Driving - ice roads

[SniperR10]

Just to add my opinion and some of my experience of winter driving.

 

Firstly if you don’t need to go out don’t !!! if you must just be careful and allow lots more time for your travel. Have an Emergency package with you as it don’t take long at -10C to start getting cold if you are stuck on the motorways etc. This sounds like overkill but a few simple items and preparation will help a lot. Full tank of fuel, So you can have your engine running for longer if you get stuck, Warm hat, Sleeping Blankets(Very Good), Flask of hot liquid(Tea, Coffee or my favorite cupasoup.) Every little bit helps, Along with the already mentioned Shovel, Blankets Towrope etc…

 

As previously stated by someone if everyone stayed at home it would be a big problem. Well actually For Mr Joe public this won’t be a problem it would actually be a help as it will mean less people on the road less problems. As for Nurses, Doctors Emergency services etc it is essential they get to work. Imagine if you were injured and no one had gone to work. so no ambulance to take you to Hospital and no one at the hospital to treat you etc etc… Just won’t Happen. But I do agree if Travel is unnecessary then don’t travel.

 

I Agree the Uk is not geared up for bad weather. How can they be when in the last 10 years we have only had a handful of times where it had snowed to an extent of concern and most has been in the last years.

 

I have been working now in Western Siberia for 5 years. We get Extremes in Temperature from +40C in the summer to -60C in the winter. With windchills into the -90C.

From approx Sept through to May it is winter. With an average temperature over this time of -30C. We currently have approx 2-3ft of compacted snow covering everywhere this stays from approx Oct to April.

 

We change to Winter spiked tyres in our light vehicles and they are great you have full control even on shear ice. Our larger vehicles just have Off-road tyres and they cope really well in both Snow and Ice. But they weigh between 12T and 40T and all are 6x6 which probably helps.

 

We do have a cutoff point of -40C and we stop operations.

Vehicles are left running all the time when outside below -15C. Our equipment we use have the best Synthetic oil you can buy but even that turns from Water consistency in Summer to solid block at -50C. All equipment needs to be heated by either a Webasto system or Electric heaters. Standard 10W 40 oil gets to a treacle like texture at -20deg C you can poor it into your hand and make like an Ice-cream cone out of it them scrape it back into the container. I have a small movie somewhere I will see if I am able to upload it to web somehow.

Also Diesel fuel is a problem we have 3 types.

Summer Diesel only good for down to approx -5C,

Winter Diesel approx -35C/-40C,

Arctic diesel Good down to -70C.

 

So if we have a couple of -30C days at the start of winter most fuel stations are still trying to get rid of their summer diesel and we have all sorts of problems with fuel systems freezing. We generally mix in some petrol with the diesel at a ratio of approx 25% and this works a treat.

 

 

Here in Siberia it’s just a part of life its cold and you just naturally do things to cope. Another difference In Uk you are never too far from someone due to the population Here in Siberia you could drive for 4 hours and not see another vehicle or anything but trees and snow. You have an accident or a breakdown at anything below 0C and you have to act quick at -40 degC your face / exposed skin start to freeze in approx 1/2 mins and your body losses temperature at an alarming rate. Basically you have an accident at below -20C and your chances of survival are not good. Even if you just breakdown within ten minutes your vehicle has lost all its heat and it’s not long before your vehicle is same as outside temperature. You hear lots of times of people finding broken down cars with frozen people inside. the most heart wrenching was a family of 5 including baby few months old frozen to death just because there car broke down and it was a few hours later before a Lorry driver found them. All of the drivers over here are good and stop if you are on the side of the road. But sometimes there are no one else on the road.

 

 

So correct other places have it worse than the U.K but they also have similar problems. I have often driven into the city which is about 3 hour drive from where i stay and the amount of 2wd Vehicles that are skidding and sliding about due to still being on summer tyres at the start of winter is unbelievable. Studed tyres are not a good option in the UK because they do damage roads when used on clear roads, So best option would be Snow tyres the ones with the softer compound that don’t freeze and go hard.

 

 

Top tip Stay warm, stay inside.

[SniperR10]

Sorry guys my last post was a long one....i just have a bit to much time on my hands and just got carried away….

[Chard]

Sorry guys my last post was a long one....i just have a bit to much time on my hands and just got carried away….

