Latest posts for the topic "AutoSocks"

AutoSocks

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:06:23 GMT

Has anyone used these?

They seem like a good idea but experience is always the true test.

Jan

AutoSocks

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:10:17 GMT

Jan I Stenmark wrote:Has anyone used these?

They seem like a good idea but experience is always the true test.

Jan

You might try the search facility as this came up before. They're a joke basically and get panned in every test. A lot of people also report police not allowing them onto roads requiring equipped vehicles.

What seems to confuse people is that sometimes, especially when they're got summer tyres, they need a tiny bit more traction and autosocks give just that from which they assume they're OK, I suppose that's true if you can guarantee never needing much extra traction.

Re:AutoSocks

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:54:04 GMT

from www.snowchains.co.uk website regarding the "Weissenfels new WeissSock tyre socks"

It is important to be aware that, so far, this type of product is not necessarily regarded as legally acceptable in European ski resorts. Therefore, in our opinion, the ideal solution is to take WeissSocks but also carry a pair of snow chains should the conditions or local legislation demand them to be used.

Why buy chains and socks, to me this would not make sense :?:

Re:AutoSocks

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:04:37 GMT

bandit wrote:from www.snowchains.co.uk website regarding the "Weissenfels new WeissSock tyre socks"

It is important to be aware that, so far, this type of product is not necessarily regarded as legally acceptable in European ski resorts. Therefore, in our opinion, the ideal solution is to take WeissSocks but also carry a pair of snow chains should the conditions or local legislation demand them to be used.

Why buy chains and socks, to me this would not make sense :?:

blimey, that's a bit of a shot in the foot :D i was just reading the stuff on the autosocks site, it's a fantastic exercise in evasion and spurious comparisons.

Re:AutoSocks

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:18:35 GMT

Thanks for that useful detour into answering the unasked question but ... Has anyone actually used them?

Surprisingly, I can read the website, interpret the bumf and draw my own conclusions, I hope, as well as then next person - what I find harder is gaining practical knowledge from a user …

Actually that gives me a good idea - Ski equipment reviews based on armchair critiques of other peoples experience distilled from apres ski bar chat after a few beers … It'd certainly avoid all that nasty need for familiarity or worse, contact with a product.

So as I said,

Has anyone used these?

Jan

Re:AutoSocks

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:33:21 GMT

Perhaps you should buy a pair and test them in the next big dump.

You can post your review as a true test of the kit :D

Re:AutoSocks

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:15:56 GMT

Jan

I have not used them but surely it would be far more humorous to tell you why you shouldn't use them and point out that it has been reported that police are not allowing them onto roads requiring equipped vehicles :!:

An interesting point is that 140,000 pairs have been sold in that well snowed upon country of Norway. A quick search of google popped up this website www.autosock-spain.com/pdf/tuv_report_english.pdf although you've probably read this already. I seem to remember someone talking about this on snowheads last season, you could always brave it Jan :?:

Re:AutoSocks

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:27:27 GMT

Jan I Stenmark wrote:Thanks for that useful detour into answering the unasked question but ... Has anyone actually used them?

Surprisingly, I can read the website, interpret the bumf and draw my own conclusions, I hope, as well as then next person - what I find harder is gaining practical knowledge from a user …

Actually that gives me a good idea - Ski equipment reviews based on armchair critiques of other peoples experience distilled from apres ski bar chat after a few beers … It'd certainly avoid all that nasty need for familiarity or worse, contact with a product.

So as I said,

Has anyone used these?

Jan

You might think feedback from someone who's lived in the Alps for some years and isn't surprised when it snows in September might be quite useful though, there's a reason why we don't use them after all. If you read the tests from your recent country of residence run by their motoring association you'll see why people don't use them.

Re:AutoSocks

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:59:18 GMT

So, ise, can I take it you have no personal experience of these then :?:

Perhaps it would be helpful if I fully explained the reason for my question ... I have been considering providing a range of complementary sets for our guests who find themselves in need of some extra traction. I have considered providing chains but covering every tyre size would be very costly. Also, the labour and inconvenience with chains is relatively high. I had hoped that someone who had actually used them might be able to help me understand how flexible the sizes are and if a "full" range of socks was really necessary. I was not intending travelling great distances or relying on them as a primary source of traction (all my vehicles run studded snow tyres throughout the winter months as well as carrying chains whenever either required or simply sensible)

From a hoteliers point of view, customers sometimes

need a tiny bit more traction and autosocks give just that

so I fail to see the joke?

