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Preparing for winter

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24

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    #32
    Gitb1
    Registered Users Posts: 393 ✭✭Gitb1


    keithclancy wrote: »
    4. Put a good mix of Windscreen washer into your container .. DONT use it to clear your windscreen in the morning.


    Why not?


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    #33
    Bonito
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,399 ✭✭✭Bonito


    Gitb1 wrote: »
    Why not?
    It might shatter the screen. Letting the heaters slowly clear it while spraying de-icer on the outside is safest.


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    #34
    PaulKK
    Registered Users Posts: 2,279 ✭✭✭PaulKK


    coylemj wrote: »
    Wouldn't the smell of the alcohol be a major problem every time you spray the windscreen? I drive a Golf and the default ventilation settings (with the a/c switched off) does me fine 99% of the time, I can usually detect a whiff from the screenwash when I spray the windscreen but it doesn't bother me too much, however if the liquid had a large amount of alcohol in it I'd expect it to be a major irritant.

    LOL, I've heard it all now.

    I think you are thinking about this a bit too much.. the smell of screen wash being a problem for a few seconds!


    I always go to the motor factors, buy 5L of concentrate, and bung in about 500ml/1L in to my 5L reservoir (depending on the season) and dilute to full with water, I'll put in a bit more in special circumstances like last winter. Its only about 6 quid for a good brand like holts.

    Just to confirm, the smell has never irritated me!


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    #35
    snowman707
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,279 ✭✭✭snowman707


    what about getting up 10 to 15 minutes earlier and allowing the car to defrost before setting off

    I was doing a Limerick run last winter and the amount of morons shooting out of housing estates looking through a 4 inch space on the windscreen was unreal . .. no sideways or rear vision


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    #36
    snowman707
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,279 ✭✭✭snowman707


    Gitb1 wrote: »
    Why not?

    try it at - 8 deg C and you will find out for yourself


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    #37
    shedweller
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,029 ✭✭✭shedweller


    biko wrote: »
    3. Check all bulbs front and rear. Don't put this off!
    Also check if the headlights are straight so you don't blind oncoming traffic.
    No. 1 irritant.
    Might i add to that to make sure you have lights at all!
    "Oh look, a motorbike with a fogli...****!!!!"


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    #38
    Captain Commie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 688 ✭✭✭Captain Commie


    One very valid point i want to add, if you have to drive up a hill in snow/ice, DONT STOP YOUR CAR. was driving home one night in the freeze last year and some idiot (who had a clear road ahead) decided to stop in the middle of the hill, wasnt able to get enough grip to start off and decided to let the car out of gear and coast backwards, had i not have left a clear gap then she would have back straight into me, she takes a second stab at it and stops again, gives up and parks on the side of the road, my turn comes, so rather than just turning left and going up the hill i went right round the roundabout to get some power up, took the hill in second gear and made it in one shot.

    Moral - If you need to go up hill make sure you have enough power and dont stop, also dont tailgate the person ahead of you.


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    #39
    swe_fi
    Registered Users Posts: 363 ✭✭swe_fi


    One thing that I have not seen mentioned but I think is vital is to check so your breaks are even on left / right side, and that the abs is working properly (if you have abs). This can become quite dangerous when you are breaking on ice even if you are driving slowly as the car could steer up sideways.

    "Test-sliding" in empty car park is a great idea.

    Oh and get a new kettle (for redundancy). You will not be able to pour boiling water on your icy windscreen to melt the ice in the morning if you have only one and it breaks. :D


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    #40
    Cookie_Monster
    Registered Users Posts: 24,481 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    swe_fi wrote: »
    Oh and get a new kettle (for redundancy). You will not be able to pour boiling water on your icy windscreen to melt the ice in the morning if you have only one and it breaks. :D

    don't ever do that, you risk cracking your windscreen. (or at least make sure you've a spare windscreen handy :P)


    Ice scrappers are €2-3 quid in supermarkets these days, much better.


