Get those vehicles garaged and the batteries fully charged - a half charged battery can freeze @ circa -30C.

Might also be an idea to get front and rear windscreens covered/leave a storm lantern under the sump bash tray.

Nick

Get those vehicles garaged and the batteries fully charged - a half charged battery can freeze @ circa -30C.

Might also be an idea to get front and rear windscreens covered/leave a storm lantern under the sump bash tray.

Nick

Going a bit OOT in the drama stakes there aren't you?

Don't think many here live on the top of Ben Nevis tbh.

What the **** is a storm lantern?

Derv will freeze before your battery

Derv will freeze before your battery

Anyone know what temperature diesel actually starts 'waxing' now?

Used to be around about freezing point back in the 80's before derv was too popular, but with the additives they put in now, I assume it's significantly lower?

Pure diesel starts waxing at -10c and if its got a bio diesel component earlier. Rapeseed oil used in some biodiesel freezes @ 10c. Pure derv wont freeze until -45C.

waxy diesel may reconstitute given a rise in temperature - a cracked battery or one with heat damaged plates wont.

Nick

Edited 2 December, 201015 yr by Clunkclick

What the **** is a storm lantern?

http://www.manufactum.co.uk/Produkt/193733/1405057/Feuerhand-storm-lantern-black.html

http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/shop/stoves-and-lanterns/gas-camping-lanterns/brand-new-12-inch-coloured-hurricane-542216.html

Runs on parafin. One fill should last several nights. Enclosed flame so relatively safe. Flame provides just enough heat to stop everything freezing.

Nick

Edited 2 December, 201015 yr by Clunkclick

I am sure I read somewhere that Winter diesel freezes about -22C

I had a look on the Philips/Jet website and found this page. I think it is saying -15C for major problems starting?

Edited 2 December, 201015 yr by Lady Elanore

There seem to be variety of opinions and experiences:-

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=631887&nmt=Val%20d'Isere%20-%20How%20to%20stop%20my%20diesel%20freezing/waxing?

But given the peculiar weather we've experienced recently down here in London, including what must have been a massive column of falling cold air which managed to force the clouds in the narrow warm layer below it down to ground level leading to moving fog (That was two weeks ago) I say anything could happen. The meterologists are attributing the current cold spell to El Nino

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Ni%C3%B1o-Southern_Oscillation

This has the effect of driving the weather systems which hit this country further north into much colder air.

So the met office's predictions of -25-30C for the scottish highlands could be not too far from the truth.

Obviously, as the news reports have been making out, our weather is much more unpredictable than Sweden, which explains why we should do even less - sacrcasm

Nick

Edited 2 December, 201015 yr by Clunkclick

Is this freezing/waxing malarky something that affects petrol too?

Cheers.

Is this freezing/waxing malarky something that affects petrol too?

Cheers.

Nah.

It was -7.5 on our sheltered patio the other night in Bedfordshire, so anything's possible.

With the wind chill it equals brass monkeys plus.

Phil

Nah.

Good times! Thanks

Wimps!!

We were -15 the other night!!

Very true llanigraham.

The bigger question is has anyone checked their coolant / antifreeze to see how much cold weather it can handle? Currently mine is to about -24, slightly more. The other cars in our house hold can do around the same. The MX5 had the best reading out of all of them, -36, so if it gets to that I will probably digging it back out of storage!!

we had -13c yesterday and Mazzie had no problems.

In the good old day when farming we used to add a pint of petrol to every gallon of diesel when it turned really cold - wouldn't recommend this on a modern CR engine 'tho!!!

Look on the bright side.

Its going to be easy this time to at least partially comply with the sage "One size fits all situations " advice from HMG.

"Paint your windows white and hide under the table"

BBC weatherman just advised that grit ceases to have effect once the temperature goes below -10C.

Its going to be Torvill and Dean out there tomorrow.

Nick

Edited 2 December, 201015 yr by Clunkclick

Going a bit OOT in the drama stakes there aren't you?

Don't think many here live on the top of Ben Nevis tbh.

I'm pleased to say you've passed the Department of Transport selection test."

Now the next stage in the testiing procedure will involve you flying out to Zurich . . . . . . and keeping a straight face while you do it:rofl:

Nick

Its going to be Torvill and Dean out there tomorrow.

It was like that tonight on the way home to my little part of Lancashire. Not seen a gritter all week - probably due to LCC having to save £67million. Yes you read that right. £67 million.

-11 when I left home, and -15 by the time I got to Churchstoke. Now -8 near Ludlow.

The refiners have recipes for derv that will work in temperatures for lower than we will ever see. At the extreme low end of the temperature scale it isn't really diesel any more.

The only fuel temperature related problems I've seen recently on diesel cars, is water frozen in the fuel filter.

Of course you might have difficulty turning the engine over and loose effective lubrication if the oil becomes too viscous:-

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_freezing_point_of_motor_oil

It appears that in the States, some vehicles have mains powered engine compartment pre-heaters:-

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071224203559AAT4eLF

There's an idea for Network Rail S.E. conductor rails.

Nick

The refiners have recipes for derv that will work in temperatures for lower than we will ever see. At the extreme low end of the temperature scale it isn't really diesel any more.

The only fuel temperature related problems I've seen recently on diesel cars, is water frozen in the fuel filter.

Undoubtedly. But isn't there a biodiesel component in the standard formulation sold over here. That's got more water in it and will freeze at -10C - perhaps leading to water residue in the fuel filters.

Nick

Edited 3 December, 201015 yr by Clunkclick

It must be getting cold. Geordies are told to wear coats!

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20101203/tuk-geordies-reminded-to-wear-coats-6323e80.html

Sorry it's not a car related thread, but I didn't want to start another one about cold temperatures.