Winterizing

[NorcoAccord]

So I moved from California to New York, and now its starting to get cold. I would like some information on how to winterize my car. I plan on checking my coolant and I know I need to pick up a ice scraper. I have a Gel battery should I replace it with a more conventional battery. Any ideas and tips would be welcomed.

[JoshM]

IIRC gel batteries are ideal for colder weather.
Antifreeze wouldn't hurt either.

[XcluziveAZN]

Tires?, Antifreeze Windshield Washer?, Wiper (sometime snow can get pretty nasty and dirty) and also tune up (don't want your car to die when it very cold outside)

[C91BLX7]

Make sure your thermostat is working well.
Make sure you coolant is 50/50
Keep washerfluid handy in the trunk (this shit is a life saver)
Wiperblades
Have a brush/scraper
Wax car very well before snow/salt hits
Pick up a set of rubber floor mats
Make sure your tires are good


During winter make sure to get the salt washed off as soon as possible.

[lokuputha]

1) Winter tires; summer/all season tires stop working after around 5deg. celcius...

2) Engine block heater; your engine will thank you for it.

3) Battery heater; your starter will thank you for it.

4) Ice scraper/brush. I carry a collapsible snow shovel as well.

5) Good paint polish to 'weather' the winter grime and salt.

6) Good windshield wipers and winter washer fluid.

7) 5w30 engine oil.

8) Check coolant.

9) Remote car starter; its a blessing in the morning.

10) Emergency kit: blankets, candle/flare, granola bars, etc.

11) Wipe inside of windshield with anti-fog wipes; this will prevent ice from building up inside the car...its very annoying.

12) Wipe all windows and windshield with a good water repelling agent...like Rain-X.



I think that should do the trick for winter time....BTW, living in NY you are going to start loving hoodies and scarves.

[batever]

Welcome to the northeast!

where in NY are you, the city, suburbs, or country?

Do you have a manual or automatic, and do you have ABS? Because beyond "winterizing" there are some driving tips (stopping, turning, regaining control after losing traction, and getting the car moved out from its parking spot after a snow/icestorm), some of which depend on how your car is equipped/.

Driving in winter is either the funnest or the worst, depending on
your point of view. From the safety point of view, whenever possible, just don't do it and stay inside with a book, a video, and some snacks is
my best advice. But when you do drive, here are some initial
equipment tips:


1) get a long handled snow brush with the brush set at a 90 degree
angle to the handle. that way you can push the snow across the car
instead of "sweeping" it. Get one with an extending handle if you can.

1a ) make sure your windshielf washer reservoir has goop in it, not
water. The windshield washer is vital for maintaining visibility when
slush and road salt slop over your windshield from passing trucks and
whatnot. If you have water in the reservoir it will freeze and break
the lines. Spray out all the water and refill with washer goop, full
strength.

1b) put a snow shovel in your trunk or back seat area. A normal metal
one is fine and has the benefit of being more durable than a collapsible one with a plastic shovel end.
1c) it can't hurt to get a big plastic tub and fill it with sand (not
salt) once they start putting it out. there's usually a place you can
go to get it from your city once the weather turns.

2) ice scrapers with metal blades are better than plastic bladed ones.
just don't hit your trim with it.

3) snow tires-not studded, the studless ones. Put them on a set of
$100 junkyard rims if you think you'll be around for a few years.,
you'll make the money back in 1.3 years of not having to pay to have
the tires mounted and balanced every winter and spring. it's hard to overstate the improvement the new generation of snow tires makes in traction in the winter as compared to "all season" tires.

3a) personally I have never used an engine block heater or a battery heater, and have never had a problem. I live in Massachusetts, which has the same climate as New York basically so I don't think you need to get those things. If I lived in canada it might be an issue.

3b) I put a zero degree sleeping bag in my trunk just in case I get stranded. I like to be prepared basically to spend the night out with no heat (broken car) and be fine. It has never happened, but I like to be prepared. Some people put blankets in their car, I happen to have the bag so I use that. Spare gloves and a knit cap are a good idea too.



