Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 21:45:53 PDT
Reply-To: Mark Dorm <mark_hb@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Dorm <mark_hb@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Minnesota
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
I'd be interested in knowing if Agilis 61 tires could handle the ice?.....
As far as rust - you'll be close to Krown treatment available in Canada.....
>From: John Rodgers <inua@HIWAAY.NET>
>
>Brad, thanks for the info.
>
>In 30 years of Alaska living never did I put chains on any of my vehicles.
>Only once did I ever put studded tires on my vehicle. And only once did I
>ever
>own a 4 wheel drive vehicle......and it was a Jeep Wagoneer LTD. And even
>then
>I wouldn't have except I needed it on a job I had at a remote location for
>about a year. Once the job was finished, I didn't really need it then. Once
>I
>was back on the main highway system in Alaska I could have sold it but
>didn't.
>Didn't really need it's 4-wheel abilities nor the cost of 4-wheel drive
>maintenance. But I just drove it to rust --er, dust. When it died, I bought
>my
>85GL Vanagon. The first winter with it I discovered I had to have studded
>tires
>on the thing in winter. On the day of the first ice-over I was going up a
>slight grade, and the rear broke free and spun me out in the middle of the
>highway while on my way to Anchorage. My '68 Bus never did that. Gave no
>warning, Really caught me by surprise. Turned around and went straight to
>the
>local Goodyear store. Bought a set of studded all-weather radials, never
>had a
>problem after that. As soon as roads cleared in spring, off they came and
>the
>regular tires were put back on. The method worked for me.
>
>Oil pan heaters, block heaters or tank heaters were a must. Some people
>used
>battery warmers as well. I never did but the life of the battery would
>probably
>have been increased had I done so.
>
>Starter on the 85GL protested every time I started it up in winter. Loud
>squeal. Even with all the preheating. I guess it just never got enough
>heat,
>sticking out in the cold underneath. After the engine was thoroughly
>warmed, I
>could shut down and re-start and it was fine. But after shutting down and
>getting cold-soaked overnight, it would protest. Never had any serious
>winter
>cold related problems. Heaters workd really well, and if the rear one was
>not
>blocked by feet or a box on the floor or whatever, it really would put out
>the
>heat and made the real difference in the comfort level on really cold days.
>
>John Rodgers
>88GL Driver
>
>Brad Spear wrote:
>
> > I never had a tank heater in my '87 Syncro in the four years that I had
>it
> > and never had any trouble starting except when it got down to-35. It
>still
> > started but didn't want to. You will need to run a 3w-30 in the winter.
> > Just about anything else is like molasses and 20w-50 is like paste.
> >
> > The last couple of winters have been pretty mild, only two or so days
>where
> > the high was below zero here in the Twin Cities metro area.
> >
> > Saint Cloud has a VW dealership, we had a swap meet up there a few
>months
> > ago. Jerry Coffin, JAC Auto Repair, Ramsey, MN, is a good one to go to,
> > He's not that far from Saint Cloud.
> >
> > Let me know if you need any more info.
> >
> > Brad Spear
> > '72 Westy
> > Burnsville, Minnesota
> >
> > In a message dated 9/16/00 7:12:42 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> > CTONLINE@WEBTV.NET writes:
> >
> > << John,
> > First things first.
> > You better think of installing a tank heater, or at least a lower hose
> > heater, so the VW will want to start, in the sub zero temps.
> > Get a grill cover made to keep your tootsies toasty.
> > Purchase some 5W oil to run in the winter, or at least some 5W20.
> > Oil turns into molassis up there real quick. The roads up there are
> > cleaned up faster than you can imagine, so chains aren't really
>nessary,
> > and I don't think you can run them anyway unless it's a emergency
> > (Getting un-stuck, then take them off)
> > Why in the heck would anyone want to move to the "Land of Eternal Cold"
> > anyway?
> >
> > Hasta,
> >
> > Terry
> >
> > 85 GL >>
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