haha amby would be the expert on winter weather... i obviously have no advice to offer on the subject.

 

Always warm it up first...if you don't even just once I've noticed that the entire time you are driving it it will run like ****.

I made a post in your tire thread as well. I got plenty of experience with different tires in winter. All seasons are a no-no....

Most guys suggest blizzaks, I like the Toyo Observes myself but it's all good. Nokian makes some good snow tires too.

 

Mike, your problaby be alright without a block heater, I have never needed one and I see -30 degrees celcius constintly (not yet this year thank God). You just need to make sure that you warm up your car for atleast 5 min before starting. When you go to start it, turn the key all the way forward but dont actually start it (the setting before you turn it over) and wait for the CEL to turn off. Then start it.

Get some great snow tires (WS-50, Hakka's, X-Ice)

If your lowered, make sure you have at least 2 fingers between fendor liners and tires to allow for snow build up and clean it out regularry.

Use 5W30 in the winter, synthetic or regular oil is your choice. Iam using regular oil with Lucas additive.

You dont nessessarly need to change your anti freeze but you do need to test it to see what tempatures its good for. You can get the guage for that at PEP boys (Canadian Tire for us Northerners) problaby for about $10.00 - $15.00 and it should come with instructions.

Remember to whipe off your headlights everytime you get in your car, to remove salt and dirt build up which goes hand and hand with winter driving.

Dont out-drive your headlights (Be able to stop safely in the amount of road that you can see). I know that kind of a dumb thing to mention but snowy areas have a higher tendency for animals (Deer, Racoons, Bevers, etc...) to jump infront of you and it is much harder to avoide them in sub-par weather.

If you are not in a pretty popular city (do you have to drive more then 5min for a gas station or a fast food joint open 24hr) then you may want to keep these items in your trunk;
Candle and lighter or waterproof matches
Blanket
Colapasable Shovel
Oatmeal Bars/Cereal Bars or some kind of snack.


And be sure to help out other stranded drivers, I'm sure you would like a helping hand if you had a problem, expecially in the cold.

 

+1
i've needed the blanket in my car and that was only a NJ winter. it sucks when the car won't turn and you are in a crappy location with nobody around...and as you know--> engine not running = no heat. keep food incase you get stranded for a little while. i like to keep an extra jacket with me. when it's really cold i take an extra set of gloves and a hat as well incase i break down.

carry tools if you are in an unpopulated area. some lock deicer might do you well in CO. i think it's like $3. if you can't get any in florida, i'll mail you some before you leave have a safe trip.

 

Hello there... here is some advice from Canada.

Alway completely remove the snow from your car event the roof, you don't want to drive in an igloo, buy a nice winter broom with a good strong scraper for your windows.

Carry extra suply of windshield washer and take the winter one so it's wont freeze in your pipe.

Like thay said before .. GOOD winter TIRE, no cheap 4 season.

War up your car always before leaving.

And the most important thing, adapt your driving to the weather and always pay atention to the other car on the road. You have to drive for them as well, you'l never know when an unprepare guy comming from Florida is going to drive in front of you in the middle of a storm with summer tire on.

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The scariest thing to see in bad weather up here is a car nearby with Florida plates. I think you'll be ok though, Mike. I'm going to take it for granted you'll err on the side of caution and not do anything silly. I think I said it in another thread of yours (or maybe someone else's) but driving in higher gears (generally just shifting very early) will be very helpful. Minimal torque will really help prevent your wheels from spinning. Oh. And try not to break or accelerate while turning.

 

i dont know if you are supposed to do this... but before i break when there is snow on the ground... i down shift and let the engine slow the car down a lil bit, that way the tires dont need to do nearly as much work.

 

o yeah i dont know how well the stuff works in really cold weather... but you can get windshield wiper fluied to melt ice and stuff off your windshield

 

I get some good winter washer fluid and the little bottle of prestone additive....it really works.

Downshifting when slowing down (engine braking) really helps when its really bad. Our cars dont have ABS (IMO its for the better, i HATE driving my mom's 05 corolla in the snow. every single time i try to stop i get the griding of the ABS locking up the tires. i say if you know how to brake its not necessary). Anywho this will allow you to really cut yourspeed without sliding. When on level or nearly level ground you wanna be in the low RPMs to avoid spinning the tires and losing some control. But if on a steep incline although most good snow tires will get you up fine if you dont over rev it I've sometimes needed to donwshift and just spin the hell outta my tires in 2nd to get up a hill if its really icy.