Snow!

[strudders]

Talking to my sister last night and apparently the diesel froze in her car the other night.

[BlackHole2006]

My car skidded on Monday and hit a kerb. It is now in the garage poorly with track rod problems

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I have made a bit of cash but I am shagged out. I started out clearing the paths for a couple of elderly neighbours and then others started to ask me to do theirs. I ended up clearing all the garden paths on my side of the road. Thats 26 and all I asked was for "donations". Some folk gave me a quid right up to a tenner. I did a couple of runs with my sled to the grit bin, and then cleared the whole length of the pavement and gritted it this morning for free. Some bloke had a go at me as I was wasting the grit in his eyes and I should have been putting it on the road so his car wouyldn't skid. I asked if he was willing to drive to the bin and put it down and he looked blankly at me.

Tomorrow and the weekend I have work at the school on the corner clearing and gritting the playground. I just popped in with my sled and shovel and asked

[norainplease]

-8 all day in Cardiff. Brrrr.

[Alcatraz]

Another day off, but the sun is shining I have A-Level exams next week and the snow has not helped

[llcoolphil]

Just took me 5 hours to get into Manchester from Hebden Bridge...feckin trains!!!

[.jay.]

[rollergirl]

Are you letting the glow plugs warm up?

[Rufus Gwertigan]

When I was a lad working for a Transport company as a mechanic, we used to go and recover lorries that had broken down due to waxed up diesel lines.

Now I don't advocate this on a car but we used big gas powered space heaters to warm the diesel tanks and change all the filters.

Diesel waxing is really only a problem in this country as the waxing level is lower due to the amount of additives they use, in other countries the waxing point is much lower but of course they use more additives.

Also fuel returns from the engine warms the diesel in the tank and the problem goes away once the engine has been run for a few hour's.....

But that's trucks..

Not much use am I .......

Edited January 7, 2010 by Rufus Gwertigan

[Katster]

I don't drive but in cold countries they have block heaters for cars. An army driver I knew said it was possible to use an electric blanket on a timer to warm the engine. I have seen drivers use space blankets and wool blankets to try to keep the engines (especially the battery) warm for longer during cold snaps. I seemed to work as our vechile would always start unlike others around us.

[strudders]

I don't but in cold countries they have block heaters for cars. An army driver I knew said it was possible to use an electric blanket on a timer to warm the engine. I have seen drivers use space blankets and wool blankets to try to keep the engines (especially the battery) warm for longer during cold snaps. I seemed to work as our vechile would always start unlike others around us.

[strudders]

My mum was just telling me she remembers her dad covering the engine with a blanket overnight.

Would it be a good idea to tick my engine over for a while this evening does anybody know? I can't move the car anywhere as the snow comes above my wheels and I don't have a shovel, but it's been sat there since Monday and I'm worried about the battery...?

[Atlanteanlost]

Bloody snow and ice turns everyones' walking style into mincing

[Katster]

Make sure you have no snow blocking the exhaust and then just switch the engine on and run it for 15 mins.

Try and do it in the light as the colder it gets the less efficient the battery will be (not that its going to make much difference)

If it does not start don't keep turning the engine over though as you will cause damage to the starter cables. If it does not start leave it for the warmer weather.

It also might be an idea to pop a bit of cardboard in front of the radiator whilst you run it to stop it pulling through very cold air, but remove it when you next drive, it will also warm the engine quicker.

Also you have anti freeze in the car dont you? not just tap water?

However please make sure there is no obstructions to the exhaust and don't leave it running and go inside as somebody might nick it.....

[Katster]

I have Icicles!!!!!!!!!

[BlackHole2006]

My dad is stuck in Ireland on business and probably wont get back tonight due to flights being cancelled.

I hope he is ok

[strudders]

Thank you. Not sure about the anti-freeze?! I'll have to check under the bonnet to make sure it's still liquid. I take it we're talking radiator water?

[BlackHole2006]

My Friend is on her way back now flying from Dublin to LHR and she is, as far as I last heard, was good to depart.

He will be fine mate

[strudders]

It must be getting bad!

The BBC has now done a How to Survive Q and A

Click

We are all doomed to tell thee! Dooooomed!

[brighteyes]

My dad is stuck in Ireland on business and probably wont get back tonight due to flights being cancelled.

I hope he is ok

[strudders]

Thanks for the reasurance

My dads a pessimistic bugger anyway

[BlackHole2006]

She is just getting on now!

[rabid]

It must be getting bad!

The BBC has now done a How to Survive Q and A

Click

We are all doomed to tell thee! Dooooomed!

[strudders]

Oh FFS! We've had snow since before Christmas and now they come out with it. I take it those in the south don't know How to Survive.

No we are crap as I keep saying.

On his Dad?

[ralph250]

Not read the thread so don't know if said before, but Me Mum works highways agency, and talk is supposedly Snow for probably another fortnight yet.