I would suggest that if asking a simple, open and honest question results in this kind of response then I for one think this site will quickly join the ranks of back-biting, conceited, opinionated mediocrity that so far it has succeeded in avoiding. Let's not allow that to happen!

With reference to September snow, I don't recall expressing any surprise, merely an enthusiasm for the same which I believed might be shared by others on this site.

Feeling frustrated, disappointed and saddened,

Jan

Re:AutoSocks

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:27:21 GMT

Jan I Stenmark wrote:So, ise, can I take it you have no personal experience of these then :?:

Perhaps it would be helpful if I fully explained the reason for my question ... I have been considering providing a range of complementary sets for our guests who find themselves in need of some extra traction.

so they can slide into the next police check maybe ? )

Re:AutoSocks

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:28:31 GMT

Not tried them Jan I Stenmark, what you should do is get a pair for your own car, give them a go and see what you think of them, being used in the conditions you see on a daily basis.

Then you can make the appropriate judgement, although I've not heard great things of them I don't think I could dismiss them without giving them a go.

Let us know how you get on/if you choose to buy some! Would be good to have a first hand review.

Ross

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:15:30 GMT

Jan I Stenmark wrote:Thanks for that useful detour into answering the unasked question but ... Has anyone actually used them?

Surprisingly, I can read the website, interpret the bumf and draw my own conclusions, I hope, as well as then next person - what I find harder is gaining practical knowledge from a user …

Actually that gives me a good idea - Ski equipment reviews based on armchair critiques of other peoples experience distilled from apres ski bar chat after a few beers … It'd certainly avoid all that nasty need for familiarity or worse, contact with a product.

So as I said,

Has anyone used these?

Jan

Post of the year!
Brilliant, Jan :lol:

Re:AutoSocks

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:37:40 GMT

Now here's a post from the past.

Jan, if you're still sneaking a peak at the J2SKI forum every now and again then I can now answer your question. A couple of weeks ago I bought a pair of Autosocks for the car after getting stuck for 15 hours. I never planned to use them but I thought it might be good to hide them away in the spare wheel well just in case.

Anyway, yesterday after sliding into a hedge to avoid the back of the van I thought now might be the time to try them.

Amazing things!

They were a bit tricky to put on (mostly because there's not a lot of gap between my wheels and arches) but once on the grip was quite unbelievable plus no vibration, clunking, banging or anything.

I know they're not up to legal requirements in some countries but they have passed the same T.U.V. tests as chains in Germany and for the UK they're perfect where our snow/ice/slush/tarmac is a lot more patchy.

Note to self: Next time make sure you're not parked in horse manure when removing them. :roll: (having said that, I hosed them off and put them in the washing machine and they're lovely and clean again)

Re:AutoSocks

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:41:14 GMT

Ellistine, did you go up any hills?

Re:AutoSocks

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:46:25 GMT

Ellistine, thankfully they allowed you to get about and cut all that hair :twisted:

Re:AutoSocks

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:55:29 GMT

Up them, down them and around them! We we're trying to get to a pub somewhere out in the sticks near Totness for a 40th Birthday meal.

I committed the immortal sin and fitted them on a hill (the hill I slid down). The car would only stay still in gear. The handbrake alone couldn't hold it. With them on though I did a quick reverse to see what they we're like before descending and shot back up the hill with all the grip you could want. The rest of the trip to the pub was a breeze.

You obviously wouldn't want to go particularly fast as obviously the rear still had no grip but I was very impressed.

Why do you ask? Have you heard of problems with hills?

Re:AutoSocks

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:59:38 GMT

Pablo Escobar wrote:Ellistine, thankfully they allowed you to get about and cut all that hair :twisted:

Yeah alright. It is truly the most impractical car we could have bought. It can't carry skis and it can't tow our boat but on the up side, it only has two seats so we always get driven places and it's dead cheap to run. Besides, it's got heated seats which according to the wife is now a requirement for all our future cars.

Re:AutoSocks

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:07:56 GMT

ellistine wrote:Up them, down them and around them! We we're trying to get to a pub somewhere out in the sticks near Totness for a 40th Birthday meal.

