Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:22:26 -0800
Reply-To: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Subject: Re: Winterizing Newbie Question
In-Reply-To: <48D30021.1010208@gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Mike,
Don't feel bad about your lack of knowledge preparing a vehicle for cold weather operation. Wednesday a Parts person from a Honda dealership in Oregon called me to purchase a battery blanket and oil pan heater for a customers vehicle that will be moving to Alaska. Evidently he was unable to locate said parts in his area(not sure that he tried very hard). I have even had people from dealerships farther south call to purchase block heaters, it seems that they were unaware the block heaters are listed in the accessory section of the parts catalog. It is all a matter of what you are used to.
As for your van, if you are not going to use it until Spring, do mess with starting it until then. If it does not get a chance to fully warm up and drive around you won't be gaining anything. You may find leaks that do not show up when it is warm out. I have even had a brake master cylinder that would only leak in subzero temperatures. I found this after a pool of brake fluid appeared on the drivers floor mat one Winter.
Our camping van(`87 Westy Syncro) hibernates outside all Winter. Before storing it we make sure all food is out, drain water tank and lines, test the antifreeze, fill the fuel tank, change the oil, wash it, check tire pressures, and disconnect the battery. During the Winter I check the battery occasionally and brush the snow off the top, the suspension will sag with 6 -10ft of snow on top.
My daily driver `87 Sunroof Syncro gets a lighter 5W30 weight oil(both use synthetic), and a block heater. It also has Nokian studded tires, a sheet of cardboard blocking the radiator, and a modified front heating system that recirculates cabin air. Subzero temperatures in a Vanagon with the stock heater arrangement are a little chilly inside. Additionally I carry blankets for the kids to cover themselves with on the drive to school, it is too short a distance for the interior to warm up in.
Mark in AK
Assistant Parts Manager
Continental Honda
Continental Acura
----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Date: Thursday, September 18, 2008 5:39 pm
Subject: Winterizing Newbie Question
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 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
> closerto the tropics: southern Californian. Coastal SoCal. Where
> wintertemperatures 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
> askedwhat it was.
>
> "Engine block heater," I said. "For when it gets real cold." Which
> totallyexhausted my knowledge in matters automotive and climes
> Really Cold.
>
> NB: I probably got that wrong, but it's important to try to look
> ReallySmart to our kids. But see Note 1, below.
>
> Which got me thinking: if Mellow Yellow (MW), a 1984 WBX, will be
> prettymuch 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
>
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