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People In Cold Climates: Car Q

Discussion in 'General' started by YamahaRick, Nov 24, 2018.

  1. YamahaRick

    YamahaRick Yamaha Two Stroke Czar

    I'll be driving to NW Indiana Monday. Luckily, it appears (as of now) I will miss the big snow NW of Chicago.

    Tuesday evening, I'll be driving to Lisle. The low that night will be 12 degrees F.

    I have a bone stock '12 Camry that has never experienced that type of cold. The battery is good, but I believe is about five years old.

    I do have one of those battery jumper boxes. Should I bring it, just in case?

    Of course, with my luck, I'll forget about it and leave it in the trunk the night before I need it.

    TIA.
     
  2. zertrider

    zertrider Waiting for snow. Or sun.

    No. If it starts every other day, it will start at under 32deg.
     
    5axis, K51000 and YamahaRick like this.
  3. ZimZam

    ZimZam Well-Known Member

    Bring it, but you'll probably not need it.
     
    CRA_Fizzer, Funkm05 and YamahaRick like this.
  4. iagsxr

    iagsxr Well-Known Member

    If you don't ever use the heater/defroster I'd try all that out beforehand. Just in case a vent door or control is stuck from not being used.
     
    G Dawg and YamahaRick like this.
  5. zrx12man

    zrx12man Captain Amazing

    IMO if you're travelling snowy highways at night you can't go wrong with a fully charged jumper battery pack and a bunch of in-date flares. Also a quick check your spare is inflated and all your tools are where they should be. Cheap insurance and the difference between a slight delay you can fix yourself and something else, especially with a 5 year old battery.
     
  6. YamahaRick

    YamahaRick Yamaha Two Stroke Czar

    No driving at night, tires are almost brand new, spare has good inflation. Defroster front and rear are fine, as is the cabin heater.

    A local from the area in IL where I will be PM'd me his cell, to use if I have any issues. Once again, the WERA community is good to me. Thanks everyone.
     
    zrx12man likes this.
  7. StaccatoFan

    StaccatoFan My 13 year old is faster than your President

    Bring it. Better safe than sorry. I'd consider replacing a 5 year old battery just because it's not a bad idea to begin with.
    You could bring a new one along to swap out in the event of a failure if you're experiencing doubt.

    Also, when's the last time your coolant was flushed and filled? Are you sure that it's a 50/50 anti-freeze & water mix good to -40 degrees F?
    Tires properly inflated, good tread, and your windshield washer fluid filled with a de-icing washer fluid?

    Bring a blanket, a case of bottled water, and some high-calorie foods like your favorite protein or candy bar type foods.
    (This part is overkill for the most part, but even if it provides you peace of mind, it's worth it.)

    Scariest winter drive I ever had was from Janesville, WI to Minneapolis in early April 1996. I was headed to visit my parents before I left for my Osan overseas tour.
    150 miles..figured it would take me two hours. I had seen clear roads all day. Just west of Janesville, I-94 was like a hockey rink. Trucks and cars in the ditch everywhere.
    Took me over 8 hours to get to my friends house in Eden Prairie just outside Minneapolis.
     
    Potts N Pans and zrx12man like this.
  8. YamahaRick

    YamahaRick Yamaha Two Stroke Czar

    Blanket, drinks, snacks, and flashlights already in car. I will have four or five spare batteries with me for my cell phone. I've got a coolant tester and will check the radiator fluid tomorrow. Windshield fluid is good to zero degrees F; wipers are in good shape.
     
    StaccatoFan likes this.
  9. fastedyamaha

    fastedyamaha Well-Known Member

    Cheese and rice. It’s still November. You guys are acting like he’s going to be driving through a blizzard! All he needs is a fully charged cell phone to call for help if an emergency occurs and a full tank of gas. That’s it. Nothing more. The world ain’t ending during this road trip.
     
    Jon Wilkens, Scotty87, HPPT and 9 others like this.
  10. zbunny

    zbunny Well-Known Member

    Don't forget appropriate clothing, hat, gloves, warm jacket and footwear.

    Add a bit of isopropyl alcohol to your windshield washer fluid, it will decrease the freezing temperature, as wind chill is always colder and washer fluid stats are rarely accurate, in my experience with Michigan winters.
     
    tony 340 likes this.
  11. zrx12man

    zrx12man Captain Amazing

    Recent events at work got me thinking about cold weather preparedness:
    [​IMG]
     
  12. lee955i

    lee955i The Traveling Gnome

    A 5 year old battery is pretty much at the end of it's life, just sayin'. The boys have it covered though.
     
    tony 340 and 418 like this.
  13. auminer

    auminer Renaissance Redneck

    Meh- don't poke fun at the guy for being prepared. Because you'd damn sure hate to NOT be prepared if something went pear-shaped.

    To the above mentioned box of cold weather stranded gear, I'd add a butane lighter & a few tapered candles. You'd be surprised how much heat they'll put off in a car.

    And replace that battery now. SRSLY
     
    zrx12man likes this.
  14. Woofentino Pugr

    Woofentino Pugr Well-Known Member

    150 miles from Janesville to the twin cities? Or do your parents live 150 mile from the twin cities? Last time I drove from Janesville to Minneapolis it was 4 hrs in the summer to go the 270 miles.

    You from Janes-vegas?
     
    CRA_Fizzer likes this.
  15. ineedanap

    ineedanap Well-Known Member

    It is going to freeze if you leave it in the car. I had a can of Diet Pepsi go off like a brown slushy bomb one time. The marks are still on the ceiling. :)
     
  16. ChemGuy

    ChemGuy Harden The F%@# Up!

    I'm around south bend / elkhart.
    Holler if you need anything.
     
  17. motoracer1100

    motoracer1100 Well-Known Member

    I thought you said you were from Michigan
    ( another thread ) .. did they move the State line ? :Poke: :D
     
  18. Once a Wanker..

    Once a Wanker.. Always a Wanker!

    Rain-X is your friend. Especially in cold winter weather.
     
    CRA_Fizzer likes this.
  19. rd49

    rd49 Well-Known Member

    Tent, propane stove, rations. Lol he is not making an expedition to the Artic Circle. Make sure your wiper fluid has antifreeze in it. The stuff in the southern states does not. :D
     
    beac83 likes this.
  20. Dave K

    Dave K DaveK über alles!

    Throw the jump box in the trunk, it takes no space and chicks will dig it. Blanket if you want (don't cost nothing) and head on out.

    If you we were talking late December ~ Early February you could throw more in but you're only going to outside of Chicago.

    I'd consider changing out the battery when you get home. Once again, $125 for a battery is cheaper than getting stuck.
     

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