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car and winter what to do
10/5/2010 11:59:14 AM
ok so I hear it gets colder than a witches titty in brass bra up here. What do I need to do to my 99 tahoe to be prepared. I'll also have my truck sitting for 2 weeks at a time when I go back home to work.
Thanks
Thanks
10/5/2010 1:32:43 PM
block heater
/ thread
/ thread
10/5/2010 2:58:03 PM
take care of the routine maintenance issues, and don't forget tires or cooling system. if it hasn't been serviced in awhile flush and fill.
as mentioned, block heater.
i also switched all my stuff to synthetics so i don't have to hear the lifters rattling and wait for 10 seconds to get oil pressure.
if you leave for 2 weeks at a time and come back to it in the dead of winter you'll probably have some problem getting it started again, but that's about all.
as mentioned, block heater.
i also switched all my stuff to synthetics so i don't have to hear the lifters rattling and wait for 10 seconds to get oil pressure.
if you leave for 2 weeks at a time and come back to it in the dead of winter you'll probably have some problem getting it started again, but that's about all.
10/5/2010 9:12:00 PM
Make sure the connections on your battery and starter/solenoid are clean of corrosion. Maybe get a trickle charger for it if you're going to be letting it sit idle for a few weeks at a time. Also, make sure your antifreeze is mixed 50/50 and you'll be good to go. If you mix it yourself, use distilled water to keep the deposits down.
10/5/2010 10:53:16 PM
Depending on your plans a set of tire chains, a tow rope, jumper cables, shovel, and spare coveralls are always a must for me. And a nice long handled ice scraper and brush. Piece of cardboard with a small hole (8in dia or so) in front of the radiator never hurts either.
10/6/2010 7:35:14 AM
Originally Posted By chargerkid5:
Depending on your plans a set of tire chains, a tow rope, jumper cables, shovel, and spare coveralls are always a must for me. And a nice long handled ice scraper and brush. Piece of cardboard with a small hole (8in dia or so) in front of the radiator never hurts either.
Depending on your plans a set of tire chains, a tow rope, jumper cables, shovel, and spare coveralls are always a must for me. And a nice long handled ice scraper and brush. Piece of cardboard with a small hole (8in dia or so) in front of the radiator never hurts either.
winter survival is no joke - i would say the bare minimim to haul around w/ you would be a tow rope, shovel, coveralls, and a couple of chemical handwarmers.
10/6/2010 7:53:17 AM
People driving too fast for road conditions is what I see the most of.
I'm always amazed at people's lack of respect for icy and snow packed roads.
I'm always amazed at people's lack of respect for icy and snow packed roads.
10/7/2010 12:17:59 AM
Having spent most of my life in and around the WY/SD area, I can tell you that when folks say tow rope, chains, ice scraper, etc are not really a joke. Also, get some traction tubes. 2-3 usually works for me. Some will tell you it makes no difference, but I'll tell you, having that extra 140-200 lbs (each tube weighs about 70 lbs) in the ass-end of your vehicle really makes a difference on slippery roads. You can use rock salt as well, but they take up a lot of room. In a pinch, you can use this stuff for traction if you get in a bad way.
Also, keep some dry food stuff in the Tahoe. In the event you get stuck out in the middle of nowhere, you've got something to snack on while you're waiting for assistance. Those disposable hand warmers are also a plus, as well as some candles and matches. Bic lighters are ok, but the fuel may run out leaving you high and dry.
And for heavens sake don't think that just because you got 4WD you can go anywhere you want. I've seen more folks stuck, and stuck good, because they thought 4WD was the be all/end all. Use it sparingly, like getting traction on slippery intersections or when it's absolutely necessary. You'll learn these little tricks with time.
One last thing. Once the first snow flies, find an abandoned parking lot and practice skids and slides (with throttle and brakes both). This will help you familiarize yourself with your vehicle in slippery conditions, and there's no subsitute for knowing how your vehicle will perform/behave when it's slippery. Not to brag, but I've gotten to the point where I can slide sideways into a parking slot by applying the right amount of throttle and wheel. Again, it comes with practice and an intuitive knowledge of how my vehicle does on snow/ice. This comes with knowing the road conditions, like Meltdown said. Just because the speed limit says 35 mph, doesn't mean you can drive 35 mph. 30 or even slower may be just as good.
Also, keep some dry food stuff in the Tahoe. In the event you get stuck out in the middle of nowhere, you've got something to snack on while you're waiting for assistance. Those disposable hand warmers are also a plus, as well as some candles and matches. Bic lighters are ok, but the fuel may run out leaving you high and dry.
And for heavens sake don't think that just because you got 4WD you can go anywhere you want. I've seen more folks stuck, and stuck good, because they thought 4WD was the be all/end all. Use it sparingly, like getting traction on slippery intersections or when it's absolutely necessary. You'll learn these little tricks with time.
