Think ahead...

[Draig]

What with all the dire warnings we're being given in this area that this winter will be the coldest yet and according to the radio they're "expecting the Thames in London and even the sea to freeze" (how do they know this???)


I thought it time to think about how we can all avoid the dreaded diesel freeze-up. (especially those with veg oil).

So, how will you ensure your motor starts in the morning?

[Guest]

Been thinking for a while of getting one of the Webasto engine pre heaters that plug into the mains

[Andy W]

What with all the dire warnings we're being given in this area that this winter will be the coldest yet and according to the radio they're "expecting the Thames in London and even the sea to freeze" (how do they know this???)


I thought it time to think about how we can all avoid the dreaded diesel freeze-up. (especially those with veg oil).

So, how will you ensure your motor starts in the morning?

Err Put it in my Garage???????????????

[andycook]

Dont believe all the press Ramping yet! esp the Daily Mail
they have been twisting the story!
yes, weather may be cooler - closer to AVERAGE winter - which is colder than last 5-6 yrs
but press have been blowing met office reports out of all proportion.
when the met quote some temperatures - they might be talking about far north scotland, but press grab this and it ends up being London getting Freeze!
and certainly not the coldest winter YET !!

I have been following several weather site discussions, and should be getting colder next week - but probably only to what temps should be at this time of year!!!! its been much milder than norm last 2 months!

e.g. http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/for...TOPIC_ID=41512

if you remeber last year the same happened! and what happened to the severe winter last year?

[slim]

What with all the dire warnings we're being given in this area that this winter will be the coldest yet and according to the radio they're "expecting the Thames in London and even the sea to freeze" (how do they know this???)


I thought it time to think about how we can all avoid the dreaded diesel freeze-up. (especially those with veg oil).

So, how will you ensure your motor starts in the morning?

thought it had to be -273 d/c b 4 diesel freezes...

dont think we see them temps here......

[Draig]

I love it when the media starts sprouting things like the sea will freeze and lorries will be stranded as their fuel wont flow etc etc - I still want to know how they can predict that far ahead - and not get it right for 2 days time!


and yes i do know that diesel really doesn't 'freeze' it was just our local radio said it did. take a look here http://www.aidworkers.net/logistics/page.php?id=10

and my Surf won't fit in my garage - poor baby - I'll have to get her a coat!

seriously an old tip i used many years ago - and only on a COLD engine - was to drape a blanket over the engine area - it did help - just remember to remove blanket before starting Surf!!!!

[Cmar]

Get a heated mirror from the s****py, remove the glass and stick the heater part to the bottom of the sump. Then use some kind of timer to supply the current in the morning before you set off.

[Gamedawn]

Don't do what the continental lorry drivers do and light a fire under the diesel tank

[fatfires]

Don't do what the continental lorry drivers do and light a fire under the diesel tank

could be OK if you got the lads on standby
Pugh, Pugh, barney mcgrew, cuthbert, dribble and ????????

[Philip]

Andy

I have just been to Bournmouth and back, plus little running about in London and only used half tank of diesel, with the you know what heater. I am sure economy has improved. Not on Veg and petrol as going for MOT on Tuesday and thought just in case its cold, would be better on 100% diesel, maybe no need but better safe than sorry. Let me know how its going with heater. One fitted on a Renault Traffic van and guy is really pleased with it.
Rgds Philip

[da SLUG man]

thought it had to be -273 d/c b 4 diesel freezes...

dont think we see them temps here......

hehehe!!... nah.. you're thinking of absolute zero -273c/-459f = 0k

[Pete]

I love it when the media starts sprouting things like the sea will freeze and lorries will be stranded as their fuel wont flow etc etc - I still want to know how they can predict that far ahead - and not get it right for 2 days time!


and yes i do know that diesel really doesn't 'freeze' it was just our local radio said it did. take a look here http://www.aidworkers.net/logistics/page.php?id=10

and my Surf won't fit in my garage - poor baby - I'll have to get her a coat!

seriously an old tip i used many years ago - and only on a COLD engine - was to drape a blanket over the engine area - it did help - just remember to remove blanket before starting Surf!!!!

There are some very complex issues in relation to predicting long term weather forecasts. It's not so much a case of predicting it will rain on such a day, more a forecast of seasonal average temperature, and it's effects on our weather, based on a number of factors. It's complex, but it's roughly to do with things like : the earths orbit around the sun, the angle of tilt of the earths axis, sun spots, and radiation on the sun, plus other factors. This all sounds vague, but the info is all out there if you search for it.
Start here http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/6h.html
There endeth the lesson. We'll probably have another mild winter
Pete

[da SLUG man]

doesn't diesel have antifreeze in it thesedays?


i know they use different formulas depending on the season (it smells different! (i.e. the eggy smell of a catalytic converter on a petrol))

[BUSHWHACKER]

Yeah. Anti-waxing stuff innit?

[laser_jock99]

There are some very complex issues in relation to predicting long term weather forecasts......We'll probably have another mild winter
Pete

We could quite easily have a freeze up in this country due to minor changes in ocean temperatures and currents!

I studied Meteorlogy and some Oceanography at college. What the Met Office are talking about is a possible 2222change in position of the Polar Front (the division between the Temperate warm air mass and the colder Polar air mass). In a 'normal' winter the Polar Front resides well to the North of Britain. Most of the snowfall activity takes place at the Polar Front boundary where the cool and warm air mixing basicaly creates 'weather'. So Scandinavia and Northern Scotland normaly gets it.

If circumstances conspire to shift the position of the Polar Front south (i.e. the already observed changes in Ocean temperature etc) then more Southerly countries will be on the mixing boundry and will get colder AND get the snowfall asscociated with the mixing air masses. Scandinavia on the other hand will be just drier and colder than usual.

Remember- Britain is at the same latitude as Newfoundland- they too have a Maritime Climate but have far colder winters since they do not have the warming effect of the Gulf Stream (in fact I think there is a stream of Polar water off that coast). If the Gulf Stream stopped altogether then it certainly would be COLD here and also much drier too more akin to the climate of southern Chile- a bit grim really.

Anyway enough of the Met lesson. I'm looking forward to some snow (my oldest child of six has only been sledging once!!) and holding two fingers up to the Anti's who think 4WD is unecessary. Bring it on I say!