Can everyone give me some Winter Car-Keeping Tips?

Sykora · Post by **Sykora** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 4:56 pm

Hey, I'm from Texas as my info says, but I'm currently going to school in Indianapolis Indiana. So I was wondering if everyone can give me all their cool car-keeping tips for the winter. Like how to take care of it and all. Thanks

Adionik · Post by **Adionik** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:15 pm

Move back to Texas

problem solved

Ntyvirus1 · Post by **Ntyvirus1** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:20 pm

Adionik wrote:Move back to Texas

problem solved

OH SNAP!!

Speeder · Post by **Speeder** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:45 pm

don't drive on the roads when they are salting the road and when you get the change hoses off the car at a car wash when its a little warm to get the salt as soon as possible

rOniN · Post by **rOniN** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 6:01 pm

Well the salt will be on the roads even when it is dry as you will see they will always be white. They will salt heavy in Indy since they have the biggest budget for the Department of Transportation. Just wash your car once a week and it will be fine.

What school are you at?

Sykora · Post by **Sykora** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 6:33 pm

rOniN wrote:Well the salt will be on the roads even when it is dry as you will see they will always be white. They will salt heavy in Indy since they have the biggest budget for the Department of Transportation. Just wash your car once a week and it will be fine.

What school are you at?

I go to Verity Institute 20 minutes south/west of downtown.

excon · Post by **excon** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:05 pm

If it's cold outside don't drive it hard. DUH. oil isn't very viscous when it's cold, and if you rev the engine too high parts may not be lubricated when they need to...

Mat00ES · Post by **Mat00ES** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:12 pm

Go slow when its below freezing.

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:31 pm

14" wheels and blizzak snow tires.

Passt · Post by **Passt** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:42 pm

Wax it. Your first priority. Then just make sure to wash it as SOON as possible whenever it snows/rains.

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:18 pm

Sykora wrote:Hey, I'm from Texas as my info says, but I'm currently going to school in Indianapolis Indiana. So I was wondering if everyone can give me all their cool car-keeping tips for the winter. Like how to take care of it and all. Thanks

What is in your windshield washer fluid tank? ...summer fluid or water? Drain or pump it all out before it freezes and refill with winter fluid.

When your gas tank gets below half... fill it up. Drastic temperature changes can and will cause condensation inside the tank... condensation = bad.

Get some methyl hydrate or gasline antifreeze to dump into your tank when it is really cold.

Get a good winter snow brush with ice scraper on one end. The bigger the brush and handle the better... it will take less swipes to get the snow off. Yes, do remove ALL the snow and don't be one of those morons rolling down the road with a car covered with snow and slits for viewing ports.

Get a set of winter mats for the interior that will keep the snow & slush contained until you get a chance to dump it out before it spills over and soaks your carpet.

Get a set of 4 winter tires. No, 2 winter tires will NOT do.

Is your battery weak in the summer? Not sure? Get it tested and replace if suspect. You need all the power you can get to turn over a cold engine. Speaking of which, replace the plugs and wires if they are old.

Get a compact shovel or a small regular one and toss it in the trunk for the duration of the winter. You never know when that shovel will get you unstuck.

When it is very cold take it easy on the car even when warmed up. When you start up in the morning let it idle for a bit before taking off. When you do start rolling be gentle.

Get a set of battery jumper cables or better yet one of those compact booster devices and toss it in the trunk to keep the shovel company during the winter.

Oh yes... toss a spare bottle of the winter windshield washer fluid in the trunk as well. One can go through an amazing amount of this stuff when the roads are dirty.

One is tempted to get the car washed when it gets covered with salt and I can certainly understand the motivation for that... but sometimes when it is very cold you are better to leave it dirty than throw water on it which will freeze almost instantly. Wait for a warmer day to wash it up.

Best way to drive on the slick stuff is to pretend there is an egg between your foot and the fuel/brake pedals. Also no sudden motions with the steering wheel.

I know there is plenty more I have elaborated on... but I'm old and getting tired of all this typing. LOL

You'll notice in the spring you will have a fair bit of work to do to get your car back into summer shape again. Winter is *extremely* hard on vehicles.

Sykora · Post by **Sykora** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:07 pm

^^ thanks

kbobob · Post by **kbobob** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:19 pm

if you have a block heater (may not because where you got your car) and access to a plug i would use it.

i have to agree with what paul said, mostly take it easy driving and learn to be light on the gas and pay attention to the conditions. way too many people are over driving the conditions lately.

Adionik · Post by **Adionik** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:30 pm

Dude my car hates starting in 40 degree weather after sleeping all night, I don't see how ya'lls cars don't straight up explode or break down

Mat00ES · Post by **Mat00ES** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:22 am

13 degrees here, cars covered in ice and it does fine. Just have to let it warm up a bit, being an atx, I just wait for the rpms to dropped below 1k.

Swordfish2Cowboy · Post by **Swordfish2Cowboy** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:22 am

Adionik wrote:Dude my car hates starting in 40 degree weather after sleeping all night, I don't see how ya'lls cars don't straight up explode or break down

We take care of them.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:32 pm

Adionik wrote:Dude my car hates starting in 40 degree weather after sleeping all night, I don't see how ya'lls cars don't straight up explode or break down

Then you've got problems. Neons should have no problem starting well past -30degC.

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:30 pm

fixitmattman wrote:
Adionik wrote:Dude my car hates starting in 40 degree weather after sleeping all night, I don't see how ya'lls cars don't straight up explode or break down
Then you've got problems. Neons should have no problem starting well past -30degC.

Yep... when I turn the key on mine in weather that cold it sounds like it won't startup... but it always does and surprises me.

...and that is with it sitting out all night NOT plugged in.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 11:09 pm

Paul56 wrote:Yep... when I turn the key on mine in weather that cold it sounds like it won't startup... but it always does and surprises me.

...and that is with it sitting out all night NOT plugged in.

Hahaha, mine too. Always sounds like it's not going to make it then it fires right up. Sounds angry a 35 below when you don't plug it in, but it works.

The I go boost the imports

klaus · Post by **klaus** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:05 am

As a heads up. Your car might sound like it is about ready to drop the engine on your toes when it starts in very cold weather. Neons also have a tendency to "tick" when they start cold.
Just let it warm up, let the oil run through, and be very gentle on the gas, steering, and breaks (depending on road conditions).

Sykora · Post by **Sykora** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:32 am

^^ cool thanks everyone

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:48 am

This morning it was -36F here.

No, I did not start the Neon.
No, I did not even attempt to start the Neon.

I work at home.

I'm staying inside... ALL day.

No, don't ask me to run out and try starting it.

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 12:16 pm

Well it's 40 below and I don't give a fuck
Got a heater in my truck and I'm off to the rodeo
And it's allemande left and allemande right
Come on ya fuckin' dummy get your right step right
Get off the stage ya god damn goof, get off

piss me off, fuckin' jerk, get on my nerves

Well here comes Johnny with his pecker in his hand
He's a one ball man and he's off to the rodeo
And it's allemande left and allemande right
Come on ya fuckin' dummy get your right step right
Get off the stage ya god damn goof, get off

piss me off, fuckin' jerk, get on my nerves

Well it's 40 below and I aint got a truck
and I dont give a fuck cause I'm off to the rodeo
And it's allemande left and allemande right
Come on ya fuckin' dummy get your right step right
Get off the stage ya god damn goof, get off

piss me off, fuckin' jerk, get on my nerves

Well here comes Johnny with his pecker in his hand
He's a one ball man and he's off to the rodeo
And it's allemande left and allemande right
Come on ya fuckin' dummy get your right step right
Get off the stage ya god damn goof, get off

piss me off, fuckin' jerks, get on my nerves

http://www.angelfire.com/art/jury/rodeo.html

Sorry, had to.

Swordfish2Cowboy · Post by **Swordfish2Cowboy** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:01 pm

Adionik · Post by **Adionik** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:04 pm

fixitmattman wrote:
Adionik wrote:Dude my car hates starting in 40 degree weather after sleeping all night, I don't see how ya'lls cars don't straight up explode or break down
Then you've got problems. Neons should have no problem starting well past -30degC.

It starts every single time, it just doesn't sound anything like it does on a 80F summer night

Speeder · Post by **Speeder** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:06 pm

Paul56 wrote:This morning it was -36F here.

No, I did not start the Neon.
No, I did not even attempt to start the Neon.

I work at home.

I'm staying inside... ALL day.

No, don't ask me to run out and try starting it.

hey would you go out and see if it starts

Swordfish2Cowboy · Post by **Swordfish2Cowboy** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:21 am

kbobob wrote:if you have a block heater (may not because where you got your car) and access to a plug i would use it.

i have to agree with what paul said, mostly take it easy driving and learn to be light on the gas and pay attention to the conditions. way too many people are over driving the conditions lately.

1995-2000?

2001Neon_LX · Post by **2001Neon_LX** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:55 am

When you start them up in -30C weather without the block heater plugged in, they sound like a diesel.

2GN.ORG

Can everyone give me some Winter Car-Keeping Tips?

Can everyone give me some Winter Car-Keeping Tips?

Re: Can everyone give me some Winter Car-Keeping Tips?