Will your car start in freezing conditions. What we learnt from camping in the snow, tips & tricks

[@Michael_Mears]

Your glow plugs. Some thoughts on the matter. The glow plug indicator light goes off to tell the operator to begin cranking the engine. It doesn't mean the glow plug has reach temperature or has been turned off. Most systems will be something like this: from when the ignition is turned on, the glow plug dash light will be on for, say, 3 seconds and then turn off, while the glow plug continues to be on, only being turned off when the glow plug controller turns it off, somewhere around 8 seconds or thereabouts, or when the ignition is turned off (this is just an example). If no cranking is done, after 8 seconds no more power is supplied to the glow plug. However, if cranking starts after the glow plug light goes out but continues past the 8 second mark when the glow plug goes out, many controllers will then put out a pulse or square wave form (eg, turning the glow plug on for 1 sec, off for 1 second) after a short pause while ever the cranking continues. This is a design balance between allowing as much current to go to the starter motor while sending current to the glow plug on and off to keep it hot. Glow plugs will reach their maximum temperatures at around 10-15 seconds after being energised. Again, that's a generalisation, but what I'm getting at is the idea that the operator turning the ignition on an then off after the glow plug light goes out, then do that once or twice more to get the glow plug hot is not how it works, or at least, not how the glow plug will get any hotter. I worked on a friends HZJ75 Landcruiser a while back. A mechanic had put in certain glow plugs months earlier and was never quite right. Research told me there were several brands and with various voltage specs, and some cross referencing proved to be a headache. Also, glow plugs rated the same voltage don't necessarily have the same temperature output, and this information can be hard to find, short of actually testing them. The ones already in the Landcruiser (Deiko 11V) topped out at 550°C at 20 seconds while the replacement VSP 11V went to 800°C at 15 seconds, yet the VSP consumed only 1A more than the Deiko at all times, even as they tapered off in current. This testing was done with a thermocouple and digital multi meter, together with a separate clamp meter for measuring current, so it's easy to do. The short of it is, when the glow plug dash light goes out, and the operator turns off the ignition (with the intention of turning it back on straight away), the glow plug may only be at the 3-5 second mark, and from what I've seen, this could be around 150-300°C which is not hot enough for long enough, then the current is removed, so it begins cooling back to ambient chamber temp. In the snow that's likely to be close to zero. So the net effect is by pulsing the glow plug manually with the ignition switch it will keep the glow plug in its lowest temperature state, never letting it get any higher. I'd suggest, if you can, to buy a clamping ammeter, they usually have a 40A and 1000A DC range, put in on the main supply cable to your glow plugs, turn on the ignition and see how long it takes for the current goes to almost zero, indicating when your glow plug controller has stopped current flowing to the plugs. You might find it's many seconds (and hear the corresponding "click" from a relay turning it off), but whatever that is, that length of time will put you closer to the maximum temperature the glow plug can generate than the glow plug dash light. Of course, bad plugs need replacing, and a tired engine with lower than usual compression will not play fair in the cold.

[@GoingOverland]

Hey Michael that's fantastic information and really well done 👏 easy to understand. I think I learnt from my dad who had no mechanical skills whatsoever about re glowing when he had a old diesel truck so I had no real idea what I was doing wasn't really helping. I think you are spot on though and noticed that when I got distracted one morning and left the ignition on for around 20 seconds unstead of when light went out, the patrol fired up nicely 😀. It does also look like the glow plugs have been changed and thinking back I kind of remember doing them (as opposed to remember "thinking" about doing them) and I think I got them from repco so probably not rated like the genuine ones. Really interesting about testing them and I'll have to check them out and change my cold start techniques. Cheers for that great information and really appreciate the support 👍

[@cpt.cornelius723]

Can't forget that road on Snowy Mountain Highway - beautiful area I grew up there

[@hodzy4x4]

Love the episode as always. One tip from me is throw a tarp over the bonnet overnight. I learnt this one from one of Tim Bates high country tips videos ... My TD42 has thanked me ever since everytime I'm in freezing conditions overnight!