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    #41
    swe_fi
    Registered Users Posts: 363 ✭✭swe_fi


    Cookie_Monster wrote: »
    don't ever do that, you risk cracking your windscreen. (or at least make sure you've a spare windscreen handy :P)


    Ice scrappers are €2-3 quid in supermarkets these days, much better.

    Just for clarity, it was a joke :-) Shocks me every time i see this.


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    #42
    johnos1984
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,096 ✭✭✭johnos1984


    Cookie_Monster wrote: »
    don't ever do that, you risk cracking your windscreen. (or at least make sure you've a spare windscreen handy :P)


    Ice scrappers are €2-3 quid in supermarkets these days, much better.

    I've always used luke warm water, cold enough to put your finger in without being uncomfortable should be fine.

    If you are really stuck for an ice scraper a cd box is great or failing that a credit card (or something of that sort) has rescued me


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    #43
    Viper_JB
    Registered Users Posts: 1,260 ✭✭✭Viper_JB


    If you're buying stuff from camskill they have special offers on for winter products http://camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m37b0s4361p0 might be worth a check.

    Also if you're lazy like me http://camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m37b0s4387p56796 pretty handy stuff, stops a load of condensation building on the inside of the windscreen, saves a bit of effort in the morning as you only really have to worry bout the outside of the car :).


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    #44
    gyppo
    Registered Users Posts: 1,648 ✭✭✭gyppo


    If your battery is getting tired, replace it.


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    #45
    Voodoomelon
    Registered Users Posts: 9,662 ✭✭✭Voodoomelon


    RoverJames wrote: »
    Drive to the conditions and you won't need to prat around in car parks.

    Wheres the fun in that? :pac:


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    #46
    T-Maxx
    Registered Users Posts: 3,139 ✭✭✭T-Maxx


    gyppo wrote: »
    If your battery is getting tired, replace it.

    Good point. Whilst you can still get away with a dodgy battery during good weather periods, nothing kills off a tired battery like a good few cold winter morning starts.

    Just on the point of the anti-freeze issue, if you don't know what you're doing don't attempt to DIY - you could get an air lock in the system.


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    #47
    ianobrien
    Registered Users Posts: 2,756 ✭✭✭ianobrien


    gyppo wrote: »
    If your battery is getting tired, replace it.

    I second that. During the cold spell, I wrapped the battery (which was approx 6 years old) in a warm blanket at night as the cold was killing the battery. I removed the insulation before starting off.

    I'm still using the old battery. I don't think I'll get a second Winter out of it...


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    #48
    teednab-el
    Registered Users Posts: 2,971 ✭✭✭teednab-el


    biko wrote: »
    2. Add windscreen washer fluid to the reservoir.
    Pick up in any garage. It'll keep the washer water from freezing.

    I dont know if your correct here..going on my experience, my waterjet continously frooze during last years cold winter spell and I had windscreen washer fluid inside reservoir and I top it up and put it in regularly.

    But again last winter wasnt like any normal winter in Ireland.


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    #49
    Stephen
    Registered Users Posts: 18,484 ✭✭✭✭Stephen


    But how much of a mix did you have? You'll need something like 50% washer fluid to 50% water to prevent freezing.


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    #50
    teednab-el
    Registered Users Posts: 2,971 ✭✭✭teednab-el


    Stephen wrote: »
    But how much of a mix did you have? You'll need something like 50% washer fluid to 50% water to prevent freezing.

    The window washer fluid I used at that time kinda made my windowscreen hazy and greasy. It was difficult to see through it at night when the lights from oncoming cars would shine through it. This was when I had 50:50 concentration inside reservoir. I reduced the amount of fluid after that, that may explain why it frooze in the first place.


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    #51
    biko
    Registered Users Posts: 81,223 ✭✭✭✭biko


    White vinegar will lower the freezing point, not by much mind.
    It doesn't get as greasy as windscreen wash but it does make you wanna have some chips :D


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    #52
    CiniO
    Registered Users Posts: 16,089 ✭✭✭✭CiniO


    I don't really know what's the whole hassle about washer fluid about.
    On the continent, you can buy already prepared fluids on all petrol stations, which have freezing level at -20 or even -30.


