Real winter driving advice?
 

This is for all you peeps already waist deep in snow. Someday, I'm going to be living up in the mountains and the last time I saw thick snow was back in the early 80's! So, does anyone leave their car out overnight? What do you need to do to protect it - are battery blankets and block heaters needed?

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

A good battery and most importantly good snow tires. Deep snow is not a major problem, the biggest problems we have is when it thaws and freezes, then you need studded tires.

Down to -10 last week and we had no problem starting the truck, if you are talking a lot lower, then I am sure the more extreme measures are needed.

Going to be 60 today, that's CO for you.

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

In Alaska we have friends who plug their cars in to the mains at night to keep the engines from seizing!

(Any Brit expats live in Alaska by the way??)

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

I used to live in Upstate New York, north of Syracuse. Only had battery problems once when we'd left the car out in the driveway overnight and temp went down to around -30f. Many people had remote starters so that they could get their cars warmed up and windows defrosted etc. Someone else already mentioned tires. I didn't have a four wheel drive vehicle but with good snow tires I had few problems. Keep a thing of kitty litter in the car and also make sure you have an emergency kit in case you do get stuck.

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

-10 would be about the lowest I would expect - so no heaters needed?
and that was without a garage? hmmmm

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

Normally it is in a garage, but there have been many times when not.

-10 here is not that bad, nothing like as cold as -10 would feel in the UK.

I have plenty of friends who leave their cars out year round with no issues.

I did get a new battery recently, Costco, not that much, but the old one was at least 5 years old.

The dog sits in the snow in the shade at well below 0.

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

This is my third winter living just north of Boston, I drive a fairly standard front wheel drive auto (Altima), and have had few problems on the roads in snow or ice ... the trick is to go slow and steady! We hit -10f last winter and my car has never not been outside on a drive or road, never had a problem starting.

Biggest issue I faced last year was the deep snow on my car bonnet blocking my remote unlock, so I couldn't turn my alarm off until I dug it out :D

Carry a snow shovel, an ice scraper, and get used to digging :)

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

A decent battery is a must! I recommend optima persoanlly.
Lock de-icer for all those that don't have keyless entry.
Wiper fluid that can unfreeze windsheilds up to a certain temp.. highest you can find.
Snow tires, although not needed will help dramatically in road grip, handling!
Also in a car, all wheel drive and a manual car will be alot easier to drive in the snow. Engine breaking instead of foot breaking can prevent locking up the wheels :cool:

Snow sucks :mad:

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

Just this week in the car I had to put the air on low around midday as I was getting a touch hot, followed by the heating on low in the evening as I was getting a touch cold. Most disconcerting it is! It's much easier in the summer where you just have the air on full all the time.

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

We live around the mountains of Vermont and don't have a garage or anything fancy for the car apart from snow tires. We couldn't survive without snow tires. Where are you gonna be living?

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

I had to put the heated seats on this morning for 10 mins (at 6am) :D

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

Yeah, I did the same (at 7am !) and a bad smokey smell filled the (new) car. Did a search on VW problems and it seems seats going on fire isnt all that unusual...so will have to put up with my small luxury in life now for a while.

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

snow tires?

remote starters?

garaged overnight?

heating pads?

:confused:
a little melodramatic
whatever happened to an ice scraper and brushing the snow off?

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

I had to turn the air con off :o :p

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

Winter driving advice:

Don't do it.

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

career advice:

don't give up your day job :p

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

Thanks for the advice. I'll be in the San Juans in a few years, hopefully in a newer jeep with a better battery and snow tires :)

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

Actually chains might be an idea as well, we are talking real snow there.

Keep clear of Gunnison, for reasons I still do not understand, the temperature is usually 20 deg lower there in Winter.

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

*Ditto* Manc ..... was wondering what all the fuss was about

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

We have 3 cars out in the cold......-4 to -10 ........all start fine......2 are over 20 years old.......all you need is something to clear off the windows...and a good snow shovel.......

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

Also, when thecar starts sliding on the ice/snow -- don't slam on the brakes, pump the pedal -- this seems to be the elementary mistake of people who did not learn to drive in places where there is ice/snow

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

Not sure if I misunderstand....-10 in the US would feel exactly like -10 in Britain, assuming you are using the sale (F or C) system for both. If not, -10C in the UK is a balmy +14 F here.... never mind, I am soooo confuesd.

Cold weather driving tips: Good battery, in-like water heater to plug in at night, good all weather tires (unless on ice or mountains and state allows studded tires). Start accelerations very slowly, avoid spinning tires, start braking 3X farther away than w/o snow on road, increase following distance to 4 or more seconds behind other cars, look out for idiots who don't know how to drive in snow.

Also- always have AAA motorclub for Towing services, flat tires etc. A flat tire in -25f can be a death sentence.