One last thing. Once the first snow flies, find an abandoned parking lot and practice skids and slides (with throttle and brakes both). This will help you familiarize yourself with your vehicle in slippery conditions, and there's no subsitute for knowing how your vehicle will perform/behave when it's slippery. Not to brag, but I've gotten to the point where I can slide sideways into a parking slot by applying the right amount of throttle and wheel. Again, it comes with practice and an intuitive knowledge of how my vehicle does on snow/ice. This comes with knowing the road conditions, like Meltdown said. Just because the speed limit says 35 mph, doesn't mean you can drive 35 mph. 30 or even slower may be just as good.
10/7/2010 11:53:11 PM
Originally Posted By snoman:
One last thing. Once the first snow flies, find an abandoned parking lot and practice skids and slides (with throttle and brakes both). This will help you familiarize yourself with your vehicle in slippery conditions, and there's no subsitute for knowing how your vehicle will perform/behave when it's slippery. Not to brag, but I've gotten to the point where I can slide sideways into a parking slot by applying the right amount of throttle and wheel.
One last thing. Once the first snow flies, find an abandoned parking lot and practice skids and slides (with throttle and brakes both). This will help you familiarize yourself with your vehicle in slippery conditions, and there's no subsitute for knowing how your vehicle will perform/behave when it's slippery. Not to brag, but I've gotten to the point where I can slide sideways into a parking slot by applying the right amount of throttle and wheel.
Forgot this part. My dually is a nightmare on slick roads. One night it was bad enough I basically was driving it sideways for a mile or so. Right rear on the white line, front left on the dots. Very slow going but I couldn't keep it straight for all the tea in china.
10/8/2010 9:00:34 PM
Was this on the interstate? 'Cause I don't know how many times the shoulders on 90 have almost put me either in the median or off the side.
But that's why I try not to drive dualies. Great trucks for heavy hauling and heavy work, but depending on what year it is and what it's got for 'traction control' they can suck in the snow. Sometime too much tire on the ice can be too much, you know? My Dad had a '97 Dodge X-Cab V10 dually. Didn't do half bad in the snow and he had to drive it 50 miles round trip in the winter to go to work. (Side note: He got rid of it because it would literally pass anything on the highway but a gas station. 12 MPG empty, 6 with a tailwind when pulling the family camper or boat.)
When I was in the market for a new truck, I asked the Chevy dealer here in RC if any of their offerings had standard transmissions due to my terminal belief that a standard is best for winter driving. The answer was 'NO, only our sports-type cars have them'. He then went on to extoll the greatness of traction control and all that electronic anti-slip crap they put on their trucks now. After I told him that not offering a standard on a pickup was downright communist, I then proceeded to tell him that I would not have a vehicle with any kind of electronic traction control.
Reason why? I was up in the Bear Lodge (WY side of the BH) on a deer hunt w/my cousin in his brand-spanking new Dodge 7.1L Cummins crew cab w/automatic transmission and that new fangled 'traction control/anti-slip' crap. Slow going up towards Warren Peak and we hit a patch of ice. Instantly, the truck accelerated and turned sideways in the road and I'm sitting in the passenger seat looking over the edge of the guard rail and it's 300' down to the tree line. Traction control my ASS. It happened so fast it was all my cousin could do to keep us off the guard rail and the rock face on the other side of the road.
But that's why I try not to drive dualies. Great trucks for heavy hauling and heavy work, but depending on what year it is and what it's got for 'traction control' they can suck in the snow. Sometime too much tire on the ice can be too much, you know? My Dad had a '97 Dodge X-Cab V10 dually. Didn't do half bad in the snow and he had to drive it 50 miles round trip in the winter to go to work. (Side note: He got rid of it because it would literally pass anything on the highway but a gas station. 12 MPG empty, 6 with a tailwind when pulling the family camper or boat.)
When I was in the market for a new truck, I asked the Chevy dealer here in RC if any of their offerings had standard transmissions due to my terminal belief that a standard is best for winter driving. The answer was 'NO, only our sports-type cars have them'. He then went on to extoll the greatness of traction control and all that electronic anti-slip crap they put on their trucks now. After I told him that not offering a standard on a pickup was downright communist, I then proceeded to tell him that I would not have a vehicle with any kind of electronic traction control.
Reason why? I was up in the Bear Lodge (WY side of the BH) on a deer hunt w/my cousin in his brand-spanking new Dodge 7.1L Cummins crew cab w/automatic transmission and that new fangled 'traction control/anti-slip' crap. Slow going up towards Warren Peak and we hit a patch of ice. Instantly, the truck accelerated and turned sideways in the road and I'm sitting in the passenger seat looking over the edge of the guard rail and it's 300' down to the tree line. Traction control my ASS. It happened so fast it was all my cousin could do to keep us off the guard rail and the rock face on the other side of the road.
10/12/2010 8:07:32 AM
you can turn the traction control off... i leave mine on for highways and interstates and turn it off when i want the locker to work like it should.
was pretty sloppy out this weekend hunting antelope and i just turned off the t/c and let the locker be a locker and didn't have too much trouble in 2wd. when i went into 4wd, it was just a matter of pointing the truck in the direction i wanted to go, and away we went.
was pretty sloppy out this weekend hunting antelope and i just turned off the t/c and let the locker be a locker and didn't have too much trouble in 2wd. when i went into 4wd, it was just a matter of pointing the truck in the direction i wanted to go, and away we went.
