# Some snow questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 9, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-snow-questions/524295 "2010-01-09T17:33:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-snow-questions/524295/61 "2010-01-12T17:57:18Z")
In addition to being prepared to wait for help, people who live where snow and ice are common are often prepared and willing to help others who might get stuck. A cell call to AAA might get you unstuck in a hour or two, but a couple of stout passers-by, or a 4x4 with a winch or a tow strap can often have you on your way in a couple of minutes. I was raised in Denver, but now live in Albuquerque where snow is rather rare. People seem to be stunned when I help them get unstuck. One girl even picked up our restaurant tab (without telling us first…I wouldn’t have let her) after I dug her out. ETA: Sand/pea gravel, bleach (improves tire traction on ice), tire chains, tow strap or chain, and a shovel are the basics for dealing with cars stuck in snow. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-snow-questions/524295/62 "2010-01-12T19:23:43Z")
There is certainly etiquette about helping stuck people, too - if you hear someone outside on the street at night, in an obviously stuck car, chances are good that someone will throw on a jacket and boots and go out and give him a push. If it’s the middle of the day, passersby will stop to push. If you’re stuck within walking distance of a farmhouse in a rural area, I can’t imagine the people in the house not coming out to push your car out. Hell, they’ll probably fire up the tractor and tow you out, then insist on feeding you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![davekhps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@davekhps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davekhps)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-snow-questions/524295/63 "2010-01-12T19:49:17Z")
Wanted to relate a story about #3. We had the big two feet of snow here in the DC area a few weeks back. I grew up in Chicago, I’m used to this stuff, you just make sure to get out there early in the morning and start shoveling when the snow is manageable, and continue throughout the day. My GF’s sister, living out in the Shenandoah Valley, told her that she and her husband were just going to stay inside all day and shovel it all when it’s done. As anyone who lives in snow knows, it’s a lot easier to shovel 6 inches of snow four times than it is to shovel 24 inches once. They learned this lesson the hard way. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-snow-questions/524295/64 "2010-01-12T20:06:40Z")
Especially when it’s sticky and not powdery snow. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-snow-questions/524295/65 "2010-01-12T22:00:29Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > There is certainly etiquette about helping stuck people, too - if you hear someone outside on the street at night, in an obviously stuck car, chances are good that someone will throw on a jacket and boots and go out and give him a push. If it’s the middle of the day, passersby will stop to push. If you’re stuck within walking distance of a farmhouse in a rural area, I can’t imagine the people in the house not coming out to push your car out. Hell, they’ll probably fire up the tractor and tow you out, then insist on feeding you. 🙂 Last winter we had a big dump (by Vancouver standards) in Vancouver. Unfortunately, Vancouver drivers aren’t skilled or equipped for snow. Every time I walked to work for about a week I had to push two or three people out of the snow. No, I didn’t get dinner for it. It’s Vancouver. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-snow-questions/524295/66 "2010-01-13T02:04:53Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > Last winter we had a big dump (by Vancouver standards) in Vancouver. Unfortunately, Vancouver drivers aren’t skilled or equipped for snow. Every time I walked to work for about a week I had to push two or three people out of the snow. > > No, I didn’t get dinner for it. It’s Vancouver. heh. I got a pie once for pulling a Blazer out. :shrug: Marie Calendars. For myself, it’s a lot about the thank you, and trying to impart a bit of common sense to people that really, really have no business driving in the mountains in a two wheel drive rental car without a map. Or just as often, no idea where they are even going. Or those that insist they are OK and will shovel themselves out. Sometimes blocking the road. Um. No. I’ve got places to be and you are in the way. You will not shovel your way out of there, and I can pull you out in 5 minutes. Shovels are very overrated for a stuck vehicle. I rarely bother with them. ---
**Author:** ![Gbro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-snow-questions/524295/67 "2010-01-13T03:25:40Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > It’s not just for comfort… > > If the oil is too thick, it doesn’t flow well - until warmed up. Quickest way to ruin an engine is to run it - under load - with minimal lubrication. Run your car for at least a minute, probably up to 5 in minus weather (-20C, 0F) to be sure it’s lubricated. > > In some areas, when the manual says “use 5W30 for winter” that’s a good idea. Also, your engine operates at optimum when it’s at operating temperature. At low temperatures, the metal parts may not fight as well, if different parts expand at different rates due to temperature. This is less of a worry for water-cooled than aircooled so we don’t worry about that since the original Beetle stopped being produced. > Really cold areas some people also used to have battery blankets - about 60W blanket that heated the battery. A really cold battery can lose a significant amount of its power. This too is less necessary nowadays. Modern fuel-injected electronic ignition cars start a lot easier than the old carburetor-points-ignition vehicles. I remember with my early Honda Civic, it had a manual choke (!!). Pull that all the way out, and pump the pedal while cranking, and the thing would start in any weather without being plugged in. Once it started, keep pumping for about 5 or 10 seconds until it was going on its own. I once lived in a Mobil home and had to park on the street. Calendar parking required that I park on opposite side almost every other night. I would bring my battery inside those nights. A warm battery insured I got to work. In place of a battery blanket it also helps to place a charger on it. I also run synthetic oil. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-snow-questions/524295/68 "2010-01-13T22:57:51Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Wow, I had no idea these things existed! The things you miss living in a place that doesn’t snow… > > Unfortunately, I also don’t have any emergency stuff. I’ve been stuck on the road twice. Once was in the median during rush hour, I was lucky a cop came by after an hour. The other time a tire blew out but I got off the freeway and used a pay phone (I don’t have a cell phone). Never have I actually been afraid for my life being stranded somewhere, I think I’ll go at least get some water and put it in the trunk. May I suggest you get a recycled or used cell phone with a charger and put it in your car. You don’t need a contract with minutes to call 911 in the US. Any cellphone works. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-snow-questions/524295/69 "2010-01-14T02:35:13Z")
I feel a lot safer having an AAA membership and a charged cell phone. When a big storm is about to wallop, the garages around here send their guys in tow trucks out to wait at strategic points, north south east and west, but if conditions are really bad, you may have to wait in your car a long time for them to show up. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-snow-questions/524295/70 "2010-01-14T03:04:08Z")
> [@Kevbo](#): > > ETA: Sand/pea gravel, I’m a big fan of kitty litter, myself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-snow-questions/524295.md?page=3)