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Author Topic: Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do  (Read 10406 times)

Offline Autos_Editor

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Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do
« on: November 27, 2014, 06:29:02 am »

We discuss 5 things you should never do when it comes to winter driving.
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Offline Hannibalsmith

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Re: Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do
« Reply #1 on: November 27, 2014, 08:01:07 am »
I'll add one from recent experience. Not changing over to winter tires early if your car comes with summer tires only. You can get away with putting off the switch over a bit if coming off all seasons, but never summers!

Good article.
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Offline mixmanmash

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Re: Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do
« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2014, 08:07:08 am »
One additional point.  I believe in most of the country, regular unleaded gasoline is blended with ethanol.  Ethanol obviates the need for gas line antifreeze as ethanol mixes with the water to prevent freezing.
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Offline WRX_Pilot

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Re: Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do
« Reply #3 on: November 27, 2014, 09:37:54 am »
What about those of us using premium?  Most is not blended... I never really thought of it but I have never had a frozen line yet either.
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Offline aquadorhj

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Re: Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do
« Reply #4 on: November 27, 2014, 09:42:49 am »
Quote from: WRX_Pilot on November 27, 2014, 09:37:54 am
What about those of us using premium?  Most is not blended... I never really thought of it but I have never had a frozen line yet either.

i think even most premiums are now blended..  some make a point of saying that their premium is NOT blended.
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Driving thrills makes my wallet lighter.. and therefore makes me faster because i'm shedding weight... :D

Offline CountOfGamble

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Re: Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do
« Reply #5 on: November 27, 2014, 09:51:47 am »
Shell 91 is not blended as well as Petro Canada 94.
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Offline aquadorhj

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Re: Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do
« Reply #6 on: November 27, 2014, 09:55:42 am »
Quote from: CountOfGamble on November 27, 2014, 09:51:47 am
Shell 91 is not blended as well as Petro Canada 94.

Shell most likely would not be..  but i know petro can's 94 IS blended...


EDIT:  this is directly from Petro Can website's FAQ :
Does Ultra 94 contain ethanol? Does Petro-Canada still offer an ethanol-free gasoline?
Ultra 94 contains ethanol. Due to the fact that various fuel grades are blended at the point of sale, most grades of Petro-Canada fuel may now contain up to 10% ethanol. This represents a change from the previous state, where premium fuel was ethanol-free at Petro-Canada.
« Last Edit: November 27, 2014, 09:57:15 am by aquadorhj »
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Offline Whofan

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Re: Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do
« Reply #7 on: November 27, 2014, 10:00:02 am »
One more Tip.

If you are getting passed by every body left or right, MOVE to the right lane and out of the way.

My 2¢'s
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Offline PJungnitsch

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Re: Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do
« Reply #8 on: November 27, 2014, 10:09:55 am »
These are pretty awesome things to have stashed somewhere:





Especially for a 2WD, they've got me out of a few situations much easier than struggling with sand, shovels, etc

Easy to fit and not a whole lot of money
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Offline Noto

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Re: Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do
« Reply #9 on: November 27, 2014, 10:16:16 am »
Nice and useful article. Thanks for the read!
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Offline johngenx

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Re: Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do
« Reply #10 on: November 27, 2014, 10:22:55 am »
Do?

Be SMOOOOOOOOOTH.  Make no abrupt changes to throttle, brake or steering.  Everything should be gentle and smooth.  99% of the time it's herky-jerky driving that gets people into trouble.
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Offline aquadorhj

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Re: Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do
« Reply #11 on: November 27, 2014, 11:00:25 am »
Quote from: johngenx on November 27, 2014, 10:22:55 am
Do?

Be SMOOOOOOOOOTH.  Make no abrupt changes to throttle, brake or steering.  Everything should be gentle and smooth.  99% of the time it's herky-jerky driving that gets people into trouble.

that's covered in the article.   ;)


leave early is another thing i want to say.

there was 3 cm overnight snow in calgary, and people are slowing down on the road.  (i want to say 'for NO F-ING reason' but i understand some people are incapable...   why those people are on the road is entirely another SH1tty thing but oh well) .  so leave 10 minutes earlier when weather's bad.   


and Turn your lights on.
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Offline canuckystan

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Re: Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do
« Reply #12 on: November 27, 2014, 11:04:19 am »
Get your battery checked!  A weak battery + cold = no start.  Put winter washer fluid in the car - the summer stuff will freeze.
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Offline dirtyjeffer