[@GoingOverland]

I did hear about something similar they do in the Arctic with putting blankets around the engines and all I could picture is how much crap I would have been given from larissa about tucking the patrol in at night and singing it a lullaby for years and years 🤣

[@aslkdfjhg]

If you have access to power, a hairdryer into the intake for 5 minutes will allow the engine to suck in warm dry air. Good trick for stubborn old tractors. Also keeps your hands warm! Try to avoid "Start ya Bastard." It's somewhat dangerous (the engine can front fire), and a lot of mechanics say the starting fluid can ignite too early from the diesel's high compression, causing engine damage. This might be an urban myth who knows, but pre ignition in diesels is not good, and a big reason cheap diesel tunes go bad. Patrols are slow to start it's an older style truck motor. It's doing fantastic for it's age.

[@GoingOverland]

Thanks for that info, the start ya bastard is a last resort and sounds like I'm lucky not to have used it 😬. Very interesting about the hair dryer in the intake and be a good one to test. Thanks mate for watching and your great tips, good to hear the old patrol getting some support

[@davetunbridge6637]

Also wipe the inside of the windows with some sort of detergent or shampoo, just a very light coat and it helps to stop them from fogging up.

[@GoingOverland]

Hey great tip, didn't even think of that, I'll have to give it a go 👍

[@susanmarks2225]

I just love all the tips that you give and all the great places

[@GoingOverland]

Thanks Susan, and it's trips anyone can do, we are a regular family with jobs and a mortgage, and love exploring new places. Thanks so much for the support and watching 😁

[@outback109]

I found replacing my power and earth cables from the starter motor and to the earth block with new heavier cable made a huge difference for starting. Apart from being nearly 30 years old when I cut them open they were full of the green death.

[@GoingOverland]

Oh yeah I didn't even think of that, it's crazy to think how much resistance would be in those cables. Thanks for the tip 👍

[@livelife.fornow]

Hey guy's I seen you on the M1 & Logan motorway today and i had to get on and say the rig is very tidy and clearly well looked after👍

[@GoingOverland]

Cheers mate 😁 went down the coast for a deep sea fishing trip for a mates birthday. The patrol definitely stands out of the crowd

[@Shawn2ndaccount]

Good video. Never in my life time did I ever think I would listen to an Aussie give me ANY advice on cold weather advice. Well got to go.....going to look for videos for someone in Iceland give me advice on hot desert tips.

[@magicworldbyjorg]

..cool video keep up the great content.. Thank you…

[@rickheaton3003]

Good stuff mate. Always good to hear how things go. Can always learn things from going out and doing them..

[@GoingOverland]

Cheers Rick for the support 👍, hopefully we can help people out with ideas on future trips to the cold 🥶

[@jeepwillbmw]

having grown up in canada, leaving the windscreen wipers up was a no no, we always leave them down so they could defrost on the window when warming up the car.

[@GoingOverland]

Really, we get told the complete opposite here in Australia, and everyone tells you you got to leave them up or they freeze to the windscreen. Very interesting and bet it gets way colder in Canada too. Cheers for that mate I'll have to take the plunge and try it out next time 👍

[@jeepwillbmw]

@@GoingOverland I have never done it, also never had a windscreen crack from the defroster. We have many a chipped and cracked windscreens due to rocks on the road. The problem is people turn the wipers on before they had a chance to defrost and they aren't designed to push a heavy loads like snow, leave the wipers let them defrost while you clean the window and then turn them on once cleared.