I committed the immortal sin and fitted them on a hill (the hill I slid down). The car would only stay still in gear. The handbrake alone couldn't hold it. With them on though I did a quick reverse to see what they we're like before descending and shot back up the hill with all the grip you could want. The rest of the trip to the pub was a breeze.

You obviously wouldn't want to go particularly fast as obviously the rear still had no grip but I was very impressed.

Why do you ask? Have you heard of problems with hills?

I wondered if they slipped on hills.

I'm glad Pabs got the hairdresser pun in 1st. My fingers have been itching for hours :P

Re:AutoSocks

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:14:58 GMT

So without wishing to re-start those arguments of 2 years ago does anyone know of any further developments with acceptance by the police? Does anyone know of any countries where they are definitely either allowed or banned for roads where the police are restricting access only to those suitably equipped?

Re:AutoSocks

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:17:30 GMT

This is the 3rd result on Google if you type in 'autosocks' :shock:

Re:AutoSocks

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:28:40 GMT

KevinC wrote:So without wishing to re-start those arguments of 2 years ago does anyone know of any further developments with acceptance by the police? Does anyone know of any countries where they are definitely either allowed or banned for roads where the police are restricting access only to those suitably equipped?

I've never heard of them being banned from any countries but if I was driving in a country that required me to carry chains I would carry chains.

My 'Hair dressers' car isn't going anywhere near an alpine pass soon so for getting unstuck in the UK they are superb. Most of the 'blocked' roads I met in my 15 hour stuck in the snow adventure in December weren't actually that steep and these would have got me up them no trouble at all.

I think the more self sufficient British drivers can be the more chance the authorities will have to keep roads clear. After all, you can't get a gritter or plow down a road full of stuck cars.

Re:AutoSocks

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:42:17 GMT

Hm...for all their boasts then they still don't seem to be something you could rely on in the alps.

I'm left in a dilemma every year as to what to do. Don't like the thought of paying 60 euros every time I hire a car in Europe and I don't know if I'd be able to fit them - I can't practice because I'm never going to drive from England so don't own any. Yet if my flight had gone out on Saturday it seems it's highly likely something would have been required.

Helicopter transfer next year!

Re:AutoSocks

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:45:57 GMT

KevinC wrote:Hm...for all their boasts then they still don't seem to be something you could rely on in the alps.

I'm left in a dilemma every year as to what to do. Don't like the thought of paying 60 euros every time I hire a car in Europe and I don't know if I'd be able to fit them - I can't practice because I'm never going to drive from England so don't own any. Yet if my flight had gone out on Saturday it seems it's highly likely something would have been required.

Helicopter transfer next year!

If you're hiring cars then it's a no brainer - don't buy anything. Most chains, and even these Autosocks, are a bit wheel size specific. You're guaranteed to order 'something like a Golf' and up with a free upgrade to a Merc and they won't fit anyway )

Let us know how you get on with the helicopter transfer :D

The ironic thing is we're heading to Schladming in a couple of weeks and the valley looks greener than it does here.

Re:AutoSocks

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:46:40 GMT

ellistine wrote:
My 'Hair dressers' car isn't going anywhere near an alpine pass soon so for getting unstuck in the UK they are superb. Most of the blocked roads I met in my 15 hour stuck in the snow adventure weren't actually that steep and these would have got me up them no trouble at all.

The road outside my chalet isn't steep but it's around 50/50 if someone with autosocks on gets up, quite a few Belgians try it and quite a few end up sideways blocking the road. This can be irritating for the rest of us.

Hairdresser jokes aside, I'd have thought your car wasn't too unreasonable in the snow, front wheel drive, fairly sensible size wheels and so on, the additional traction you might need at times is going to be a lot less than some other cars. Watching the holidaymakers outside it's fairly predictable who's going to have trouble, rear-wheel drive, low profile tyres and autosocks aren't going to help like a BMW for example, small, front wheel drive, small tyres, shorter wheelbase like a Polo and autosocks might just add the 5% extra traction you need.

As for them being approved on mountain roads, no they aren't, even autosock can't sugar coat that one :

autosocks.co.uk wrote:Q6: Are they approved for use on roads where snow chains are mandatory?
A6: This is a grey area. It's better to be safe than sorry, so you should take snow chains for e.g. self-drive ski holidays to the Alps. In any event the tests show that snow chains are superior in hill starts - see Research & Development.

