Driving to the Arctic circle.
Discussion
I'm taking a drive up to Kirkenes which is at the top of Norway next to the Russian border in two weeks.
Going in a brand new carrera 4 GTS, got the winter tyres fitted, taking no chains but some de-icer!
Now, I'm fully experienced of alpine driving having lived in a ski resort and am totally comfortable with Swiss/Austrian mountain climate and weather etc and also driven southern Norway and Sweden.
However, the arctic circle promises to be a tad colder, it's been -45c in the last few weeks and I'm thinking, how cold before the engine freezes?
Has anyone done something similar?
I will be passing the Porsche driving ice school in Finland, so know the cars are living up there in these conditions all winter.
Do Porsche make all the cars off the production line the same cold weather spec? or should I take a trip to the dealer for a proper cold weather setup.....
Of course I could hit a warm spell and it be just below 0c.
Any views would be appreciated, even just for humour!!
Going in a brand new carrera 4 GTS, got the winter tyres fitted, taking no chains but some de-icer!
Now, I'm fully experienced of alpine driving having lived in a ski resort and am totally comfortable with Swiss/Austrian mountain climate and weather etc and also driven southern Norway and Sweden.
However, the arctic circle promises to be a tad colder, it's been -45c in the last few weeks and I'm thinking, how cold before the engine freezes?
Has anyone done something similar?
I will be passing the Porsche driving ice school in Finland, so know the cars are living up there in these conditions all winter.
Do Porsche make all the cars off the production line the same cold weather spec? or should I take a trip to the dealer for a proper cold weather setup.....
Of course I could hit a warm spell and it be just below 0c.
Any views would be appreciated, even just for humour!!
-45c? Wow. Id be asking the question. 'Just what temp the heater can deal with''. FWIW the aircooled stuff was rated to keep you warm down to -20, so it would be interesting to find out what Porsche rate the kettles
The engine may run all day in those conditions, but no good if you've froze to death whilst driving.
Trip sounds awesome and I've always fancied it myself. ............ But in summer though.
Have a great trip
The engine may run all day in those conditions, but no good if you've froze to death whilst driving.
Trip sounds awesome and I've always fancied it myself. ............ But in summer though.
Have a great trip
Having checked the vehicle manual it says the coolant provides freezing down to -37c
so this is probably enough....
I have checked the last 2 months of weather data around lapland and whilst -20c is common it has only hit -45c once and -40c 3 times.
Historic data for early March is a tad warmer with -35c being the record low in the last 3 years.
However, I'm off to the OPC on Wednesday for an actual check of the fluid itself.
Its also correct that locals up there mostly run studded tyres all winter, but having checked all the countries driving laws, winters are required, studs are optional. plus can you imagine them making N rated studded tyres?, a whole new topic there!!!
The local fuel is treated as necessary for their temperatures, and screen wash will be bought as we are on the way, emptying the existing tank first.
I'm going to take a short shovel, ice scraper and some gloves!
I have the torque wrench/breaker bar for the centre locks in the car already.
So almost ready to go.
Keep your advice/opinions/wishes coming, I will try and get some photos and info posted as I go. You never know I might need someone to come up and rescue me!!!
so this is probably enough....
I have checked the last 2 months of weather data around lapland and whilst -20c is common it has only hit -45c once and -40c 3 times.
Historic data for early March is a tad warmer with -35c being the record low in the last 3 years.
However, I'm off to the OPC on Wednesday for an actual check of the fluid itself.
Its also correct that locals up there mostly run studded tyres all winter, but having checked all the countries driving laws, winters are required, studs are optional. plus can you imagine them making N rated studded tyres?, a whole new topic there!!!
The local fuel is treated as necessary for their temperatures, and screen wash will be bought as we are on the way, emptying the existing tank first.
I'm going to take a short shovel, ice scraper and some gloves!
I have the torque wrench/breaker bar for the centre locks in the car already.
So almost ready to go.
Keep your advice/opinions/wishes coming, I will try and get some photos and info posted as I go. You never know I might need someone to come up and rescue me!!!
Worked in Sweden a few years ago. All hire cars were fitted with engine sump heaters and the hotel underground car park bays had fly leads to connect up to the car. It was only -25c then and doubt cars would have started without the heaters. Mind you lost count of the times cars drove away without disconnecting and ripping out the connectors.. Boss was not happy!! Worth enquiring about....enjoy the trip....Ian.
Polome said:
Worked in Sweden a few years ago. All hire cars were fitted with engine sump heaters and the hotel underground car park bays had fly leads to connect up to the car. It was only -25c then and doubt cars would have started without the heaters. Mind you lost count of the times cars drove away without disconnecting and ripping out the connectors.. Boss was not happy!! Worth enquiring about....enjoy the trip....Ian.
