Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:18:41 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Winterizing Newbie Question
In-Reply-To: <48D30021.1010208@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
What do you really call cold weather?
The freshwater tank and sink need to be protected from anything near
freezing temps. Drain all either blow all lines out with air or use some
RV antifreeze. The pump and faucet are the first parts to break from
freezing.
For the engine, the proper antifreeze mix is good for anything you will
encounter. Unless you need to operate it during winter, nothing needs to
be done there either. If you need to drive it, 20w-50 is good down to the
mid-twenties just drive it gently until it warms up. Synthetic 15w-50 will
go down to the single digits. If going lower than that consider the 0w-40.
Keep fuel full as practical to avoid condensation and if the brake fluid
is old, change it.
As for maintenance battery chargers, be careful as many will do noting
more than dry them out. Are you dry docking the van or will it still be
used occasionally? If being stored outside you need to think of
undercoating, rust proofing and regularly airing out the interior. If it
sits all winter consider inspecting the brakes each spring.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Mike Elliott
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2008 9:28 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Winterizing Newbie Question
Okay, as some of you know, Mrs Squirrel and I just moved our darn
selves--lock, stock, and barrel--to Bend, Oregon from a place much closer
to the tropics: southern Californian. Coastal SoCal. Where winter
temperatures seldom drop below 45F.
My son, who came with us, today noticed what looked like the male end of
an extension cord hanging out from the hood of a pickup truck and asked
what it was.
"Engine block heater," I said. "For when it gets real cold." Which totally
exhausted my knowledge in matters automotive and climes Really Cold.
NB: I probably got that wrong, but it's important to try to look Really
Smart to our kids. But see Note 1, below.
Which got me thinking: if Mellow Yellow (MW), a 1984 WBX, will be pretty
much doing nothing during these much colder winters, what should I do to
winterize her? (Or him. Whatever.)
MW will probably sit in sub-freezing temps for several months with
maintenance chargers hooked up to the starter and house batteries. I could
use a "Dummy's Guide to Winterizing Your Vanagon" here.
==========================
Note 1. As a side note: My son's Jeep Cherokee -- anyone here have any
Handy Tips for dealing with these colder conditions? P-mail me as that is
extremely NVC.)
--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
Bend, OR
KG6RCR