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Re: Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do
« Reply #13 on: November 27, 2014, 11:57:53 am »
Quote from: mixmanmash on November 27, 2014, 08:07:08 am
One additional point.  I believe in most of the country, regular unleaded gasoline is blended with ethanol.  Ethanol obviates the need for gas line antifreeze as ethanol mixes with the water to prevent freezing.
i use Shell V-Power...it contains no ethanol...as well, in very cold temps, ethanol gels/separates, which is why we don't have E85 (and many northern US states don't sell it.
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Offline pcsp

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Re: Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do
« Reply #14 on: November 28, 2014, 09:22:46 am »
I'm a little bit concerned about the "Don’t be scared of the ditch" advice. Unless the terrain is consistently flat and visibility is very good, my advice would be to avoid the ditch at all costs. Ditching can involve loss of control, multiple roll-overs, hitting solid objects (boulders, trees, etc.), mowing down pedestrians, etc.

I would add number 6: Be extraordinary careful when getting out of your vehicle after an incident. A slippery and/or foggy highway is no place for someone without a metal frame around them.
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Offline aquadorhj

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Re: Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do
« Reply #15 on: November 28, 2014, 09:27:03 am »
Quote from: pcsp on November 28, 2014, 09:22:46 am
I'm a little bit concerned about the "Don’t be scared of the ditch" advice. Unless the terrain is consistently flat and visibility is very good, my advice would be to avoid the ditch at all costs. Ditching can involve loss of control, multiple roll-overs, hitting solid objects (boulders, trees, etc.), mowing down pedestrians, etc.

I would add number 6: Be extraordinary careful when getting out of your vehicle after an incident. A slippery and/or foggy highway is no place for someone without a metal frame around them.

True.

I tell people, you STAY IN THE CAR if you get in an accident on highway with little shoulders, OR seek higher ground.
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Offline Fobroader

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Re: Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do
« Reply #16 on: November 28, 2014, 12:19:41 pm »
Quote from: pcsp on November 28, 2014, 09:22:46 am
I'm a little bit concerned about the "Don’t be scared of the ditch" advice. Unless the terrain is consistently flat and visibility is very good, my advice would be to avoid the ditch at all costs. Ditching can involve loss of control, multiple roll-overs, hitting solid objects (boulders, trees, etc.), mowing down pedestrians, etc.

I would add number 6: Be extraordinary careful when getting out of your vehicle after an incident. A slippery and/or foggy highway is no place for someone without a metal frame around them.

Between taking a semi or another car head on, I think the ditch is safer. But yes, for the love of god, either stay in your car or retreat to safety to higher ground.
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Offline mixmanmash

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Re: Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do
« Reply #17 on: November 28, 2014, 01:15:00 pm »
Quote from: ltruong on November 28, 2014, 11:55:38 am

I was on Hwy 2 south bound yesterday between from Cal to EDM.... what a S**t show!  I was doing 100 km/h at most at times and staying off the wheels grooves in the right lane as they is always black ice.  Sometime slowing to maybe 80 km/h when I could feel it slippery. the wind is also pushing me side by side once in a while and I drive a Jetta.  out of nowhere  a Nissan cube passed me... he's doing 130.. 140 at least.... changing lanes like he's  Ken Block........10 min later just before Lacombe  traffic comes to a complete stop, massive line up behind me I can see sheriff walking around  maybe 100 feet in front so I stepped out to take a look, sure thing the cube is all mangled with another SUV,  back end  destroyed and a van in the ditch... Took me 6:30 hours to get home

 I got out the car when I was on the highway but at that point QE2 was a parking lot.

Sounds like the Cube got what he/she was asking for.  Hopefully, the no one was hurt (even the driver of the Cube) and lessons learned.
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Offline 2JDM

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Re: Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do
« Reply #18 on: November 28, 2014, 05:22:58 pm »
^^Crazy. I have heard to stay out of the tire grooves on snow covered roads. Can anyone confirm this?
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Offline Fobroader

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Re: Winter Driving: 5 Things to Never Do
« Reply #19 on: November 28, 2014, 05:35:10 pm »
Quote from: 1TSX on November 28, 2014, 05:22:58 pm
^^Crazy. I have heard to stay out of the tire grooves on snow covered roads. Can anyone confirm this?

Always try to stay out of the ruts, thats where all the ice is. If you fall down into the its like a bobsled track.
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