Stuck in a snowdrift advice - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 02-11-2012, 05:52 PM

Last night my lovely daugher #4 called. She was on her way to central michigan to visit her friend when she slid off the highway and was stuck. The 83 240/300d was running fine and not damaged but she was unsure what to do next.

I told her not to leave the car:
1. It would not hurt her or it to run all night if necessary.
2. no dangerof carbon monoxide poisoning.
3. put on the four ways and call for a tow.

So she got pulled to safety shortly. Today she called again and was having trouble startig it in 15 degree weather after sitting in a parking lot all night.

It sounds like glow plugs burnt out 2 or even possibly 3.

So we went through what to do to get it started.

And I told her to think carefully about the weather forcast before heading deep into michigan in the winter in the future.

Just thought I would bring up what to do when stuck in a snow drift so anybody who has not discussed with their loved ones can think about it.

jplinville · #2 02-11-2012, 06:01 PM

It's find to run it, as long as there's plenty of space behind the exhaust pipes and they aren't blocked.

For winter driving, I keep a tow strap, folding shovel, bag of cat litter, pack of flares, blankets, first aid kit, trail mix, etc. in a duffel bag. That's just in the SUV...in the pick up, I carry about 80lbs of of sand bags as well.

I've never been stranded, but I want to be prepared just in case.

kerry · #3 02-11-2012, 06:05 PM

In my experience, even a single bad glow plug can cause a no-start condition at that temperature. Good advice. I carry a shovel, sleeping bag and some extra food and water when driving in winter conditions.

We've got a lot of packed ice and snow in Denver right now from a storm last week. Daughter got the SD stuck along the curb, couldn't go back or forward. (it's pretty helpless in the snow even with studded tires). Next morning it was cold and I started it up and drove right out. Engine has so little horsepower in the cold before it warms up that it didn't have enough oomph to spin the tires. Good trick to know.

Jim B. · #4 02-11-2012, 06:24 PM

ALL those probelms couild be avoided with one of these.

cmbdiesel · #5 02-11-2012, 06:28 PM

I would add that leaving the car running is not safe in a gasser. She might not understand that there is a difference.

thatguy · #6 02-11-2012, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

ALL those probelms couild be avoided with one of these.

Good option, but I raise you:

Can't beat that for avoiding getting stuck in snow drifts.

Jim H · #7 02-12-2012, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I told her not to leave the car:
1. It would not hurt her or it to run all night if necessary.
2. no danger of carbon monoxide poisoning.
3. put on the four ways and call for a tow.

1. OK

2. NOT TRUE! Diesels emit CO. Incomplete combustion in both diesel and gasoline forms CO. Newer gasoline engines have catalytic converters that lower the CO levels, older diesels do not have not such assistance. The same rules for keeping snow clear of the tailpipe and ventilation in the passenger compartment apply.

3. 4-ways are OK, but she can also use the left or right Parking light position (1 or 2 clicks from the 'other side' of OFF) if the car has them. Euro design provides these 'extra' switch positions to act as marker lights for cars parked (or stranded) on the road side.

In the US this feature usually confuses us, and leads to a dead battery when we turn the switch all the way counter-clockwise to what we think is the OFF position and don't notice the lamps...

HuskyMan · #8 02-12-2012, 09:52 AM

Though I haven't had personal experience with them, there exists battery packs that deliver extra power (including A/C) which the block heater could be plugged into. A little knowledge of how to swap out a dead glow plug could prove useful as well. Diesel anti gel in the tank, etc etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Jump-N-Carry-JNC950-2000-Peak-Starter/dp/B000KPSA0W/ref=sr_1_6?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1329058444&sr=1-6

Jim B. · #9 02-12-2012, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thatguy

Good option, but I raise you:

Can't beat that for avoiding getting stuck in snow drifts.

Ok I fold. Can't beat THAT with a stick. lol

(though the Outback *AND* this together would for sure would be the best result.

Especially if the bill for all of it could be sent to the Atlanta Falcons.

)

t walgamuth · #10 02-12-2012, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim H

1. OK

2. NOT TRUE! Diesels emit CO. Incomplete combustion in both diesel and gasoline forms CO. Newer gasoline engines have catalytic converters that lower the CO levels, older diesels do not have not such assistance. The same rules for keeping snow clear of the tailpipe and ventilation in the passenger compartment apply.

3. 4-ways are OK, but she can also use the left or right Parking light position (1 or 2 clicks from the 'other side' of OFF) if the car has them. Euro design provides these 'extra' switch positions to act as marker lights for cars parked (or stranded) on the road side.

In the US this feature usually confuses us, and leads to a dead battery when we turn the switch all the way counter-clockwise to what we think is the OFF position and don't notice the lamps...

I don't believe you can get carbon monoxide poisoning from diesel exhaust.

Edward Wyatt · #11 02-12-2012, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I don't believe you can get carbon monoxide poisoning from co, nor from diesel exhaust.

Very dangerous misinformation being given here, people can and do die from automotive related CO poisoning every year. It's the most common cause of air poisoning as a matter of fact. It's a very toxic gas the is oderless and colourless.

"CO" IS carbon monoxide, which a combustion engine of any kind emits as part of combination of gases as exhaust. Most people also don't know that when Freon(r) is burned it produces mustard gas, something to think about if you do any kind of hvac work on R12 based systems.

t walgamuth · #12 02-12-2012, 07:40 PM

Sorry I meant CO2 I guess. IN any case the amount of carbon monoxide in a diesel is so miniscule you don't need to worry about it.

t walgamuth · #13 02-12-2012, 07:45 PM

So today she went back after leaving the car overnight at a speedway and couldn't get it to start with jumper cables. Her boy friend who grew up on a farm in Indiana refused to try to pull start her saying his dad owned his 4wd suv and would not allow him to pull start our car.

(WHAT KIND OF A FARMER/ FARM BOY HAS NEVER PULL STARTED A CAR BEFORE?)

So tomorrow I will be fetching the car back to lafayette. It will take all day to driver 4.5 hours to where the car is, attach my tow bar and drag it home....assuming it does not snow, then all bets are off.

It will be a cold day in hell before she takes one of my cars north again.

I should have told him this was a test like Hercules and if he failed he could not marry my daughter.

retmil46 · #14 02-12-2012, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Wyatt

"CO" IS carbon monoxide, which a combustion engine of any kind emits as part of combination of gases as exhaust. Most people also don't know that when Freon(r) is burned it produces mustard gas, something to think about if you do any kind of hvac work on R12 based systems.

Quite true. I wouldn't want to bet my life on how much carbon monoxide is actually in diesel exhaust. As said, make sure the exhaust is free and clear.

Hmmm, when in the Navy we were told it turns into phosgene - perhaps the technical name for mustard gas - and that a lit cigarette was more than hot enough to do this - a case where smoking literally would kill you in short order.

Edward Wyatt · #15 02-12-2012, 07:57 PM

Boyfriend sounds like a pretty mature person, why should he risk burning up the transmission in the suv to pull start a diesel with bad glow plugs?

Also, there is a chance that she could run into the back of the suv when it does start.