Hello Everyone...

Need advice on travelling north for the winter. I've never taken a car to a cold climate (always lived in the southwest/desert), and am worried about it.

I've switched from 10/30 to 5/30 motor oil (Castrol GTX). Got some decent tires (had to anyway...may be a problem...but im gonna take it slow and keep distances), and have Mobil 1 ATF syn-fluid for my tranny. I know auto tranny's tend to show their worst in colder climates. Brakes are new, but that wouldn't really help on an icy road anyway. Maybe 0/30 W oil? Flush my radiator for proper anti-freeze? What anti-freeze ratio is best to not crack the block?

What do you all recommend I check and/or do to prep my car for Ohio? I expect a snow type of climate. Anyone? Please let me know, I'm completely green on the subject. The only thing I'm used to is occasional storms (15%), occasional snow(5%), and warm dry/hot and dusty roads (80%). Thanks!

 

Well you have everything pretty much covered. I would keep a blanket in your trunk too. Also give yourself enough time to stop, like 3-4 times the extra distance to stop. Make sure you have windshield wiper fluid and wiper blades for the salt and etc. Nick

 

You got it pretty much covered. Avoid letting gas tank go under half full, else condensation might freese gas lines if temp gets really cold. Get a broom/ice scraper for the windows. 0W30 oil really not necessary. 10w30 is ok for as cold as 0deg F.
Store a pair of emergency work gloves in the car.
You can but an antifreeze tester for a couple of dollars. it will indicate the strength. -40deg F is recommended for antifreeze.

HAve a good trip !

 

Make sure you get the wiper fluids that DON'T FREEZE though.
You can either get the winter season fluid, or just the add in fluid.

I got a LOT of oily gunk on my windows while driving through Denver last T-Day.
I tried to spray and wipe but the fluid was frozen so the wipers just smeared the gunk all over.
It was incredibly difficult to see afterwards.
I ended up exiting the freeway on a off ramp because I couldn't see the road turn left.

Funny thing happened. I poured some drinking water on the windsheild and tried to wipe it off, but IT FROZE, right there, in a split second.
I've never seen water freeze so fast.
Good thing I had one of those ice scrappers on the back of my squeegee.
At least the window got cleaned. I didn't use the wipers since.

Yeah, like what twiggy said, ice scrappers. Very Handy. Especially in the mornings, when frost has covered all your windows.

DRIVE SLOW. VERY SLOW.
Have a Safe Trip

 

Ohio's not too too bad, I'm from pittsburgh so I'm not too far off. Pretty much like everyone else said, ice scrapers, drive carefully, most of all, watch out for idiots - a lot of people, especially around here, seem to drive a lot faster than they should in bad weather.

You max should hold up nice in the snow, I had no problems driving mine through 2" of slush this morning. If it gets bad, just use common sense like try to stay on main roads, try to stay away from hills (shouldn't be much of a problem in ohio).

Best of luck!

 

keep a bottle of dry gas in your trunk too. sorry, if you already know, but its like a pint sized bottle to get rid of water in your tank. sometimes, you might get a batch of bad gasoline or get some crap in your tank. just pour it in your tank and it chemically gets rid of H2O.
if they use salt/mag-chloride/de-icer on the roads, wash your ride frequently, esp. the undercarriage or just wait for the rust to eat your car.
good luck.
when you were first talkin' about cold, i was thinking alaska or canada or somewhere really cold.

 

Thanks guys for all your advice. I went ahead this last sun and purchased the rain-x winter type fluid (looks like an orange frosty drink), and a red bottle of heet (to get rid of h20). I drained my old blue stuff with that hose at the bottom of the reservoir, and refilled. The maxima reservoir took the whole gallon (right up to the neck). Pep Boys didn't have an ice scraper here...Maybe in two weeks they'll have one. I replaced my wipers two months ago.

Is it true that the alcohol based heet can also act as an octane booster? My friend told me that, but I dunno. Wondering, in case I fill my tank with some "premium" low-octane c rap (I've always used chevron).

 

I wouldnt recommend that rainx fluid. That stuff is crap. I think the reg blue winsheild wiper fluid is better. You use less to get the windows clean. The orange stuff sucks. Also your ODin on the oil. 10-30 is fine. All you should really do is maybe flush your radiator if you havent done that in a while but you should be doing that regardless because heat hurts more then cold. Good luck and welcome up north.