 

Don't apologise mate, very interesting post

 

Scary ****, don't like the thought of breaking down out there

[Devon Fox]

Interesting though DK! would like to see the vid if you manage to get it uploaded

[Tony9r]

My Pajero is the perfect tool in these conditions with AT tyres

[Zapp]

If you dont mind my noseyness dpkdream, what line of work are you in that takes you all the way out there?

[officerdibble777]

Interesting though DK! would like to see the vid if you manage to get it uploaded

me too, your post was a good read some great tips

 

john

[ollie]

ollie ,mate if your hotel is that important,and you are so needed there,why has your employer not given you a room during the worst of the weather?

If the majority of staff don't make it,do you think guests will do any better ?

 

They have been fully booked out due to the weather. Anyone who goes to weddings or dinners don't want to travel home in those conditions so they stay in the Hotel for the night.

[rodp]

One important thing no-one's mentioned so far, Find your front tow point and have it ready to fit

 

The amount of cars I have stopped to tow out and they have no where to fasten the strap is alarming. If a 4x4 stops to help it aint his job to find your towing eye

[HDAV]

One important thing no-one's mentioned so far, Find your front tow point and have it ready to fit

 

The amount of cars I have stopped to tow out and they have no where to fasten the strap is alarming. If a 4x4 stops to help it aint his job to find your towing eye

got my towing eye out of the wheel well today all ready have my own tow rope too so if i do get stuck, I'll be waiting all hooked up and ready to go.....

 

Just watched a guy take 20 minutes to get a focus from where he parked it at the side of the road past the other parked cars instead of digging a clear path he was moving 6" polishing the snow for a bit then digging 6" and doing the same finally dawned on him to dig out 6' then tried to turn round and got stuck again :lol:

[Hornet 6]

The correct tyres make a big difference I tried to buy some Winter tyres recently but they are sold out until the New Year.

 

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/total_tyre_guide/259435/winter_tyre_test.html

 

 

Snow tyres and or chains is a great idea, but the driving without insurance cover that follows is not so good

 

Neil.

[HDAV]

Snow tyres and or chains is a great idea, but the driving without insurance cover that follows is not so good

 

Neil.

? I thought the insurance industry had agreed that winter tyres were not a modification? As for chains they are surely an accessory?

[Albertan_J]

I expect that's what this lot thought before they took their chances with it.

 

 

 

 

I know where I'd rather be.

 

I'm Canadian so I biased and I can't understand why snow poses such a problem to so many people on the road. The chaos in that picture was undoubtedly caused by one idiot driving too fast, too close or changing lanes too quickly and loosing it. It really doesn't take a brain surgeon or driving instructor in this case to work out how to drive in the snow or ice. Let common sense prevail and get some decent tyres.

[HDAV]

Let common sense prevail and get some decent tyres.

IF we could we would.....

[njc110381]

I think what you Canadians have to keep in mind is that the average british driver is about as much use as an untrained monkey when it snows. We just don't deal with it often enough and some people have no sense at all! Along with that you have the kit to deal with the bulk of it, we don't! We get advised to stay off of the roads because there are some real stupid people around. Last time it snowed I had a car full of lads that close behind me that I couldn't see thir headlights through my back window! It only takes a few of those to completely ruin everyones chances of making it anywhere!

 

I go out in my Land Rover but not the car. That way if some plank hits me it's their loss! Generally speaking a bit of route planning helps too. The number of people I see taking an a huge hill by our house is funny, especially when if you go the long way around it's near enough flat all the way!

[Hornet 6]

? I thought the insurance industry had agreed that winter tyres were not a modification? As for chains they are surely an accessory?

 

Doesn't actually matter which they are, if you fit them you have modified the car, did you notify your insurance company ?

That is all it takes for an insurance company to call foul

 

Neil.

[SniperR10]

Interesting though DK! would like to see the vid if you manage to get it uploaded

I will try and find it up then try and post it on one of the share sites.

 

If you dont mind my noseyness dpkdream, what line of work are you in that takes you all the way out there?

No I don’t think you are being too Nosey………I have been working in Siberia for nearly 6 years now and currently work for an International Oilfield Service company.

