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Moving a car from California to New England

P

Parasitic

Diamond Member
So I'm moving a car with me from SoCal to New York and being somebody who's never really lived in cold climates I was wondering if ATOT is able to help me with some basic questions about car maintenance and snow driving tips. Now I assume that one thing of immediate attention is that I should do a radiator flush and replace my coolant with an ethylene/water blend instead of the current green water stuff? We've always just filled the radiator coolant tank with water, so a flush is necessary? What's the right blend of ethylene/water? 70/30 or 50/50?

What about other fluids? Do I need to add ethylene at all?
And should I keep an icepick in the car as well? New tires?

Thanks
 
Buy snow tires for winter - I wouldn't recommend running all seasons if this is your first time driving in snow. The 'green water stuff' may have been fine at one time, but if you've been putting water in, a flush isn't going to hurt...the shop will know what to do. How old is your battery?
 
Originally posted by: CadetLee
Buy snow tires for winter - I wouldn't recommend running all seasons if this is your first time driving in snow. The 'green water stuff' may have been fine at one time, but if you've been putting water in, a flush isn't going to hurt...the shop will know what to do. How old is your battery?
Click to expand...

The battery is brand new - we just got it replaced a month ago.
If I bought some snow tires does that mean I need to have my all-seasons taken off during winter and put back on in spring?
 
Originally posted by: Parasitic
Originally posted by: CadetLee
Buy snow tires for winter - I wouldn't recommend running all seasons if this is your first time driving in snow. The 'green water stuff' may have been fine at one time, but if you've been putting water in, a flush isn't going to hurt...the shop will know what to do. How old is your battery?
Click to expand...

The battery is brand new - we just got it replaced a month ago.
If I bought some snow tires does that mean I need to have my all-seasons taken off during winter and put back on in spring?
Click to expand...

Yep - or you could get another set of wheels - steel wheels are great for winter. What kind of car do you have? If it's AWD and you're cautious, you might do alright with all seasons...snows would be safest, though. Do you know how much snow your area usually gets? I'm in northern NH..things might be different up here.. 😛
 
wait a second... you just put in plain water? Don't you have a ton of problems with corrosion?

Most people use a 50/50 blend of water/ethylene glycol. 60% antifreeze/40% water has the lowest freezing point, but you don't have to worry about that cold of temperatures in NY.

You'll also need to replace the blinker fluid with a 50/50 antifreeze solution. 😉

No, you don't use an ice pick!! Snow/ice scraper is fine. Be aware that unlike the pussified states, NY doesn't close schools and businesses for insignificant amounts of snow. 6 inches is insignificant. We do, of course, close things due to freezing rain. Unlike the rest of the idiots of the world, we in NY realize that no matter how much of a status symbol you think your SUV is, 4wd does not give you the ability to drive in freezing rain.

Oh, and this topic belongs in the garage, so I'm sticking it there...
 
slow way way down
snow tires are good, keep your wipers in good shape
since it's a minivan i'd keep a shovel and scraper in the van, plus more in the house. you might like to keep an umbrella handy, but then we'll always call you Mary Poppins
follow the manf. directions for fluids and maintenance. this may mean switching to a lighter oil and using an ethelene glycol antifreeze.
the best part is, when you wash your car, it will be filthy within 1 hour. and if you don't wash it again soon it will disolve.

edit: the winter blend of gasoline will be arriving soon, expect poorer performance and economy.

and new york is most certainly not new england, thank you.
 
Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

< cut >

and new york is most certainly not new england, thank you.
Click to expand...

Hold on . . .

was a New Yorker just polite???

"Thank you" from a New Yorker???

Quick! Somebody alert the media! Wow
 
Originally posted by: scott
Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

< cut >

and new york is most certainly not new england, thank you.
Click to expand...

Hold on . . .

was a New Yorker just polite???

"Thank you" from a New Yorker???

Quick! Somebody alert the media! Wow
Click to expand...

Maybe you should have read his nick first - "The Boston Dangler". I'm going to just GUESS that he's not a New Yorker.
 
Originally posted by: EvilYoda
Originally posted by: scott
Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

< cut >

and new york is most certainly not new england, thank you.
Click to expand...

Hold on . . .

was a New Yorker just polite???

"Thank you" from a New Yorker???

Quick! Somebody alert the media! Wow
Click to expand...

Maybe you should have read his nick first - "The Boston Dangler". I'm going to just GUESS that he's not a New Yorker.
Click to expand...

Ahhhhh THAT explains the "thank you.? No wonder.
 
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