What to do if you get stuck over night in a freezing car

[deaglecat]

Any tips....? I routinely pack a sleeping bag just in case.

[SystemParanoia]

sleeping bag, phone memory card full of porn, charger, tissues


sorted

[davepoth]

Make sure you have lots of petrol and then run the heater every 10 minutes or so. Don't worry if the windows get covered in snow, it's a good insulator.

[sawman]

I keep a few tea lights in a tin, for this eventuality. apparently a single burning candle in the car will create enough heat in a car to stop you freezing completely, whilst not using too much oxygen, meaning that you don't need to run the engine continuously - which you shouldn't do in case the exhaust gets blocked by snow

[Ian Geary]

I read a guide which mentioned candles - making sure they're in a fire proof, stable container.

It also reminded you to crack a window open if you're burning stuff in a confined space.


a hot drink in a flask is also useful if a long trip is likely in snow - far more useful than the "chocolate bar" or "bottled water" mentioned in most places.


Ian

[SystemParanoia]

ah yes, as due to E=mc2 300ml of hot drink is more massive than 300g of cold chocolate, so your body can extract more energy per gramme from the hot drink than it can from the chocolate

makes sense to me

[Jayho]

If you got the Missus with you or a GF only use 1 sleeping bag, share the body heat! :P

[Fort Jefferson]

davepoth said:

Make sure you have lots of petrol and then run the heater every 10 minutes or so. Don't worry if the windows get covered in snow, it's a good insulator.

But if the whole car gets covered in snow, the exhaust gasses will kill you.

[deaglecat]

Carbon monoxide poisioning is nasty - it can creep up on you.

[SystemParanoia]

and put you gently to sleep...




least you wont be cold any more

[nammynake]

SystemParanoia said:

ah yes, as due to E=mc2 300ml of hot drink is more massive than 300g of cold chocolate, so your body can extract more energy per gramme from the hot drink than it can from the chocolate

makes sense to me

Impressive physiology if your body extracts energy from fusion/fission.

[Jonnas]

deaglecat said:

Carbon monoxide poisioning is nasty - it can creep up on you.

I think that applies to poisoning in general, usually nasty........

[XG332]

My first action would be to get unstuck, either use the shovel to dig or the carpet under the wheels. If i was stuck due to traffic then, fire up the lappy, get a few candles going.
you know the rest.

[deaglecat]

Well I have been known to enjoy a little mild alcohol poisoning...

[SystemParanoia]

nammynake said:

SystemParanoia said:

ah yes, as due to E=mc2 300ml of hot drink is more massive than 300g of cold chocolate, so your body can extract more energy per gramme from the hot drink than it can from the chocolate

makes sense to me

Impressive physiology if your body extracts energy from fusion/fission.

just call me Mr. Isotope!

[FraserLFA]

sawman said:

in case the exhaust gets blocked by snow

If the engine's running constantly, wouldn't the snow just melt?

[sawman]

FraserLFA said:

sawman said:

in case the exhaust gets blocked by snow

If the engine's running constantly, wouldn't the snow just melt?

probably depends how quickly its coming down. And also how much gas will you use running continuously - will you run out before being rescued?

[Mastodon2]

nammynake said:

SystemParanoia said:

ah yes, as due to E=mc2 300ml of hot drink is more massive than 300g of cold chocolate, so your body can extract more energy per gramme from the hot drink than it can from the chocolate

makes sense to me

Impressive physiology if your body extracts energy from fusion/fission.

I was about to say this, must be some kind of superhero thing!

[bigdods]

sawman said:

FraserLFA said:

sawman said:

in case the exhaust gets blocked by snow

If the engine's running constantly, wouldn't the snow just melt?

probably depends how quickly its coming down. And also how much gas will you use running continuously - will you run out before being rescued?

Always keep the tank as full as possible. I calculated the other day (when bored and stuck in traffic) that my 3.0 V6 could tick over for 56 hours on a full tank. Assuming of course that the car isnt buried, I think I would want to get out and clear the exhaust at least once an hour just to be sure. If you ran the engine for 30 mins in every hour you could keep comfy for 4 days.

[Pigeon]

Mastodon2 said:

nammynake said:

SystemParanoia said:

ah yes, as due to E=mc2 300ml of hot drink is more massive than 300g of cold chocolate, so your body can extract more energy per gramme from the hot drink than it can from the chocolate

makes sense to me

Impressive physiology if your body extracts energy from fusion/fission.

I was about to say this, must be some kind of superhero thing!

The pigeons on the planet Zarg eat uranium ore and power themselves by fission.