3 years ago I took the job as part of a 5 man team on a start up project in Siberia, Russia for Fracturing and Coiltubing. My part was to take care of maintenance of the oilfield equipment. Which included getting a decent workshop facility, Kitting it out with tools etc and get together a team consisting of Mechanical engineers, Electronic Technicians, Hydraulic Specialist, Welders etc. 3 years on and we now have approx 300 people working on this project and only 2 of the original 5 remain that is myself and my Back to back. Think they have forgot about us ….LOL… Our biggest hurdle that made this project such a challenge was that part of the conditions were that all employees had to be Russian citizens. There are only two foreigners now out of the 300, that being Myself and my back to back.

[al4x]

Doesn't actually matter which they are, if you fit them you have modified the car, did you notify your insurance company ?

That is all it takes for an insurance company to call foul

 

Neil.

 

 

Balls you can fit replacement tyres and they aren't a modification. The issue was some call centre staff thought they were hence the newspaper stories about it but the insurers then said it was false and anyone who had been paid would be refunded.

[Devon Fox]

I will try and find it up then try and post it on one of the share sites.

 

 

No I don’t think you are being too Nosey………I have been working in Siberia for nearly 6 years now and currently work for an International Oilfield Service company.

3 years ago I took the job as part of a 5 man team on a start up project in Siberia, Russia for Fracturing and Coiltubing. My part was to take care of maintenance of the oilfield equipment. Which included getting a decent workshop facility, Kitting it out with tools etc and get together a team consisting of Mechanical engineers, Electronic Technicians, Hydraulic Specialist, Welders etc. 3 years on and we now have approx 300 people working on this project and only 2 of the original 5 remain that is myself and my Back to back. Think they have forgot about us ….LOL… Our biggest hurdle that made this project such a challenge was that part of the conditions were that all employees had to be Russian citizens. There are only two foreigners now out of the 300, that being Myself and my back to back.

 

Exciting stuff - sounds like a real experience

[Schern]

My main issue driving in snow is clearance! Both my cars are quite low, the sump on one is about 2" off the ground so if too much snow goes under it it'll just lift the wheels off the ground and the other has about 3" clearance round the bumper (it catches on curbs if I'm not careful) so I'd rip that off if the snow was too deep. Luckily I seem to be in the only place in Britain that doesn't have any snow! My suggestion would be for everyone to go out and buy sledges. We got one for our little girl and it hasn't snowed since!

[SniperR10]

Exciting stuff - sounds like a real experience

Definately a Life experience.....

[Dave-G]

Balls you can fit replacement tyres and they aren't a modification. The issue was some call centre staff thought they were hence the newspaper stories about it but the insurers then said it was false and anyone who had been paid would be refunded.

 

Correct. The general phone receptionist at insurers were not expected to have such a blessing as common sense. If you have paid extra Hornet, get onto your insurance company themselves and tell them what your broker has done to you.

[Dave-G]

My main issue driving in snow is clearance! Both my cars are quite low, the sump on one is about 2" off the ground so if too much snow goes under it it'll just lift the wheels off the ground and the other has about 3" clearance round the bumper (it catches on curbs if I'm not careful) so I'd rip that off if the snow was too deep. Luckily I seem to be in the only place in Britain that doesn't have any snow! My suggestion would be for everyone to go out and buy sledges. We got one for our little girl and it hasn't snowed since!

 

Sounds like you need to go up in the world mate.

[Albertan_J]

I think what you Canadians have to keep in mind is that the average british driver is about as much use as an untrained monkey when it snows. We just don't deal with it often enough and some people have no sense at all! Along with that you have the kit to deal with the bulk of it, we don't! We get advised to stay off of the roads because there are some real stupid people around. Last time it snowed I had a car full of lads that close behind me that I couldn't see thir headlights through my back window! It only takes a few of those to completely ruin everyones chances of making it anywhere!

 

I go out in my Land Rover but not the car. That way if some plank hits me it's their loss! Generally speaking a bit of route planning helps too. The number of people I see taking an a huge hill by our house is funny, especially when if you go the long way around it's near enough flat all the way!

 

Fair point pal but up North this is the third winter of snow and no lessons learned by the councils or highways agency.

[Schern]

Sounds like you need to go up in the world mate.

 

Yep, I quite fancy an A6 Allroad but it's a case of beer income, champagne tastes!