Re:AutoSocks

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:53:58 GMT

ise wrote:
Hairdresser jokes aside, I'd have thought your car wasn't too unreasonable in the snow, front wheel drive, fairly sensible size wheels and so on, the additional traction you might need at times is going to be a lot less than some other cars.

You would think but like a lot of modern cars it suffers with overly wide and overly low profile tires.

At one point on some obscure 'A' road near Basingstoke I was left for dead by a standard little Corsa. It's the same bloody car but with sensible wheels! Sensible lots of other things I expect too. I bet his doors don't freeze shut either because his windows don't have to go down to clear the door seal!

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:28:59 GMT

Had you thought about the Michelin 'EasyGrip' chains? These are a different design that uses a thick, elasticated mesh with a metal core. They fit very easily, like the AutoSock and don't need any tensioners, but are a 'proper' chain. I had to buy mine mail order from France. Take a look at http://www.easy-grip.eu/ They also do them for shoes (sic).

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:47:13 GMT

I saw someone with those on their car yesterday, I didn't immediately recognize them and they looked like a cross between chains and autosocks. They weren't helping the guy I saw much but it could have been him )

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:18:13 GMT

ellistine wrote:

ise wrote:
Hairdresser jokes aside, I'd have thought your car wasn't too unreasonable in the snow, front wheel drive, fairly sensible size wheels and so on, the additional traction you might need at times is going to be a lot less than some other cars.

You would think but like a lot of modern cars it suffers with overly wide and overly low profile tires.

At one point on some obscure 'A' road near Basingstoke I was left for dead by a standard little Corsa. It's the same bloody car but with sensible wheels! Sensible lots of other things I expect too. I bet his doors don't freeze shut either because his windows don't have to go down to clear the door seal!

Keith, have the same prob with the wife's 307cc, i found rubbing vaseline(other petroleum jellies are available :wink: ) around the top and bottom seals stops this, as for the socks they really set the car off :lol: the pug drives like a yachting dog in the snow thanks to the mechanism for the roof being in the boot :cry:

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:20:09 GMT

I liked how you covered your back there by stating it was OHs 307cc, Ellistine, take note :twisted:

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:31:50 GMT

Pablo Escobar wrote:I liked how you covered your back there by stating it was OHs 307cc, Ellistine, take note :twisted:

8) :lol: 8)

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:32:58 GMT

freezywater wrote:
Keith, have the same prob with the wife's 307cc, i found rubbing vaseline(other petroleum jellies are available :wink: ) around the top and bottom seals stops this

That makes sense, I might give that a go.

I had more trouble the other day when the button that raises the boot froze solid. The wife ended up with two huge bags of sailing gear on her lap. That's a Tigra pretty much filled to the brim.

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:40:14 GMT

Pablo Escobar wrote:I liked how you covered your back there by stating it was OHs 307cc, Ellistine, take note :twisted:

I wangled us a three day test drive in the Tigra as a bit of a jolly on her birthday a few years ago (wasn't she lucky!). The trouble is it was me that ended up wanting it.

I'm not sure I've ever owned a 'masculine' car. I've had a succession of Minis, a Smart Car, a Citroen Berlingo (now that was a practical car) and then the Tigra.

The FD at work has a 3.0 Diesel Audi A4 estate as his company car at the moment. I've half got my eye on it when he's ready to change.

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:48:12 GMT

Maybe Admin could persuade an autosock manufacturer to donate some samples to J2ski, before the snow disappears from the U.K. and we could all take turns to test them. I wouldn't have minded giving them a test run this last week, they would have helped a bit, I'm sure.

My old mini van used to be very good in the snow. If I couldn't get up the snowy hills in it, then no-one would be able to get up there, unless they had a 4X4. And my new car seems pretty good - a Daihatsu Sirion. The only problem I had with it today, is that I think it has a narrower wheel base than most of the other cars which had been up our road, and I was having to slide about a bit in some of the slush in the middle of the road. But I managed okay.

Rear wheel drives are absolutely awful in the snow. I had to push a VW camper van up a hill the other day (it was blocking our road) and the rear was swinging about from side to side something chronic. In fact it was quite difficult to push because of the danger of falling over and then getting run over by it.

Or we could ask Top Gear to test the autosocks for us?

Ally

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:58:36 GMT

The FD at work has a 3.0 Diesel Audi A4 estate as his company car at the moment. I've half got my eye on it when he's ready to change.

much more manly, and diesels are much better in the snow than an equivalent petrol :!:

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:04:47 GMT

AllyG wrote:Maybe Admin could persuade an autosock manufacturer to donate some samples to J2ski, before the snow disappears from the U.K. and we could all take turns to test them. I wouldn't have minded giving them a test run this last week, they would have helped a bit, I'm sure.

My old mini van used to be very good in the snow. If I couldn't get up the snowy hills in it, then no-one would be able to get up there, unless they had a 4X4. And my new car seems pretty good - a Daihatsu Sirion. The only problem I had with it today, is that I think it has a narrower wheel base than most of the other cars which had been up our road, and I was having to slide about a bit in some of the slush in the middle of the road. But I managed okay.

Rear wheel drives are absolutely awful in the snow. I had to push a VW camper van up a hill the other day (it was blocking our road) and the rear was swinging about from side to side something chronic. In fact it was quite difficult to push because of the danger of falling over and then getting run over by it.

Or we could ask Top Gear to test the autosocks for us?

Ally

Might have to wait for next winter. I think the UK supplier (roofbox.co.uk) is having issues with keeping up with demand :shock:

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:04:55 GMT

freezywater wrote:

The FD at work has a 3.0 Diesel Audi A4 estate as his company car at the moment. I've half got my eye on it when he's ready to change.

much more manly, and diesels are much better in the snow than an equivalent petrol :!:

Really?

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:13:22 GMT

Diesel (assuming higher low end torque), would let you get in to higher gears at lower revs which I guess is good for snow? I would assume it is more to do with the person driving, if you have no grip it won't matter either way!

What a way to waste my 2000th post, if you see this Admin can you delete an old one somewhere so I get another crack? 8)

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:13:40 GMT

bandit wrote:

freezywater wrote:

The FD at work has a 3.0 Diesel Audi A4 estate as his company car at the moment. I've half got my eye on it when he's ready to change.

much more manly, and diesels are much better in the snow than an equivalent petrol :!:

Really?

which part?

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:34:12 GMT

Does diesel not freeze at around minus 10-15? I was concerned I'd get a diesel hire car in case it wouldn't start after being parked up for a week at the -20 that was the forecast low!

All sorts of suggestions out there such as putting a touch of petrol in the tank - try explaining that to the hire car company!

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:36:33 GMT

freezywater wrote:

bandit wrote:

freezywater wrote:

The FD at work has a 3.0 Diesel Audi A4 estate as his company car at the moment. I've half got my eye on it when he's ready to change.

much more manly, and diesels are much better in the snow than an equivalent petrol :!:

Really?

which part?

Sorry, the bit about diesels being better in the snow, than the equivalent petrol motor.

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:38:08 GMT

KevinC wrote:Does diesel not freeze at around minus 10-15? I was concerned I'd get a diesel hire car in case it wouldn't start after being parked up for a week at the -20 that was the forecast low!

All sorts of suggestions out there such as putting a touch of petrol in the tank - try explaining that to the hire car company!

Diesel in alpine area has an additive to stop it going sludgey.

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:42:23 GMT

bandit wrote:
Diesel in alpine area has an additive to stop it going sludgey.

I read that, but then thought that as the policy is to pick up the car full and return full, it's not really your choice what goes in the tank that sits up in the alps. I wonder how far from the alps the additive is added?!

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:43:41 GMT

bandit wrote:

freezywater wrote:

bandit wrote:

freezywater wrote:

The FD at work has a 3.0 Diesel Audi A4 estate as his company car at the moment. I've half got my eye on it when he's ready to change.

much more manly, and diesels are much better in the snow than an equivalent petrol :!:

Really?

which part?

Sorry, the bit about diesels being better in the snow, than the equivalent petrol motor.

yup, the diesel will have more front end grip than the petrol, diesel engines are made from steel blocks rather than aluminium with the petrols, also the diesel will pull itself in gear with no throttle whereas a petrol will stall without any throttle

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:45:55 GMT

Pablo Escobar wrote:Diesel (assuming higher low end torque), would let you get in to higher gears at lower revs which I guess is good for snow? I would assume it is more to do with the person driving, if you have no grip it won't matter either way!

