 180 and 190 without regard to the outside temperature.