Icy Winter Maintenace tips...

[xleox]

As you're all probably aware, its a tad icy and snowy out there these days....

Anyone got any top tips to share on how to keep our beloved Transits in tip top condition?

[SirKit Breaker]

I do all the usual stuff, fluids, tyres etc etc. But i also make a point of not parking with the nose into the wind to reduce wind chill on the engine and other important bits.

Cheers..............Howard

[Dave S]

Might be worth changing the engine oil for fresh as cold mornings make the starter work harder with cold thick old oil

[madmark]

what i also do is ,spray wd4o all over the sills and iner arches and over the alloys this will keep the salt off

[Dan T]

Make sure your coolant is protected enough

[BrianCox]

Get up 10 minutes early and start her, let her tick over a bit to warm her up a little before running big rev's.

Also means you will be nice and warm when you jump in the cab

[v8rick]

Get up 10 minutes early and start her, let her tick over a bit to warm her up a little before running big rev's.

Also means you will be nice and warm when you jump in the cab

It actually does more harm to the engine letting it tick over in the drive than it does driving straight off, and keeping the revs low for a while.

Plus it means that if someone got in and drove the van away, with the keys, and with all your gear in it, that you would have no insurance as you left the keys in it.

[danny09]

im sorry to doubt you but..... how can letting the engine idle for a few mins possibly do any harm
if anything you are giving the oil a chance to work its way around the motor - thus lubricating better before setting straight off - same as you would with a bike - i failto see how letting it idle will harm it - otherwise everytime we stop at lights are we not harming the engine?!?!?

[darkbluevanman]

Don't know if anyone has seen summat called 'anti-ice' by those who brought you Rain-X... you spray it on the night before (look's a bit like shaving foam) and in the morn' there's no frost, only 2* quid a can at our local car shop (last's for ages... as opposed to a can of de-icer!).
* though it's 6.99 here!: http://www.toys4cars.co.uk/index.php?ma ... 4ba9383f9a

[xleox]

cheers for the tips lads!
Does anyone agree that letting a bit of air out the tyres makes it safer to drive on icy roads? or is that a myth?

The funniest thing recently was having to de-ice the inside....

[v8rick]

i let some air out of mine if the roads are icy, but not too much.

[v8rick]

im sorry to doubt you but..... how can letting the engine idle for a few mins possibly do any harm
if anything you are giving the oil a chance to work its way around the motor - thus lubricating better before setting straight off - same as you would with a bike - i failto see how letting it idle will harm it - otherwise everytime we stop at lights are we not harming the engine?!?!?

From everything i have ever heard and read, it all says, and i have to agree, that if you get in, start it, idle for about 10-15 seconds, then drive straight off, the engine warms up faster and the oil is at temp quicker, therefore reducing wear....

....and letting a motorbike sit at idle isnt recommended either for the same reasons,, i have three and they all get started, idle for about 10-15 seconds (while putting my gloves and lid on ), then ride off....

....as long as the engine oil pressure light is out, then the engine has pressure and there is oil being fed to the correct parts, its the oil temp that causes the most wear if it is too cold, and the longer it sits at idle the longer it takes to get warm.