What a way to waste my 2000th post, if you see this Admin can you delete an old one somewhere so I get another crack? 8)

:shock: :lol:

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:52:44 GMT

KevinC wrote:Does diesel not freeze at around minus 10-15? I was concerned I'd get a diesel hire car in case it wouldn't start after being parked up for a week at the -20 that was the forecast low!

All sorts of suggestions out there such as putting a touch of petrol in the tank - try explaining that to the hire car company!

it's not the diesel that freezes rather than the water in the tanks and diesel that freezes which i think is called waxing(?) anyway crystallisation occurs which blocks the fuel filter causing a breakdown, of you are driving in seriously low temps, kepp the fuel tank topped up, this prevents condensation forming, don't leave a diesel for too long without running it and if its really cold run the engine for 10mins to warm the fuel pipes before starting your journey.

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:05:39 GMT

I remember listening to BBC Radio Berkshire when I was stuck in the snow (god they've got some awful DJ's). A few people were calling in and complaining about their diesel turbos. They were able to pull away ok but then the turbo would kick in and they'd lose traction again.

Me I just couldn't get going in the first place.

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:13:28 GMT

ellistine wrote:I remember listening to BBC Radio Berkshire when I was stuck in the snow (god they've got some awful DJ's). A few people were calling in and complaining about their diesel turbos. They were able to pull away ok but then the turbo would kick in and they'd lose traction again.

Me I just couldn't get going in the first place.

sounds about right for the majority of muppetts on the road these days! the turbo will kick in around 1800rpm on most TDi's so should be enough torque to play around with to get you moving below that, this weather reveals the shocking standards of driving on our roads unfortunatly :evil:

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:34:41 GMT

We have diesel engines in our tractors, and what we do to start them in very cold weather is warm the engine up first, with an electric heater/light bulb etc. or failing that something like a hot water bottle (just parking them in the shed and out of the wind makes a big difference). The extra heat will also help the battery. And we also use aerostart spray to help them start, in the air intake manifold (not much though because it's not good for the engine).

And I think our oil supplier automatically puts the additive in our diesel, when we buy it in for our bulk tank. We've certainly never had it freeze anyway.

Strangely enough, the tractor isn't much better on our snowy, hilly roads than my Sirion. It's very useful for towing cars stuck on the flat, but not on the hills. A 4X4 seems to be much better. And the ATV's are amazingly good in the snow - they just sort of float on it.

Edit - while I'm writing an essay on how to start diesel engines in cold weather - I'd like to add that it's very important to change the engine oil to a thinner, less viscous, winter oil, which will be much easier to pump around, and will help the engine to start.
And also, if you're really stuck and you can't put the whole vehicle in the warm, or put a heater under the bonnet, just taking the battery off and warming it up overnight (in the house or somewhere), makes a big difference.

Ally

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:55:27 GMT

AllyG wrote:We have diesel engines in our tractors, and what we do to start them in very cold weather is warm the engine up first, with an electric heater/light bulb etc. or failing that something like a hot water bottle (just parking them in the shed and out of the wind makes a big difference). The extra heat will also help the battery. And we also use aerostart spray to help them start, in the air intake manifold (not much though because it's not good for the engine).

And I think our oil supplier automatically puts the additive in our diesel, when we buy it in for our bulk tank. We've certainly never had it freeze anyway.

Strangely enough, the tractor isn't much better on our snowy, hilly roads than my Sirion. It's very useful for towing cars stuck on the flat, but not on the hills. A 4X4 seems to be much better. And the ATV's are amazingly good in the snow - they just sort of float on it.

Ally

Farmers seem to get all the best toys :mrgreen:

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:45:45 GMT

I recall reading advice from a motoring organisation saying that you should ideally fill-up a diesel with a tankful from an Alpine garage before you parked it at the resort. This is because diesel sold in the Alps has additives for extreme cold. If you fill up away from the Alps you won't get the appropriate mix. My diesel can almost reach 1,000Kms on one tank so I always try to do as recommended. anyone care to confirm or otherwise?

Re:AutoSocks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:48:35 GMT

Sounds sensible to me.

