I have a friend working in Moscow, and I thought I might drive out to see her in February. Things can get reasonably cold there: minus 20 is not unexpected, and if there's a cold snap, it can get to minus 35 or so, though by that stage, minus 10 is the norm.
Driving a Rover 420 diesel, as I do, is there anything I should know about diesel at that temperature? I know it used to freeze, but I had understood that this was now not the case. Any answers/advice?
O
|
|
Be more worried about the carjackers on the russian borders...
|
If they're after a rover, they must be desperate....
O
|
Orson,
From experience in Romania - you might have problems getting good quality diesel?
Matt35.
|
If you do a Keyword search of the Web of Diesel additives there is much information which will lead you to a Motor Factor for the approriate remedy to stop if gelling/freezing.
Example of information:
All diesel fuels carry small amounts of water that are removed from the fuel by the fuel filtration system. When the ambient (outside) temperature drops below 32°F. (0°C.), the water will freeze on the face of the fuel-filter and reduce or stop the flow of fuel to the fuel injection pump and injectors. There is an additive to prevent.
Antigels, also known as cold flow improvers, are used to prevent fuel gelling and lower the Cold-Filter Plugging Point (CFPP) of diesel fuel. A fuel additive known as an ?antigel? is one that is used to prevent fuel gelling. Fuel gelling occurs as the fuel reaches the Cold-Filter Plugging Point (CFPP) and fuel can no longer flow through the engine. A fuel additive that is an antigel is used as a preventive measure, to keep fuel from gelling. Once gelling has occurred, a different type of additive must be used to reliquefy the gelled fuel.
DVD
|
|
|
|
|
Make sure you have a really good battery. (take car tho - they get knicked)
|
Make sure you have a really good battery.
A good tip if it's a really really cold day and your battery seems flat, is to turn on the headlights for 5 to 10 mins. It warms the battery up, and in turn "wakes" it up. Turn off the lights, then the engine should crank over easier.
|
>>>>>A good tip if it's a really really cold day and your battery seems flat, is to turn on the headlights for 5 to 10 mins. It warms the battery up, and in turn "wakes" it up. Turn off the lights, then the engine should crank over easier.
That's if you don't flatten it first LOL.
I have lit fires under the diesel tank of a Ford Thames Trader in Bulgaria and Turkey in January when it has been so cold there isn't a thermometer that can take a reading. Good luck.
|
Commonsense tells me:-
Service the car fully beforehand inc all filters with top quality ones.
Take a spare fuel filter with you (£10 a throw)
Add some Wynns 'Dry Fuel' to the tank in the preceeding weeks to drive out any moisture in the tank [It works, OK?] Suggest you do this before the service.
New battery seems a good idea.
VW Garages sell some very good anti-gel stuff.....try them.
That's about it, I think, apart from the obvious - spare bulbs, make sure the tyres are decent etc etc
Best of luck!
|
|
Petrol is a perfectly good and cheap additive to prevent waxing. You can run some diesels on 25% petrol, but check your manual. I doubt 10% will be a problem in the short term, but anyway there are plenty of diesel trucks in Russia so they must get winter diesel from somewhere.
|
|
Ask a Russian! Try the embassy or there must be a chat room or forum somewhere.
|
|
|
Thanks very much for all of the above. I hadn't thought of asking a Russian (doh!) so I shall certainly do that, as well as the stuff listed above.
My dad told me about lighting fires under various vehicles in days of yore: wasn't quite sure what would happen nowadays given all the plastic underneath...
O
|
|
|
|
|
Be interested in which way you are going? overland all the way?. You could get a ferry to Helsinki then to St Petersburg and then dash to Moscow fairly quickly. Does have any experience of using a block heater in europe? they are standard fit in canada. Are you worried about the diesel waxing while parked o/nite or while you are driving? If you keep a minimum of fuel in the tank and the rest in cans in the car/boot and keep topping up this helps.
In the good old days when we used to have proper winters, we simply didnt switch off the engines, leave them running day and night and the bleed back from the injectors re-cycles to the tank and keeps the fuel warm. alternatively we used the high tech 15 watt bulb in a paint tin lodged under the injector pump and with some old sleeping bags as lagging kept things running.
let us know how you get on as im tempted to drive to Minsk in a corsa diesel this winter!
steve
|
A set of snow chains may not be a bad idea.....
I have a set that I bought for my 416 that may fit. I guess from our profile you are in Sheffield, but if you plan on passing Peterborough in the next few weeks, I would be happy to lend them to you.
I can't give you details on sizing right now as they are at home in Poole (whilst I enjoy my week nights in a hotel in the aforementioned East Midlands town) but can look them out at the weekend if you are interested.
Failing that, Halfords can sort you with cheapies for about £40 or www.roofbox.co.uk/ can supply you with more robust chains (recommended if you may use them for more than a few miles)
Unfortunately snow tyres wont be an option as the drive down on normal roads will more than likely destroy them.
|
|
|
|