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

-10 in the UK with humidity and no sun chills you to the bones.

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

Ahhh, understood. Thanks Spain had the same GD damp cold...cut right thru a body.

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

I though all decent cars had ABS now ...

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

Thanks, thats all I needed to know. I remember the driving bit - it was the garageless storage I was wondering about :)

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

198 inches of snow in one winter - all the drama you need. :)

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

Sometimes the locks get iced up.....you can buy something for that ....just remember not to knock the ice off the bottom of the car...........that can take off the paint work.......

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

198 inches is a regular winter for us .... we're already up to 47inches, and as for freezing temps -30F do it for ya? I have no snow tires no chains no studs no plug in and no garage and my car does just fine thank you !
Drive carefully and slow down is my advice.

Jan

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

if you're going to live in mountains mate, expect it to be alot colder than -10c. it was -19c last night and the real cold hasnt got here yet.

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

JEEP????

Junk
Each and
Every
Part.

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

Only use chains to get out of being stuck in a spot with no traction. They f**k up your wheel bearings if used too much.

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

Lightweights!!! The Adirondacks can get 47 inches in a single night. One night last year we got 4 feet.

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

Which reminds me. How's my snow penguin coming along?


NC Penguin

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

Here's my advice.

If I am right you want advice about overnight parking without a garage. Not in specific order but all equally important.

1: Good battery is a must. However!!! What you need to look at is the battery specs. It will have "CCA" (Cold Cranking Amps) this is the ALL important number. Anything under 550 CCA and I personally would give it a miss. My own battery has 800 CCA and starts on the first spin from the remote starter. The higher the number the better it is at cold starting. A big battery doesn't neccessarily mean a good cold starting battery.

2: Tyres. Get a set of all seasons for spring, summer, autumn BUT get winter tyres for winter. Winterforce make a good aggressive winter tread pattern tyre and you have the option of having them studded which runs about $16 a tyre extra. Its a pain in the arse having to buy an extra set of tyres but "all seasons" are not really much cop in real snow and ice, barely even adequate infact and winter tyres get chewed up on hot dry roads.

3: Coolant. Get your vehicle flushed and refilled with new antifreeze safe to at least -40 to -60. If your coolant cant handle the cold temperature then the water will freeze and either pop out a cylinder block core plug, split a water hose or worse case crack the cylinder block. Cheap insurance really

4: Block heater/Remote starter. The first is a very good idea and the latter is for lazy spoiled bastards. I have both. The block heater keeps the engine coolant from freezing overnight and also has the added benefit of allowing the vehicle to warm up quicker. They're not expensive and relatively easy to fit (fit before have the antifreeze flushed and refilled). remote starters are basically to save you the expense of having to freeze your arse off by going outside and starting the car yourself. If I had to choose one I'd keep the block heater.

5: Carry a set of good quality jump leads. Not the cheap mickey mouse variety. Spare headlight/tailight bulbs (snow is a bastard to see through and most idiots try to drive through it on full beam instead of dipped, not realising that they are shortening their visibility. Obviously a mobile phone is a good idea in case your stranded out in the sticks somewhere. Blankets, flashlight and a few basic hand tools. A can of WD40 (helps stop and unstick frozen door locks).

6: Something like AAA membership or similar is also a good idea. especially if you have no clue about cars.

7: Regular oil change. Sounds stupid to include this for winter driving tips but cold starts kill engines more than anything. When the engine is cold the oil is thicker and therefore more "sluggish". Taking slightly longer to circulate around the engine on start up, leaving critical parts oil starved for longer. Also as you are planning to move to a different climate I would suggest checking what grade of oil to use from a main dealer in the new area. Its likely to be a thinner viscosity such as 5W/30 or similar if its a cold climate.

8: DON'T get in the habit of engine breaking in a 2WD car. On ice, engine breaking can cause the engine driven wheels to lock up sending you on a one way trip to "ouch". If your car has ABS there's no need to engine break at all. This is the main reason that HGV drivers never use the "Jake brake" (engine break) in icy conditions, recipe for a jack knife.

9: Tell someone where you are going. That way at least someone can call the emergency services when you fail to arrive at your destination. All because you ended up 200 yrds off the road in a snow filled ravine thinking you were Colin McRae.

Good luck

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

Got the feet done.

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

I'm sure this is all very useful advice, but are you a car anorak?? :rolleyes: :p :D

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

Why, did the temp drop down to 60F? :eek: :eek: :p

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

Yup. If it wasn't for cars i wouldnt want to live.















(Well cars and sex actually...in that order.)

Re: Real winter driving advice?
 

Now the sex thing I can understand, I'll give you that.

But cars? WTF... :confused: :rolleyes: