In central Iowa a block heater is a little over the top unless you have a diesel. You may want to switch to the lightest weight oil that is recommended for your engine. I think this was mentioned above, but BE SURE to check the engine anti-freeze and the windshield washer fluid.

When people move their cars from a warm climate they sometimes forget that it gets cold up here. When I had the shop a Ford Maverick came in that was overheating. The guy had driven up from someplace south. I took the radiator cap off and - ICE!!
I had him leave the car inside my shop overnight. The radiator was blown out from the ice in it and spilled water all over the floor, but fortunately the engine block didn't freeze. If he had left it outside overnight he would have needed a new engine.

Snow tires for sure. Don't play the "I've got all season tires" game. Snow tires are made with a compound that works much better at temps below 40 degrees F than other tires. And FFS, don't use summer tires once it gets cold, like driving on rocks.

Snow blower or snow thrower. They are different but necessary. Absolutely no reason to shovel snow if you don't have to. Blower handles more volume. Throwers are good for places with snow but not a ton every year.

Yes, get snow tires. You only need them once!
With a 4x4 truck you can accelerate very well in snow/ice, but it doesn't help with cornering (actually if you start to slide you can give it some gas to give the front tires some grip, but now you are going faster lol) and braking.
In fact it's worse than a car because it weighs 3 tons.

The best advice for driving in snow or ice, go slow, but not too slow. Learning that ideal speed is the challenge.

Real snow tires are great for snow, but nothing but studs really help for ice. We had an ice storm back in the days when I commuted to and from work. It took me 90 minutes to get home instead of the normal 12 minutes. Partly because I knew my regular rout home had some steep hills. I took as much interstate as possible that were heavily traveled, and sanded. I knew I was not getting up my driveway so I parked in front of my house. As I finally came to a stop and put it in park, the El Camino slid sideways 6 inches until it was up against the curb. It was 1/2 inch thick wet ice. I can't think of anything slipperier. It was a chore to get the driveway de-iced to get the vehicle into the garage.

Now if the roads are bad, I just stay home.

As above, keep a warm coat and gloves, a bag of sand or two in the trunk, and a tow rope and a phone charging cable in the car all winter. Of course your cell phone as well.

I once had all four tires spinning on ice. THAT was weird AF. Feather touch on the throttle fixed that. Duh!

Since I am in snow country.

If you're holding everyone up on the icy road. Wave them by, let them pass. Don't build up 100 cars behind you.

Don't just drive away without cleaning the snow off the windows, the roof of the car and the front hood. Otherwise the wind will blow it all over your windshield and the person behind.

Go to an empty parking lot and practice donuts and sliding. Just don't get too close to a light pole.

Parents always had the separate snow tires and wheels with implanted studs. Do they still do that, I'm not sure.

As others have mentioned find a parking lot and play, make sure there are no hidden curbs under the snow first. Keep in mind the weight of the truck works against you, NOT the ultimate handling machine on ice.

Get some oil intended for preventing rust and spray some in the doors and in any panel seam, helps to keep the moisture out.

fify :)

Good point and addition!

Also, keep a dry towel in the car for when you fall on your butt because you have slick soled California shoes on...

You probably had a bug-out bag when in SoCal, for earthquakes, fires, landslides, urban unrest. Containing walking shoes, water, cash, flashlight-radio, maybe a fine merlot.

Just need to switch it up now. Snow boots, hand-warmers, bag of kitty litter, camp shovel, small bottle of schnapps.

Also, unless there's a have-to-do, stay inside, have another coffee, wait for the sun and plows to do their things. 4x4 on snow just means that your tires are spinning independently. The FWD will work well in a little snow. Nothing works well on the ice but maybe studded snow tires.

Make sure you turn on your lights.

And, get AAA.

Are there any states left that still allow studded tires??

They banned them in MI about 50 years ago.

I believe here there is a lateral line north before it's aloud. Farther than I'd go. lol

Kevin probably figured most of it by now. I've hit black ice 2wice in my life. That stuff is so treacherous that there isn't any word for it. Once I slowed down pretty slow to enter a rest area in AZ not too far west bound out of Flagstaff. I just let the engine slow me down to 20 to 30, who knows. 2WD 1/2 truck lightly loaded. I touched the brakes and realized that was not going to work. I let go and gently steered towards the entry back on to I-40. I just held my pee until I reached Williams.

The highway was good given the big rigs never stop rolling.


Speaking of which, I left central TX that morning before dawn. I had lightly snowed and everything was white. No curbs, streets, lines, nothing but stop lights and road signage. I was 2 blocks off the interstate so between seeing the lights of the trucks rolling and figuring there wasn't a road sign in the middle of the street. Not a tire track in those 2 blocks, so I felt my way to the on ramp a 5 MPH and got in the grooves the trucks maintained all night. The left lane was a blank.

Just about daybreak and me in the grooves, the cowboys started coming by to go to work. Out in the left lane where there was no visible road and they were blowing by at 70. They didn't even leave tracks, just swirls. Maybe a half hour later enough of them had gone by that I could make out the lane. I might have gingerly passed a couple of rigs not being able to see a damn thing in their wake until even with them. Then I'd tuck back in the right lane when it was safe or get my ass run over by a coboy. All their trucks looked the same, flatbed with a huge headache bar/grille ass'y and plenty of lights.

No brodozers out there. Skinny tires rule.

Like track driving, all inputs must be made smoothly. Look ahead. Way ahead.
Never let the car be in a place that your brain wasn't already there ten seconds ago.

