Prepping Car for Cold Weather (Northern Ontario) - Comments/Suggestions

[SPIKER]

One of the worst temps I ever started anything in was -50, my old 400 Merc, I had set up the antifreeze for a heavy -50 the week prior tested all good brand new. It froze up on way to work in Air Force. The antifreeze boiled out of the radiator cap and formed a slushie pile on the pavement. I popped the hood and ran into the 7-11 bought a thing of antifreeze (back in 88 or 89) so none of the pre-diluted stuff luckily. The 3 or 5 min I was inside w Hood Up the engine cooled off enough to be able to pour in some antifreeze and slammed hood and fired it back up. Headed erst of the way onto AF Base and parked. That was a miserable day at work, all the Alert Aircraft were leaking like a sieve (Hydraulics Mechanic.) Sure was NOT fun having to slide into hole in wing with hydraulic fluid running into your armpits with 50mph wind and -50 ambient temps

Mark

 

[Looking4new]

Someone mentioned tire chains. DO NOT waste your money on tire chains for Ontario. IF you get caught using them the fine is astronomical. I live near North Bay, ON and I always run my antifreeze at 60% = -55F
Snow tires are a plus.
Block heater another plus.
0W30 oil IF you must use dino oil.
You might have 'going traction' with the snows, but don't forget that you need 'stopping traction' too. Use your head when driving on snow/ice and you will be okay. IF you are travelling at any speed always leave lots of room (7-8 car lengths) for stopping.
100 KPH = 62.5MPH That is your maximum and forget about doing that on snow/ ice. IF you have buckeye plates on the car, you will be a cop magnet, so keep it legal. Or any other out of Province plates.
That is my 2 cents worth.

 

[Chef Pa]

I used to get down to Phoenix late Feb/early March on business. I remember well being out for dinner and chatting with a buddy from Ontario, one evening. After living all his life in Ontario (Can.) he had only moved there the year before - we were standing on a sidewalk about 8:30pm - he was shivering wearing a decently thick cloth jacket. I was enjoying what I thought was a warm Spring evening wearing only a thin short-sleeved dress shirt.

For most people, your body does adjust pretty quickly.

With any decent quality silicone spray, you'll be pretty happy with the difference in your door seals. Funny, a lot of people up here don't know that trick. Depending on vehicle design/useage, the truck/hatch can often freeze up worse than the doors. Don't forget the hood, that will usually freeze up the same time you run out of WW anti-freeze - unless you get a free pass from Murphy down your way !

Rgds, D.

Final thanks to all for the tips, and a couple of photos, as I know they are very important Car is headed up north after the holidays.

What the heater looks like from the front. Hard to get an under hood view. Have given instructions to use heater starting at around 0 F/ -18 C, for about 20 minutes, and bump time to 40 minutes when it gets to -20F / -30C. Even if it's not needed to get car started, should help with lubrication in the first few minutes of operation. Considering we try to get about 300K miles out of our cars, small price for a little extra engine protection. Also went to 60% antifreeze mix, and Hondoo even gave me a little decal that goes around radiator fill tube noting the 60% solution.



Here's what I used on the gaskets, worked really well. Dupont Teflon/Silicone as 3930 Dave suggested. Think it was 3.99 @ Lowze. Also did the window tracks with a small screwdriver wrapped in a cotton rag.



Tires are Firestone Winterforce. I've been driving the car in Ohio for the past month or so, and the tires make a big difference in ice/snow. Went with OEM metal wheels & TPMS. Sensor changeout has to be done at the dealer (according to them, at least), but they've agreed to do the sensor connection at no charge if I swap the wheels in spring/winter & bring it in. Considering cost of remount/balance 2x year, wheels will be paid for in just under 2 years. Understand the TPMS debate, but operator isn't the mechanical type, and for the price it wasn't that painful.

 

[3930dave]

Pictures = "It did Happen !" :drink:

We've had a nasty amount of freezing rain already, silicone+seals is mandatory this Winter. Either that, or wait for a thaw to get into your car.

I run Winterforce on one car, and like 'em.

Can't remember if it was covered already.... I prefer Winter windshield wipers - partly for the rubber boot that fully covers the arm assembly, but also for the type and thickness of the actual wiper blade itself. I change 'em off in the summer, as high UV will break down the rubber boot.

Assuming the in-car-kit (blankets...) is in place, sounds like you are well prepped :thumbsup:.

Rgds, D.

 

[Chef Pa]

Will probably change the wipers too, but haven't found any I really liked yet. Still have about a week to figure that out, and that will be it.

And yes, did do the car-kit but didn't take any pics of the bag, candles or matches

We have had plenty of rain in OH past few days too. Just took this pic with phone, river down the road. They had to send river rescue after the passengers about midnight last night.

 

[3930dave]

Can't say I've been impressed with any of the new hitech wipers I've seen. Most don't stand up to the (literal) beating they take, dealing with serious amounts of ice+snow.

My preference is an all-metal frame. A bit of limited plastic in the hook area of the Canadian Tire Winter blades I use (don't know the OEM) seems to stand up, but other than that I shop for as much metal in the frame as I can. At it's widest point, the blade itself is thicker in cross-section than standard blades.

Rgds, D.

Edit - hope you are high and dry at home, with power on. Ice is raising **** here, 250k people in Toronto w/o power right now.

Either that p/u driver didn't know the road, or confused their truck with a boat !

 

[3930dave]

We're not done with snow here yet, but thought I'd ask..... how is the Accord wintering Chef ?

Rgds, D.

 

[not2old]

Fyi, was able to get OEM steel wheels without covers (don't look bad IMO plain black) for $209. Tire rack a little less, but that's before shipping and without CC info etc you don't get a shipped price, so it's probably about a wash. 4 Firestone winterforce from local dealer, $454 including mount/balance. North Bay Honda recommended Michelin, I think Michelin Ice and they were about $100 more for all four, but local dealer here in OH said he was confident enough in the Fstones that he would give me money back no questions asked if not happy with them, so Fstone it is.




Michelin Ice are by far the best ice and snow tires I've ever driven on. They are, however the worst winter tires I've used driving in slush.

 

[3930dave]

Fyi, was able to get OEM steel wheels without covers (don't look bad IMO plain black) for $209. Tire rack a little less, but that's before shipping and without CC info etc you don't get a shipped price, so it's probably about a wash. 4 Firestone winterforce from local dealer, $454 including mount/balance. North Bay Honda recommended Michelin, I think Michelin Ice and they were about $100 more for all four, but local dealer here in OH said he was confident enough in the Fstones that he would give me money back no questions asked if not happy with them, so Fstone it is.




Michelin Ice are by far the best ice and snow tires I've ever driven on. They are, however the worst winter tires I've used driving in slush.

I've liked Winterforce on my car, and my buddy installs a lot of them for customers - no complaints, they get the job done well, at a good price point.

Did you move/change ID's Chef, or do you just like Winterforce tires not2old ?

Rgds, D.

 

[Chef Pa]

I've liked Winterforce on my car, and my buddy installs a lot of them for customers - no complaints, they get the job done well, at a good price point.

Did you move/change ID's Chef, or do you just like Winterforce tires not2old ?

Rgds, D.

Dave - Didn't change id's but haven't been on much in past few months. Fyi the Firestones worked well, and car is coming back to OH for a visit & swapping back to regular wheels in a couple weeks. Thanks again for the tips.