car prep for snow trip!

[h3ctic]

G'day guys/gals,

i'm about to embark on a trip to the snowies. I was wondering what things ill need to change or update or add or whatnot to my 4 banger 96 cam.

never driven her to the snow b4 so im pretty noob to the whole idea.

thanks for the input! =)

[mbruce]

Really just preparing as you would for any trip away. Ensuring your coolant is in good condition and full, Oil (preferably not too thick, but if your only going for a little time you will be fine) windscreen wipers, tyres in good condition and properly inflated.

Other than that you should be fine, but just drive carefully being mindful of how slippery ice can be.

[h3ctic]

im running basic oil 20w-50 more suited for warmer temps but ill only be goin for abt 3-4 days so i hope thats not a prob.

i heard that you should put antifreeze or some such in the coolant? wats the go with that?

oh and jus a little bit of a tangent, ill be going to thredbo, i hear that you don't need tyre chains to get there. can anyone confirm this?

[mbruce]

20w-50 should be fine. Coolant is any freeze, so as long as you have coolant it will be fine.

Cant say about the chains, but it usually has to be pretty bad before they make it mandatory, but it can change within a day if there is a large dump of snow, so its a bit unpredictable in that regard. But you may need to check closer to when you go.

Edited June 15, 2009 by mbruce

[h3ctic]

well apparently u need it to get up to perisher because the roads are on a slope but to thredbo its all level so chains arent necessary. well im gonna wing it without them so lets hope all goes well.

ill jus give her a good once over b4 i head out. i think it should be aight

=)

[Speed]

hey i plan to go snowy mountain too, this 1st July. i am from sydney, i dont no how to get there. i wanna go thredbo.

[ASG14]

Nothing needs to be done. The ONLY thing I change when winter hits here is I change my performance tires to snow tires, as performance tires can NOT, I repeat, can NOT be used in snow or ice. All season tires are fine to use. I just hope this isn't your 1st time driving in snow.

Edited June 19, 2009 by ASG14

[mbruce]

Wow! Now that’s snow. :o

[h3ctic]

hey i plan to go snowy mountain too, this 1st July. i am from sydney, i dont no how to get there. i wanna go thredbo.

you could drive there. thats how im getting there.

i'm running the standard tyres that come with the camry. bridgestone RE92's. ill drive her nice and slow in the snowy roads.

[ASG14]

hey i plan to go snowy mountain too, this 1st July. i am from sydney, i dont no how to get there. i wanna go thredbo.

you could drive there. thats how im getting there.

i'm running the standard tyres that come with the camry. bridgestone RE92's. ill drive her nice and slow in the snowy roads.

Bring a shover, and a LARGE bag of sand, or kitty litter if there is going to be a lot of snow and/or ice.

And as stupid as it sounds, when you hit snow, if there is an empty parking lot, just have fun and start spining the car out in the parking lot. thats the best way t get a feeling for how to control a car in snow. And man, it;s a lot of fun.

[h3ctic]

haha will do on the shovel, might hafta dig her out sometime depending on where i park but where im driving is bitumen road. its a main road as well, often used, so it shouldnt be such a hectic drive. im hoping it'll be relatively tame driving.

ill probably flush out the coolant and refill her up again just to make sure its in top condition. but other than that, id say she was rearing to go.

woot!

love snowboarding.! cant wait to hit the slopes.

[ASG14]

Take some pics! It;s summer here in the US now, haha. Getting hot! And my Supercharger doesn't like hot weather. :(

[h3ctic]

hehe will do on the shots. ill try and load em up wen i get back.

the cold is a biaaatch in the mornings sometimes. hafta sit there counting clouds while the engine warms up, and they cool down so much faster in this weather as well. but wen ur driving, its the best kinda air. still i also miss the summer. we're all freeezing our balls off down under, trust me you.