Member Since: 04 Feb 2007
Location: Sydney's Inner West
Posts: 54
snow trip prep
Heading to the snow soon
Anyone able to shed any light on whether a 2009 D4 2.7l needs any special winter fluids etc?
- will be on bitumen only and honestly do not expect to see any snow, maybe some frost.
Keen to find out if anything needs to be topped up or is the car ready to go to the snow, straight from the factory.
Cheers all!D4 Zermatt Silver TDV6: Premium Nav, Front Park, Bi-xenon, Hi-Ice, 7 Seat, dark as legal window tint. MAXTRAX, small shovel, snatch and shackles. ARB Portable Compressor, Bushranger X-Jack. Lovely new set of Cooper AT3's ready for action…Opposite Lock Colour Coded Bar, Runva 11XP Winch, ARB Awning, Safari Snorkel, Traxide Dual Battery System, Rhino Platform Rack & Accessories
21st Jul 2010 12:13 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73090
My 2 D3s were fine last winter down to -20c, just make sure you've got the right concentration of screen wash, it might be Xc during the day but it could be X-5c at night, that's what counts. I was running concentrations down to OK at -15c (100%) and was still getting problems, will find better stuff for next winter. MTRs are great in the snow.
Click image to enlarge
Should be fine straight from the box (apart from above) but that's based on UK experience, Aus may be different.
The main "fluid" to check for is the correct diesel. Try and have the fuel level low as you approach the snow areas and then make sure you fill up with winterised diesel. The normal diesel fuel in Oz can turn to waxy goo at alpine temperatures but the winterised stuff has a lower wax temp. It also helps to keep the fuel tank low, so that moisture doesn't condense in the air space of an empty tank and then freeze in a low point (ie, where the fuel is taken off).
While these aren't normal problems here in WA they are a big issue where I grew up in the US, where ambient once hit -72F (it's one reason I'm delighted to be so far from snow).Jim Dowell - D4 HSE TDi, 12,000 hydraulic winch & hidden winch mount, MTRs, TyreDog, Traxide 2 x aux battery system, fixed air compressor, Dolium roof rack, MitchHitch.
RIP 2005 D3 HSE V8 5 seater gold (stolen and torched)
21st Jul 2010 1:42 pm
2DISCO3ORNOT
Member Since: 27 Apr 2009
Location: at sea
Posts: 1209
Completely off topic...........DSL if you really are "on the wagon" and thats your second hand snow I would see a doctor ASAP
21st Jul 2010 2:09 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73090
Must change my location, forgot about that! Second hand snow?? Nah it was all original!
Forgot about winter diesel, it's routine up here, I suspect even in summer!
21st Jul 2010 2:28 pm
Dan W
Member Since: 21 Jun 2008
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 355
We have taken our disco to the the snow (Thredbo) the last 2 years. I don't do anything special to the car - I don't even bother searching for Alpine Diesel. I'm not even sure if they sell it - but it would explain why Diesel at Jindabyne is $1.80/L
The only Problems I have had is a cold start. A couple of times each year it had trouble kicking over, and twice I got a Transmission fault warning - which went after I restarted.
Perhaps it's because I don't use it much in Qld, but my take on the Disco's heater is that it's lame! Seems to take a long time to blow warm air. So I think the only mods you might need are driver clothing ones!
I should qualify that and also point out that being from Qld I believe anything below 25c is cold.... hence my calls of "Geez it's cold" start at about Port Macquarie.
We stopped at Kempsey on the way down one year and one of my girls said "do you think it's going to snow Dad?" I said "No" but secretly I thought it was going to..... 2012 MY13 SDV6 SE D4 Ipanema Sand with Almond leather
2012 TDI Passat - they reckon the DSG is crap, I reckon it's awesome
2010 MY11 Mitsubishi Challenger - Gone (it was a "Challenging Year")
2007 MY08 TDV6 SE - gone
21st Jul 2010 9:55 pm
dayne007
Member Since: 07 Mar 2010
Location: Dunedin
Posts: 9
Snow ?
do you get snow in Aussie.
Im up and back often to Queenstown, and she runs well - its build to do this stuff from factory.
22nd Jul 2010 12:12 am
gps-au
Member Since: 14 Apr 2009
Location: Sydney
Posts: 57
DingMark wrote:
The main "fluid" to check for is the correct diesel. Try and have the fuel level low as you approach the snow areas and then make sure you fill up with winterised diesel. The normal diesel fuel in Oz can turn to waxy goo at alpine temperatures but the winterised stuff has a lower wax temp.
I don't think the of of "winterised" diesel is available in Australia.
I spent a winter in the '90's on the NSW/Vic border and all we could get was the "normal stuff". Last time I check with some NSW NPS people up there.... they wished !! Which is why they generally run petrol.
Please, I would luv to have someone prove me wrong !!
22nd Jul 2010 6:40 am
nikademus
Member Since: 08 Sep 2006
Location: Geelong
Posts: 61
Just back from my second trip in the disco3 to the snow this year. I go up 3-4 times a year.
Yes, we have alpine diesel - at least in Victoria - I usually aim to fill at least half the tank with it at the foot of the mountain. This year has been so warm it hasn't mattered. Lowest I have seen is -7 and that's not very cold by Landrover standards.
Chains should be carried. I have a set under the second row seat permanatly. They can be hired almost everywhere below the mountain. Some places will give you free chains if you hire ski gear. Jumper cables and a few tools are sensible too. Not for you - for the other clowns you'll have to help. Therietically you should leave the handbrake off but I've always used it. I figure it will warm up and defreeze pretty quick
There's nothing else special you need. I run cooper atr's, but the standrad tyres were fine too for carpark type stuff. Tip a good dose of bars bugs in the washer fluid if you're worried about it freezing.
The most valuable tool is a cheap plastic dust pan and brush. This is invaluable as a mini shovel for clearing snow off windows and from around wheels. The plastic doesn't harm the bodywork or break windows. The brush is good too for clearing lights, door handles etc. I never bother with the stuff on the roof or bonnet. Just tap the brakes and it all comes rolling off at the first bend.
When I get back to the car I like to start it, then load all my stuff, children, wife etc. That way the car has warmed up nicely by the time I'm ready to roll. Let it glow too before kicking it over. If there's been a dump and I'm too lazy to clear it all away, I rock the car a centimetre or two just to loosen it before plowing out. It is better to clear the stuff away from the wheels. I know someone who ripped off a mudflap and plastic side strip through lazyness
Have a great trip!Disco 2 TD5 "Good"
Disco 3 TDV6 "Better"
Disco 4 HSE SDV6 "Best"
The older I get, the better I was.
27th Jul 2010 7:32 am
caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
You will find most chains will not fit the D3 due to clearance on the inside but you wont' need them and carrying a cheap or hired set will stop you getting fined. I think in NSW they are not required for 4x4s?“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
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do you get snow in Aussie.
