You high elevation deep snow dwellers out there...need advice.

[Ruffian]

Ok, so the highest elevation I've ever lived at was 6,400 feet in Colorado. Yeah it snowed, but no worse where I grew up in the foothills of CA. I'm talking, maybe 4 feet, but that would melt after too long. Only the die hard frozen like a ice cube stuff would stick around in the shade.
So off to the Tahoe Basin I go by mid October. I'll be living in Truckee, so think 7000 ft elevation, and an average of 16 feet of snow. Yes Ruffian will be stalled in a garage!! No way am I digging my tall 4Runner out every morning.
So not really a big deal as I know those of you in Fargo N.D. are now laughing at me. What I want to ask is what do those of you living in cold snowy regions do to prepare your rig for harsher winter weather?
I've come up with a radiator flush....because at 100,000 miles that service is due (in 5,000 miles) anyway. Getting the windshield wash that is for freezing temps. And then what thickness of oil should I get for my next oil change? Thank you for your time.

 

[shuly]

Getting the windshield wash that is for freezing temps...QUOTE]

I can't help with everything but with the washer fluid, you can buy it premixed but it is expensive that way. Since you are so close to NV you may be able to get a hold of pure methanol. In CA it is tightly controlled because of people using it for drug labs, but you can still get it at raceways. Anyway if you can get it in NV that would save you some serious cash instead of paying separately for fluid. 1 gal is roughly 15-20 bucks. That will last you quite a while if you dilute your own fluid. At one time I pulled up thermo data on the mixture so I could do this myself. Here is the data if you want to just add the MeOH to your own washer fluid (assuming you can find the MeOH). Just figure out the lowest temp you will experience and add appropriately. It does strip waxes from the paint, is a good solvent (bad for rubber hoses in the long term), and it is a VOC (env issues) so you don't want to use more than really necessary.

I know you probably don't care about the Flash Point data but it was already in the table. I have a pretty curve fit too. But figure no one wants that ... yes I really am an in-gin-ear!

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Another thing that isn't avail in the US, I haven't looked much into it but in that climate you might consider checking to see if there is a retrofit. In Canada, Toyota provides a low washer fluid indicator so you won't be surprised when the fluid is low. Not a big deal but it sure makes deicing that windshield a piece of cake no scraping required with MeOH.

If you consider using Ethanol, I would avoid it. EtOH is "sticky" and doesn't work well. Propanol is just too hard to get. I don't know what other common cheap deicers there are for fluid but MeOH is by far one of the easiest ways to clean off the ice. It is so nice hit the windshield and in a few swipes all snow and ice is gone.

 

[shuly]

Oh yeah...and that photo you attached is spectacular!

 

[CJ3Flyr]

For the oil... If you are using a synthetic oil a good 0w-30 would be great, perhaps Mobil 1 or the Pennzoil. If not a 5w-30 should be fine. Being in a garage for that first start of the day will help tremendously. Even an unheated garage will likely hover around 30+ degrees.

With respect to the washer fluid: After you get your winter mix in there run the back window squirter long enough to get the winter fluid all the way back there

 

[offshorebear]

I would switch to syntetic oil if you havn't done so already. It works much better at low temperatures.

And I would just buy washer fluid. Walmart sells winter RainX for less than $3.

 

[Ruffian]

For the oil... If you are using a synthetic oil a good 0w-30 would be great, perhaps Mobil 1 or the Pennzoil. If not a 5w-30 should be fine. Being in a garage for that first start of the day will help tremendously. Even an unheated garage will likely hover around 30+ degrees.

With respect to the washer fluid: After you get your winter mix in there run the back window squirter long enough to get the winter fluid all the way back there

Thank you Chris....I was waiting to hear from you! Ok then, for sure I'm not going to look for a place with no garage. Besides...who likes changing their oil on a snow packed driveway? Not this chick!! lol And no worries on starting the car inside a closed garage. When I was a kid we'd vacation in Tahoe during the winter. Of course now I don't remember the set up, but it was a tube like hose that g-pa put over the tail pipe and ran it out the back side of the garage for the exhaust to be safely removed out of the building. Just like fire engine's do in their own 'garages'! Thanks for the #'s on the oil. Yeah I'm sticking with Mobile 1, fully synthetic of course!

I would switch to syntetic oil if you havn't done so already. It works much better at low temperatures.

And I would just buy washer fluid. Walmart sells winter RainX for less than $3.

Thank you Shuly but I'm not THAT great of a chemist! I'll stick with whatever winterized fluid is bottled and easily available at Reno stores. Check on the synthetic oil my friend. Have been running that for 2 years now. It's even in the diff's.

Thank you everyone.

 

[offshorebear]

I wouldn't make a big deal out of it. Synthetic oil, proper fluids (not just water in the radiator, you need to use antifreeze)

If its really really cold, you could look into block heaters to keep the engine warm when you are parked. Ask around up there if you need one

My 4Runner is just happy at -10 without anything special. The rear doors freeze shut when snow/mud get caked below them. If you use these often you might want to apply some sort of silicon to the rubber seals to help them remain free.

 

[h&t]

Hi

I live in Toronto, not the coldest or the most snowed upon place, but
I believe it qualifies me for dispencing advice here

don't touch methanol - HIGHLY toxic, even for handling, just buy the bloody windshield washer -40 on sale
I use 10w30 cheap oil, but even 5w30 is ok.
don't worry too much, it's not like you're moving to Alaska
A friend had a metal mirror break off on his truck in Yukon in extreme cold, like plastic :lol:

 

[shuly]

don't touch methanol - HIGHLY toxic, even for handling, just buy the bloody windshield washer -40 ...

Just an FYI: Methanol is what IS actually in the windshield fluid you buy. You pay a huge premium for them to dilute it for you. Just want to clear up any mis info. The winter washer fluids (in general) DO contain methanol. So yes...they are highly toxic too. Just don't drink the stuff!

 

[ecrew16]

Hey Ruffian,

You're moving up the hill this winter? Nice! Maybe I'll see you when I pass through Truckee 2-3 times a week, can't miss the batmobile!

 

[gptoy96]

I wouldn't stress on it too much, I don't imagine it gets too cold there. I've hit -40c in mine and no issues. Tires drive like squares at that temp. so it's a bit rough but truck works good.
I don't have time to do my own oil changes, so I get them done at the dealer and I just use what they give me (Toyota oil for a Toyota truck is fine for me).
The advice on the windshield washer fluid is good, and also heard about making sure it's all the way through your lines front & back which is also good.
Only thing I'd recommend is a remote starter, I'm lazy like that and it's some sweet to jump into a warm truck when it's cold out!
I don't have a converter here but at about -25c is when I start plugging in with my block heater, if you don't have one and it gets that cold or colder might think about getting one installed (it's standard on Canadian T4R's, on top of the low fluid light which I can appreciate).

 

[Ruffian]

ecrew....sent ya a p.m.

Thanks gents! Spoke with a fellow 4 wheeler tonight at the club meeting. He gave me the run down on how to do the radiator flush etc. I'm ideally looking for a place with a garage, so I should be good for going out and starting her up for a min or two, if anything to give the seat heater a moment to warm up!
On to start looking at places next week. I can't believe in one months time I'll be living in God's country! Paying for it out the nose....lol....but living and breathing that sweet mtn air again!