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    #53
    Esel
    Registered Users Posts: 22,082 ✭✭✭✭Esel


    keithclancy wrote: »
    TBH I think Winter Tyres aren't all that great, it doesnt get cold enough around these parts to warrant it and they are useless in the wet
    Cormie hates you now.... :eek: :D
    biko wrote: »
    White vinegar will lower the freezing point, not by much mind.
    It doesn't get as greasy as windscreen wash but it does make you wanna have some chips :D
    Especially after inhaling the alcohol that's already in the mix....

    Not your ornery onager



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    #54
    AugustusMinimus
    Registered Users Posts: 4,547 ✭✭✭AugustusMinimus


    Anyone here with higher value cars considering putting on a set of winter tyres this year ?

    Won't be doing it myself. I'll take my chances as my car is only worth about 2 or 3k.


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    #55
    Del2005
    Registered Users Posts: 18,942 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    swe_fi wrote: »
    One thing that I have not seen mentioned but I think is vital is to check so your breaks are even on left / right side, and that the abs is working properly (if you have abs). This can become quite dangerous when you are breaking on ice even if you are driving slowly as the car could steer up sideways.

    "Test-sliding" in empty car park is a great idea.

    If you're breaking on ice it's too late:D


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    #56
    CiniO
    Registered Users Posts: 16,089 ✭✭✭✭CiniO


    AugustusMinimus wrote: »
    Anyone here with higher value cars considering putting on a set of winter tyres this year ?

    Won't be doing it myself. I'll take my chances as my car is only worth about 2 or 3k.


    What's the differenct what value is the car?
    I'm putting winter tyres on my 03 Primera.
    Did the same last year when I had 02 Mondeo.
    But pretty much the only reason is that I'm travelling to the Continent.
    Otherwise I wouldn't do it.


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    #57
    CiniO
    Registered Users Posts: 16,089 ✭✭✭✭CiniO


    Del2005 wrote: »
    If you're breaking on ice it's too late:D

    Too late for what?
    Are you saying it's impossible to brake on ice?


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    #58
    Del2005
    Registered Users Posts: 18,942 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    CiniO wrote: »
    Too late for what?
    Are you saying it's impossible to brake on ice?

    Not impossible but getting there with standard tires unless you know what you are doing and very few Irish people know what they are doing.


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    #59
    CiniO
    Registered Users Posts: 16,089 ✭✭✭✭CiniO


    Del2005 wrote: »
    Not impossible but getting there with standard tires unless you know what you are doing and very few Irish people know what they are doing.

    And that seems to be the problem.
    I proposed to do a little bit of training before driving on slippery surfaces earlier in this thread, so already got few replies like "drive to the conditions, so you won't need to practice".

    Problem is that Irish people seems to not want to learn how to drive properly.


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    #60
    Del2005
    Registered Users Posts: 18,942 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    CiniO wrote: »
    And that seems to be the problem.
    I proposed to do a little bit of training before driving on slippery surfaces earlier in this thread, so already got few replies like "drive to the conditions, so you won't need to practice".

    Problem is that Irish people seems to not want to learn how to drive properly.

    We can't practice driving on ice till we get ice.

    You can't practice ice driving in a an empty car park, which could be several km's away, without driving on ice to get to said empty car park. If you manage to get to the car park you can drive on ice if not then you're one of the muppets who can't and no amount of practice will change that.


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    #61
    Eric Cartman
    Registered Users Posts: 26,282 ✭✭✭✭Eric Cartman


    M + S rated tyres with 7mm of tread left on them , heated washer jets + insulated screenwash bottle + good alcohol based mix , high vis jacket, 4wd, first aid kit , triangle, spare bulbs and spare fuses, Extra driving lights, Headlight washers - thats my winter kit , I just hope it wont be as bad as last year


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