- Try not to completely stop whenever possible. NEVER stop going up a hill (like where there is a stop signs or traffic light). If you stop on a hill, you won't be able to get traction again. Stop at the bottom of the hill if there is a red light at the top.
- Look out for the other drivers ten times more than usual. They may start spinning right in front of you.
- Don't use hot water to defrost a windshield unless you want to replace it when it breaks.

If you go 20 mph....some gal in an SUV will shove you into a snowbank.
Holding up traffic is worse than hitting someones dog on the road. :)

Bump just to see how you are doing.

Today was my first day of the season with the snowblower. Started right up, but one of the tires was flat. I might have to adjust the skids as well.

It was a white New Year in the mountains in the Los Padres National Forest.
I'm at 5600 feet, Mt Pinos is 9000.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1704865931.jpg
It was fun being there, but nerve-racking driving out.
The AWD Volvo was fine (yea Swedes), it was all the 2wd cars all over the road that presented the challenge.

What is everyone's favorite snow tire?

The best advice, stay home with the car parked in the garage. It is my favorite option.

On RWD cars have liked Goodyear ultra grip or Continental winter contact. Fairly large tread so slightly noisy but good traction.

I've been using Bizzaks for years as they are very highly rated. Went with Michelin X for my wife's Corolla last year as they are getting the best review.

Neither are cheap, but better than crashing into something.

Dunlop 606 worked pretty good on the KTM690 Enduro R. :)

http://www.bswartz.net/iphone/ridingktminsnowstorm.jpg

And when they don't:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1704922018.jpg

:D

Nice!

Diary of a snow shoveler, probable location - North East

December 8 - 6:00 PM
It started to snow.
The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven.
It looked like a Grandma Moses Print.
So romantic we felt like newlyweds again.
I love snow!

December 9
We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape.
What a fantastic sight!
Can there be a lovelier place in the whole world?
Moving here was the best idea I've ever had!
Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again.
I did both our driveway and the sidewalks.
This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again.
What a perfect life!

December 12
The sun has melted all our lovely snow.
Such a disappointment!
My neighbor tells me not to worry- we'll definitely have a white Christmas.
No snow on Christmas would be awful!
Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again
I don't think that's possible.
Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.

December 14
Snow, lovely snow! 8 inches last night.
The temperature dropped to -20.
The cold makes everything sparkle so.
The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks.
This is the life!
The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again.
I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way.
I wish l wouldn't huff and puff so.

December 15
20 inches forecast.
Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer.
Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels.
Stocked the freezer.
The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out.
I think that's silly.
We aren't in Alaska, after all.

December 16
Ice storm this morning.
Fell on my ass on the ice in the driveway putting down salt.
Hurt like hell.
The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.

December 17
Still way below freezing.
Roads are too icy to go anywhere.
Electricity was off for 5 hours.
I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm.
Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her.
Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her.
God I hate it when she's right.
I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.

December 20
Electricity's back on, but had another 14 inches of the damn stuff last night.
More shoveling!
Took all day.
The damn snowplow came by twice.
Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey.
I think they're lying.
Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out.
Might have another shipment in March.
I think they're lying.
Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me.
I think he's lying.

December 22
Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white **** fell today, and it's so cold, it probably won't melt till August.
Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to ****.
By the time I got undressed, pissed and dressed again. I was too tired to shovel.
Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter, but he says he's too busy. I think the ******* is lying.

December 23
Only 2 inches of snow today
And it warmed up to 0.
The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning.
What is she, nuts?!!
Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago?
She says she did but I think she's lying.

December 24
6 inches - Snow packed so hard by snowplow, l broke the shovel.
Thought I was having a heart attack.
If I ever catch the son of a ***** who drives that snow plow, I'll drag him through the snow by his balls and beat him to death with my broken shovel.
I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been!
Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the damn snowplow.

December 25
Merry freaking Christmas!
20 more inches of the damn slop tonight -Snowed in.
The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil.
God, I hate the snow!
Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel.
The wife says I have a bad attitude.
I think she's an idiot.
If I have to watch "It's A Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave.

December 26
Still snowed in.
Why the hell did I ever move here?
It was all HER idea.
She's really getting on my nerves.

December 27
Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze; plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me $1,400 to replace all my pipes.

December 28
Warmed up to above -20.
Still snowed in.
The ***** is driving me crazy!!!

December 29
10 more inches.
Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in.
That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?

December 30
Roof caved in.
I beat up the snow plow driver, and now he is suing me for a million dollars, not only the beating I gave him, but also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up his ass.
The wife went home to her mother.
Nine more inches predicted.

December 31
I set fire to what's left of the house.
No more shoveling.

January 8
Feel so good.
I just love those little white pills they keep giving me.
Why am I tied to the bed?

I spent my college years in Grinnell. Iowa has a certain stark beauty. I have been back a few times for reunions and look forward to my next visit.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1705016147.jpg

Good advice!

A plane ticket south!!! [emoji2]

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

Turn off the windshield wipers BEFORE starting the car.

Otherwise, they will suddenly start moving on their own while scraping, carrying a 20lb frozen block of ice across the windshield, breaking the motor and tearing the rubber off.
Oooh! :(

Better yet, flip your wipers up off the glass in the first place.

Did you let the Corvair go?

Get yourself a full time night woman who can keep you warm and shovel!!!

I still have it. It's currently in storage back in L.A.

Ooh, snow cones!

https://i.imgflip.com/4tyfkr.jpg