This. I spent a few weeks in the Artic circle in Northern Norway, although 20 odd years ago. All our hire cars had engine heaters which you plug in overnight. Nobody knew on the first night, it got down to about -30 and in the morning not one vehicle would even turn over let alone start. Also the roads are covered in permanent packed snow and ice and they drive with studded tyres, not sure how normal winter tyres will cope.Sounds like a great trip - enjoy.
Not car related but a word of advice, the hotels / buildings tend to be quiet warm which can cause your nose to become full of snot overnight. If the outside temp in the morning is about -30 or below as you step outside the snot in your nose almost instantly freezes, pulling all your nasal hairs at once which hurts like f
k.
You soon remember to clear your nose.
k. You soon remember to clear your nose.
I've lived through four Canadian winters, in a place where it can drop below -30, and also working one winter up in Yellowknife (near the infamous ice road) where it would drop below -40. I've never used studded tyres, and never felt the need for them. Normal winter tyres are fine for snow pack and most other winter driving conditions. Remember to check the pressures when properly cold, as they will be too low if you set them before you leave and you get there there and find it's 40 degrees colder.
The only other advice I would give would be if you're driving out of town on any remote roads, make sure you have a good blanket/sleeping bag and some candles and food in the car in case you do get stuck and have to wait for rescue, and always keep your fuel tank topped up above half so you can keep the engine and heater running for longer in an emergency.
The snot thing mentioned above is very true as well.
The only other advice I would give would be if you're driving out of town on any remote roads, make sure you have a good blanket/sleeping bag and some candles and food in the car in case you do get stuck and have to wait for rescue, and always keep your fuel tank topped up above half so you can keep the engine and heater running for longer in an emergency.
The snot thing mentioned above is very true as well.
I've done it, my wife's a keen Aurora hunter so we go a couple of times a year. I've driven from Scotland the long way around and been up as far as Hammerfest. Done it in a AWD Jag Xtype. I'd def recommend studs. I had it on winters and took a set of WRC studs on a tow bar rack behind it. Had a few scary moments till I changed them over. Nokian tyres are by far the best for you, I've used lots of different winters. First time I done it I went up the Norwegian coast, big mistake unless you're not in a hurry, took me about a week and that was pushing every day. It's like your local B road on ice, apart from having crazy Arctic arctic's flying round the corner at you. Best go the Swedish coast road, much faster and safer and your best route to Kirknes anyway.
Most recently we've flew in and hired. Had a XC70 last time and had a scary moment when temps went down to -38. Induction note changes to sound like your running a drilled air box and there's a distinct lack of performance. Had been driving along ok until I came to a town, stopped to check route and had engine idling away. Engine temp guage started to fall all the way off the scale, heater started to blow cold air, thought it was going to freeze!! Luckily went through the menu options and found it had an additional heater for the engine, switched that on and it could then maintain a quarter on the temp guage and blow a mildly warm heater. And that was all on a brand new Volvo. No one switches their engine off once they leave the house, you go past supermarkets and all the cars in the car park have their engines running with no one in them! Obviously car crime must be low!
Get onto IceDriveSweden.com. Pop by there on the way. Much cheaper than the Porsche experience and as much fun on any frozen lake as another. I'm actually there just now. Out of the last 7 years I've been coming this is the least amount of snow I've seen over here. They almost cancelled the Sweden WRC this week because of the lack of it. Has made the roads even slippier tho because as you know snow=grip, ice= none
I'm sure you'll have a great time, always fancied having my Porsche over here.
Most recently we've flew in and hired. Had a XC70 last time and had a scary moment when temps went down to -38. Induction note changes to sound like your running a drilled air box and there's a distinct lack of performance. Had been driving along ok until I came to a town, stopped to check route and had engine idling away. Engine temp guage started to fall all the way off the scale, heater started to blow cold air, thought it was going to freeze!! Luckily went through the menu options and found it had an additional heater for the engine, switched that on and it could then maintain a quarter on the temp guage and blow a mildly warm heater. And that was all on a brand new Volvo. No one switches their engine off once they leave the house, you go past supermarkets and all the cars in the car park have their engines running with no one in them! Obviously car crime must be low!
Get onto IceDriveSweden.com. Pop by there on the way. Much cheaper than the Porsche experience and as much fun on any frozen lake as another. I'm actually there just now. Out of the last 7 years I've been coming this is the least amount of snow I've seen over here. They almost cancelled the Sweden WRC this week because of the lack of it. Has made the roads even slippier tho because as you know snow=grip, ice= none
I'm sure you'll have a great time, always fancied having my Porsche over here.
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