[@dougneville9097]

Great vid mate,good tips for those cold places.Thanks👍🏾

[@GoingOverland]

Thanks Doug for your support every week 👍

[@Foolish_Paul_Australia]

Another great video full of good info. I knew about most of them but never thought about the handbrake. Good tip, thanks. 🙂

[@GoingOverland]

Yeah and you can see the logic behind the theory, makes sense. Thanks Paul 👍

[@Foolish_Paul_Australia]

@@GoingOverland Perfect sense. 🙂

[@shellebelle53]

Thanks so much for these info videos...always helpful and informative for fellow travellers 👍 Nothing like the smell of diesel drifting into your tent/camper 😆...I relate to the old girl with the cold start ...I reckon my Queenslander moving parts would be making those clanging noises too 🤣

[@GoingOverland]

No problem at all, always good to share what we learn. The patrol definitely likes the warmer climate closer to sea level, needs a coffee or something in the morning to warm up 🤣

[@shellebelle53]

@@GoingOverland aaah yes...where would we be without our coffee in the morning 👍

[@placestosea]

good info, also allow for lack of performance, when overtaking etc, when driving at altitude. most vehicles don't perform as well at altitude.

[@GoingOverland]

Very true and it comes down to being tuned at sea level and then running rich at high altitudes which is why the old diesels get a bit smoky. Cheers for watching 🍻

[@lindsaycathcart9025]

I thought this episode was funny. Reminded me of the first time I saw snow in Australia. I was a skier and had a 14ft caravan I lived in at Jindabyn. No electricity with a gas stove and candles. For the last 30 years I have lived in the U.S.A. (Colorado and Oregon) I live in snow 6 months a year with temps that go down to minus 30*C. The first thing I do is turn on the defrost on the windscreen to melt the ice. Never cracked a windscreen. Never taped the key holes either. I have a Jeep grand Cherokee and don't own chains. I'm thinking that Australia probably hasn't got the snow -plow equipment the U.S.A. has. Also if you are going off the main unplowed roads it's better to be safe than sorry and carry them. I used them in Australia but I had a rear wheel drive commodore. Not a 4x4. I remember the first time in Australia there was about a cm on the road and I was nervous driving. Now snow is a hassle. Shoveling 2 ft of snow off your car every day before you can go anywhere. I try not to drive if the snow has turned to ice.

[@GoingOverland]

Cheers lindsay, for us Queenslanders seeing snow for the first time was a big deal and to camp in relatively warm conditions was probably a good thing for us, I couldn't imagine anything below neg 10 degrees 🥶. Cheers for the positive comments and watching 😀. Hopefully the winter will start warming up over there, we are impatiently waiting for autumn, it's still over 30 degrees here 🥵

[@craigtomkinson2837]

cool

[@GoingOverland]

Very cool, 🥶 thanks Craig 👍

[@effkay3691]

Love your set up. Small trailer can go anywhere but why no small generator?

[@GoingOverland]

Never needed one in all our travels, even when we did 6 months on the road around west Australia. Guess with our simple set-up we don't need it and we can save the weight 😃 thanks for watching 👍

[@stuartmorgan9876]

Got to be carefull having a chainsaw in nsw national parks. Cant even have them in your car apparently. Was at denisons camp ground last year and a bloke got fined when the ranger drove past and saw it in the back of his car. Lucky he didnt check me as i alwas carry one into the high country.

[@bobpfaff2258]

I didn't know that about no chainsaws in NP's. We went to Pebbly Beach recently where you go through a state forest before getting to NP. The rangers came by as we were chain sawing in the SF to get fire wood before going into the NP and chatted to us happily. They were fine. The guy where you were obviously got a ranger who needs to find another job.

[@GoingOverland]

Yeah that's exactly what I thought, it's the same in Queensland. Before the battery saw was a common thing I brought long lengths of timber to a NP in Qld and was going to cut them up with a chainsaw and was told nope don't do it, even though it was lumber and clearly not timber. I can understand why, so many people doing the wrong thing in this world

[@RustyCandyAdventures]

Are you happy with your camper, I am looking to purchase one. I know some of your feelings but are you glad you picked this camper. Russell

[@GoingOverland]