4) read up on winter driving techniques and how your clutch, gas
pedal, etc affect traction. Spend some time sliding around parking
lots late at night once the weather gets sloppy so you can get a
better sense of braking and turning and traction recovery.

5) the first time it snows, slow down by 10
mph and give yurself double the distance between yourself and the car in front of you (3-4 seconds worth instead of 2 seconds' worth.)because you don't have an accurate sense of how much stopping distance you need in the snow yet.

Even people who grew up here screw up driving in the first few storms. It's almost like a ritual to see 2 or 3 cars spun off the road on that first morning snowstorm commute. Not
surprising, really, since most people don't know that much about
driving anyway. But it's better if you're not the one spun off the road.

[thegel]

tons of good info guys!! but i have a few questions now

so i live in PA and we have been getting the first nights of frost lately.

1. is it important to let your car warm up before driving it?
2. if my temp gauge takes forever to start moving to the middle. then when it gets to good temp i turn my heat on BAM! its back down past the C in Cold.. lol is this bad??

3. how to i go as of washing off the salt? PA it horrible for it and i want nothing to do with it. Should i just wash my car with the hose after every day?? ice covered car? hehe

thanks everyone!!

[vtecE40]

lol.winterizing. live in jersey and CT my whole life and it's not that bad. just wash ur car and give it a good wax (not polish), always let ur car warm up (5 to 8 min is fine) or you will be running though head gaskets, and as the heat goes check you therostate because it sounds like its stuck open. use a heavy weight oil, good wiper blades, and battery and your good.

[batever]

so i live in PA and we have been getting the first nights of frost lately.

1. is it important to let your car warm up before driving it?
2. if my temp gauge takes forever to start moving to the middle. then when it gets to good temp i turn my heat on BAM! its back down past the C in Cold.. lol is this bad??

3. how to i go as of washing off the salt? PA it horrible for it and i want nothing to do with it. Should i just wash my car with the hose after every day?? ice covered car? hehe

i agree, new thermostat sounds in order.

I disagree that you need to let the engine warm up before driving, just make sure that you drive it easy (keep the rpms in the 2000-2400 range) the first 10 minutes before the oil heats up and thins to the correct viscosity. That's the main issue, oil viscosity. But the car has to run at high idle anyways until the engine heats up, might as well drive it, but at moderate rpms only. there is a slight theoretical advantage in less engine wear to letting the car warm up at idle first, but even without doing that these engines will go 400K miles, so why bother is my attitude.

You also would want a 5w or 0w multigrade oil in the winter to decrease the starting viscosity of the oil, NOT a heavier oil. So 5w-30 in preference to 10W-30.

Then in the spring keep with the 5w-30 too, since 10W-30 is still to thick at starting temp. even in the summer.

I have never had a problem with my head gasket going in 16 years driving like this in the winter.



i'm too cheap to wash salt off my car. I suppose the best way is in a car wash but then it always snows 2 days later so I've given up pretty much until spring time. BEst thing is to wash the car now and give it a thorough waxing to help keep the salt off the finish through the winter.

[thegel]

sweeet thanks guy! this is my first winter with my cb7 so i'm like only thinking how bad it can rust and what not..lol

thanks tho!!!

[breeziebabyyy]

Put a blanket in your trunk and buy one of those handy flash lights that can withstand the low temps. When it snowed here and I got a blow out on the freeway omg that cover was my best buddy!! That flash light was well worth my $20 at walmart lmao. A new thermostate would be good too. Make sure your battery is good new tires that can handle the snow/ice traction. practice in a parking lot how to stop on snow/ice. also try working on your clutch/gas skills so you don't slide also.

[thegel]

also try working on your clutch/gas skills so you don't slide also.

i drive an auto lol

thanks tho guys!

[Darkenz]

engine heater



i have a pro heater pad on the bottom of my oil pan and its the best for cold weather. cheap (47.50 + s&h) and most reliable than those other heaters that friends of mine have used.

deff get this if ur gonna go with a heater. http://www.engineheaters.com/advantages.htm