Re:AutoSocks

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 07:56:21 GMT

msej449 wrote:I recall reading advice from a motoring organisation saying that you should ideally fill-up a diesel with a tankful from an Alpine garage before you parked it at the resort. This is because diesel sold in the Alps has additives for extreme cold. If you fill up away from the Alps you won't get the appropriate mix. My diesel can almost reach 1,000Kms on one tank so I always try to do as recommended. anyone care to confirm or otherwise?

I've heard that but only from people in the UK. In years of living France, Germany and Switzerland no one I know here has ever heard of that, nor running a diesel car in the past have we experienced it.

I do know that all diesel is seasonally adjusted not only in Europe but the UK as well to stop the wax in it freezing in the winter. It would be a bit bizarre to do this in the alps alone, as it happens the coldest places in France, Germany and Switzerland aren't actually in the alps. Other practical considerations like tank capacity as you mention make it absurd, you'd buy fuel in Paris and freeze in Val d'Isere.

Re:AutoSocks

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 07:58:15 GMT

Apparently, if you buy red or normal diesel in the autumn/winter, it already has an additive to protect it down to minus 15 degrees C, which is normally fine, unless you are driving yourself to your ski-ing holiday, or we have some extreme winter weather.

But you can buy diesel additives in this country to add to your tank, to prevent the waxing blocking up filters etc. down to much lower temperatures. I found 2 products (which I haven't tested, so I don't know how good they are) on the internet.

http://www.justgoodcars.com/car-news-worldwide/auto-news-3248.html

http://www.bonnymans.co.uk/index.php?l=product_detail&p=4

Ally

Re:AutoSocks

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:38:52 GMT

Hello,

I used some last week for the first time. Easy to put on and remove - and provided good traction, even when going up hills. They're brilliant.

Re:AutoSocks

Tue, 9 Mar 2010 18:50:47 GMT

ise wrote:

msej449 wrote:I recall reading advice from a motoring organisation saying that you should ideally fill-up a diesel with a tankful from an Alpine garage before you parked it at the resort. This is because diesel sold in the Alps has additives for extreme cold. If you fill up away from the Alps you won't get the appropriate mix. My diesel can almost reach 1,000Kms on one tank so I always try to do as recommended. anyone care to confirm or otherwise?

I've heard that but only from people in the UK. In years of living France, Germany and Switzerland no one I know here has ever heard of that, nor running a diesel car in the past have we experienced it.

I do know that all diesel is seasonally adjusted not only in Europe but the UK as well to stop the wax in it freezing in the winter. It would be a bit bizarre to do this in the alps alone, as it happens the coldest places in France, Germany and Switzerland aren't actually in the alps. Other practical considerations like tank capacity as you mention make it absurd, you'd buy fuel in Paris and freeze in Val d'Isere.

Just returned from Cervinia where we had this exact problem. Picked up hire car from Turin airport with a full tank of diesel. Drove to the shell garage at the bottom of the mountain and topped up the tank with arctic diesel as advised by the hire company (approximately quarter of a tank). Four days later - tried to start the car to no avail. At best car would run for 30 secs before cutting out with low power / rpm. Not enough to get it going and heat in the engine / fuel.

Had to get car recovered to local garage where fuel was removed, fuel tank / filter etc. warmed to allow car to run. Missed flights and had to stay over in Turin an extra nighte. Total cost in the region of GBP400 for recovery, flights and hotel. Have submitted claim to rental agency but not holding my breath.

As others have stated, the problem is that the car is not winterised on pick-up and with Cervinia only being a 115km from Turin, it's not sufficient to top-up the car with arctic diesel. BP recommend that 75% of tank if filled with arctic diesel...

On hindsight I would have either demanded a petrol car or added concentrated diesel antifreeze instead of topping up. Having said that, I'm not even sure the latter procedure would have worked.

So be warned for all those driving to ski resorts in diesel hire cars - make sure it is winterised on pick-up, demand a petrol car or ensure you add sufficient diesel antifreeze to the fuel before parking up (and having driven it to ensure that the fuel including the antifreeze is in the fuel filter).

Re:AutoSocks

Tue, 9 Mar 2010 22:13:44 GMT

Crash - sorry to hear of your problems but useful to know.

Last car hire I had I amended the booking when I realised I'd been allocated a diese, not sure I would have done the same again after reading other comments.

I did mention that some threads suggest a small amount of petrol in the tank stops the problem without damaging the engine, but it's a brave step.....