Prepping for low temperatures - Horizons Unlimited

**Grumbleweed** · #1 16 Jan 2012

Hi huys - planning to take a 300TDi 110 to Finland this time next year. Other than changing oils and suchlike for those kind of temperatures, is there anything thats worth doing to it to make it there and back?

**laplander** · #2 16 Jan 2012

Post your questions in english here:

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some of these writers live next to the artic sea...

in short for the winter:
coolant 50/50%
Block (electrical) heater or webasto
New battery (just for the case...)
semi synt oil 10-40w min. engine
full synt oils in the transmissions
winter tyres

oh and the window ice scaper...

trust me it is no biggie...

**Niva Say Never** · #3 16 Jan 2012

Hi,
Another post worth reading here
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...paration-52999

Happy travels
Sam

**Maximus** · #4 16 Jan 2012

Also, I would replace heater plugs (about £20) and throw in a spare heater plug relay.

**JulianVoelcker** · #5 19 Jan 2012

Check out the latest issues of the 4x4 mags - can't remember if it is Total Off Road or 4x4 Magazine, but one has a series of articles on overlanding including one article all about heading for the arctic circle - some good tips there.

**Capo Sakke** · #6 20 Jan 2012

First we don't know what kind of weather we will have next year.
Year ago we had -35C and now -10C so it's better to be prepared for cold.....

Like mentioned earlier:

Engine coolant must hold lower than -40C temps
Arrive with quite empty fuel tanks fuel up whit Arctic diesel on arrival freezer point -40C.
Winter tyres with studs. I can arranged some used ones if you need it.
Good battery measure cold capacity or replace for new one.
Engine oil Winter something semi synt oil 10-40W
Transmissions and gearbox oils Winter syntec
Electrical block heater or Webasto
Webasto is good for cabin heating or enough warm clothes if your Landy stops and must stay side of the road long time.
Also prepare some cardboard to fit froward of radiator that you can adjust air flow trough the radiator to keep engine temp high enough.

That's for start...

**kitmax** · #7 10 Mar 2012

Land Rovers supplied me an engine block heater on my 1970 Land Rover 109”, six-cyl station wagon. It was invaluable when I was in Afghanistan, pre Russian invasion.
Later I bought a small electric immersion heater of about 500 watts as used in fire engines etc to keep machinery on standby.
I used it on 5 successive Range Rovers and it is now on the Disco.
It fits in-line in the bottom hose and I leave it plugged in all night.
It is simple, small and cheap.
Does anyone know where I can get another?
All I can find on the internet are elaborate, expensive, high powerd, motorised flash-heaters like Kenlowe which I think are overkill.
Regards
Kitmax
PS Looking for one or two 4x4's to join me on a Pyrenees off-road trip in May. Please contact for info.

**m37charlie** · #8 10 Mar 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by laplander

semi synt oil 10-40w min. engine
full synt oils in the transmissions
winter tyres

oh and the window ice scaper...

trust me it is no biggie...

Agree, except I suggest for engine 0W40, 5W40 or 5W30 oils. I don't know exactly what year your vehicle is, but Mobil 1 0W40 is widely available in Europe and appropriate for most except most recent (diesel particulate filter equipped) small diesels.
15W40 is downright scary to start with at -30C (even Chevron Delo 400 Multigrade with pour point -33C) and 10W40 is only 5C better; 0W40 is 15C better.
Mobil Delvac 1 LE 5W30 is appropriate for DPF equipped diesels. My educated guess is that 0W40 would be fine for a 300 Tdi.
http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lub...l_1_0W-40.aspx
However, I wouldn't expect exceptionally low temps past 15 March.
I use 5W40 in the Unimog living in Anchorage....

Charlie

**Capo Sakke** · #9 10 Mar 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by kitmax

Land Rovers supplied me an engine block heater on my 1970 Land Rover 109”, six-cyl station wagon. It was invaluable when I was in Afghanistan, pre Russian invasion.
Later I bought a small electric immersion heater of about 500 watts as used in fire engines etc to keep machinery on standby.
I used it on 5 successive Range Rovers and it is now on the Disco.
It fits in-line in the bottom hose and I leave it plugged in all night.
It is simple, small and cheap.
Does anyone know where I can get another?
All I can find on the internet are elaborate, expensive, high powerd, motorised flash-heaters like Kenlowe which I think are overkill.
Regards
Kitmax
PS Looking for one or two 4x4's to join me on a Pyrenees off-road trip in May. Please contact for info.

Look at here DEFA

**Griffdowg** · #10 19 Jul 2012

Is Grumbleweed still around?

There is a small group of us heading this way in early February. I will be joining them briefly before heading off to Central Asia/Mongolia/Siberia.

Capo - I would be interested in some used Ice Screws/studs if you are able to get them.

G

**Capo Sakke** · #11 19 Jul 2012

Do you mean this
I think that will be wast of time if somebody have them they used them by them self.

Used stud tires are are quite easy to find for less than those screw studs.

**Griffdowg** · #12 21 Jul 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capo Sakke

Do you mean this
I think that will be wast of time if somebody have them they used them by them self.

Used stud tires are are quite easy to find for less than those screw studs.

Yer, those are the ones. I hear they dont wear very quickly. I cant really change tires as this isn't a stand alone trip. we are driving back down through europe and across central asia after our scandanavian section.

thanks for the link and info

G

**adritay** · #13 15 Dec 2012

Hope you have a great time on your trip up north
If you find a lubricant for defender door locks, that works for more than 3 hours please let me know, you might just save my sanity
regards adritay