Yeah mate I love it. It's not for everyone and it has its bad points but I can't imagine having anything else. It's fantastic to modify to what you want being aluminium and I'm about to move the draws under the bed and put pantry on roller slides. You can take this trailer 95% of places around Australia and for its size its really light. Biggest thing to get used to is lack of internal living space, so with all 4 of us inside and the toilet and all our coats hanging up its tight. Basically 1 person at a time out of bed getting dressed in the morning. But everything else is outside which we love. People also complain about the awning being a lot of work. But we had a rope edge tarp made for our lap and it's fantastic for weekends and only use the big awning for a week in one place. People also modify them to have pull out awnings like a caravan or 270 degree awnings but for us we prefer to have nothing hanging out the side while doing tight bush tracks. Would I buy it again 🤔 absolutely, no doubts and no regrets. We love it and I can imagine pulling out the bunk beds and fitting a internal shower when the kids are older

[@RustyCandyAdventures]

Thank for your response. I understand the space. I have an walking foot sewing machine and someone to help me. I am going to go and have a look at the trailer early next week. SA I am in Vic. There only me and my partner. I want to be outside living.. so many go and jump in there vans close the door and that's it. Not me. I made the frame for the ezywash thanks for the video. Ps I fell in the river getting water. Ha ha. Keep a eye on Mr Buckaroonie if he does another camp. It was great family camp. Boy the food. And camp gear. Russell

[@RustyCandyAdventures]

An idea, internal. A lift up seat. Underneath the easy shower, clip to roof.

[@RustyCandyAdventures]

What is holding the bunks in. Pop rivets or bolts?.

[@GoingOverland]

Just pop rivets for bunks so it'll be easy to remove. Biggest thing would be a exhaust fan or something to remove all the steam so not filling the camper with moisture

[@CruiserBrah]

Heheheee, I live in the Sowys and don't do half the shit you recommend! Three big things, antifreeze.....most important. The other two are only important in prolonged snow stays are the hand brake and wiper blades. Never broken a windshield using the heater. Boiling water o. The other hand...... And yeah, your poor TD42 needs glow plugs or more compression. Mine never started like that right up to 430k when it was written off. Nothing like a frosty morning to show up shitty glow plugs or low compression.

[@GoingOverland]

I'm thinking that it's got a set of cheap glow plugs in it, looks like they have definitely been changed looking at the end caps, might be time for a upgrade 🤔

[@CruiserBrah]

@@GoingOverland putting my mechanics hat on, if it starts OK in QLD then I would leave it until they play up. Bung glow plugs don't really hurt anything other than old starter motors and batteries and TBH, if they go when trying to start a cold engine with worn plugs then they were just about buggered anyway. When you do though, pur Denso ones in it. They are about the best.

[@CruiserBrah]

@@GoingOverland I will add, I had. MK Patrol that used to start like that. Put a set of glow plugs in it and it didn't make a difference. Started OK from October to May and when I was down the coast though. It was on.y in the real cold months it was a pig. Needed more cans of compression that one.

[@davidmoore7303]

12 volt electric blanket under the bonnet on top of the motor. We also use to poor boiling water over the old style injector pumps and lines.

[@aslkdfjhg]

Boiling water bloody hell that'll crack it.

[@davidmoore7303]

@@aslkdfjhg No, never did, had to use it on 2 Mack trucks with air starters, so you had to get it firing quickly as you only had 2 goes and you were out of air.

[@GoingOverland]

Good tip with the electric blankets, I do hear in really cold countries people have block warmers which would work similar to a blanket. Thanks David 👍

[@singlehanded12]

diesel heater blowing up into engine bay 5 to 10 min

[@GoingOverland]

Great way to preheat the engine 👍

[@the_dingo_show]

Wonder how my old petrol MQ will handle it.. Thanks for the tips 🏔

[@GoingOverland]

Couldn't be any worse than our GQ 😅 have you got the 3.3L diesel?

[@the_dingo_show]

@@GoingOverland No she's a petrol 2.8

[@Accolades70]

Noice

[@brentmcd12]

alpine diesel no .. antifreeze radiator coolant yes . not sure about oils though ❄️☃️🌬️🛻🤙😎📹