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Winter Driving Tips Please

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#101 · (Edited)
According to the 2008 Patriot Owner's Manual, "Where one or more wheels have wheel spin or if additional traction is needed in sand, deep snow, or loose traction surfaces, activate the 4WD Lock switch by pulling up once and releasing. This locks the center coupling allowing more torque to be sent to the rear wheels.". Italics and underline are mine.

I've seen the text about 50% of the torque going to the front wheels and 50% to the rear with 4X4 Lock in Jeep literature, but I believe the statement is only true on dry pavement. With 4X4 Lock off (normal mode), the computer decides how much torque to send rearward and how much to send forward through the center coupling. Think of the front wheels on dry pavement and the rear wheels on ice. The computer would sense slippage at the rear and send more torque forward. With the front wheels on ice and the rear wheels on dry pavement, the computer will send more torque rearward. With the center coupling locked in 4X4 Lock, the front and rear driveshafts will turn at the same speed. With the rear wheels on ice, it will take very little torque to turn the rear wheels compared to the front wheels. But, with the 4X4 Lock, both sets of wheels turn at the same rate.

With ESP active, the computer can apply a brake on a wheel on a given axle which is turning much faster than the wheel at the other end of that same axle. How much tire rotation difference at each end of an axle is the threshhold for the ESP to get involved I do not know. I believe this happens whether 4X4 Lock is on or off.

I use 4X4 Lock only when going through mud puddles. Not much snow here in South Texas.
 
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#102 ·
I think RHill's hit on a point here. I do drive through lots of snow each year; I live right on the edge of the North York Moors, and, in one part , two weeks ago, we had snow on the road, way over three feet thick. Don't worry, I didn't try it! But what I cannot see is why you'd need to turn off all the gizmos like ESP. I never do and I've not got stuck yet. I'd imagine that things like Traction Control, which work on the ABS system by pinching the wheel that's spinning, would be of great help in snow. Why the hell switch it off? The little yellow light is always flickering on, showing that the wheels are scrabbling for a purchase. I just let the electronics get on with it.

Rocal

Having said that, it sounds like "Famous Last Words". I'll probably spend tonight in a sleeping bag on the back seat while the white stuff drifts in around me.....
 
#103 ·
rocal said:
But what I cannot see is why you'd need to turn off all the gizmos like ESP. I never do and I've not got stuck yet. I'd imagine that things like Traction Control, which work on the ABS system by pinching the wheel that's spinning, would be of great help in snow. Why the hell switch it off?
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When you get stuck in snow, you still have a chance to get out if you spin your wheels and get & keep the car moving.

With ESP on (or partially on), the car thinks you have slippery conditions and does not let you spin the wheels. Car thinks you are on ice and spinning is bad.

Therefore you only get a lot of smell from breaks and the car will still not move, because the ESP and Traction Control break it down. Even, if you get it moving, you'll stop right again, thanks again to the ESP and Traction control.

So, if you get stuck next time in snow, turn the ESP full off before getting the shovel, and try, may-be the shovel is not needed :)
 
#104 ·
Another tip is to make turns in increments. If you turn the wheel to much one way or the other, you can create a slip and slide. Often it's better to turn the wheel in smaller increments, rather than turn it all the way at once. Sort of hard to explain, but try it out, it works.
 
#107 ·
rocal said:
I think RHill's hit on a point here. I do drive through lots of snow each year; I live right on the edge of the North York Moors, and, in one part , two weeks ago, we had snow on the road, way over three feet thick. Don't worry, I didn't try it! But what I cannot see is why you'd need to turn off all the gizmos like ESP. I never do and I've not got stuck yet. I'd imagine that things like Traction Control, which work on the ABS system by pinching the wheel that's spinning, would be of great help in snow. Why the hell switch it off? The little yellow light is always flickering on, showing that the wheels are scrabbling for a purchase. I just let the electronics get on with it.

Rocal

Having said that, it sounds like "Famous Last Words". I'll probably spend tonight in a sleeping bag on the back seat while the white stuff drifts in around me.....
Click to expand...
Sometimes wheel spin is needed to keep momentum going. So, in different situations, you need to turn traction control off. If you don't you will be done. If you keep your wheels spinning, you still have forward movement.
 
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#108 ·
Oh, the biggest tips I can provide from someone who spends many many many miles per year driving in less than ideal conditions is 1. SLOW DOWN. 2. Turn your lights on!

Makes life much easier in crap weather conditions.
 
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#109 ·
good to have de icer on hand and make sure all windiws you can see out of...couldnt see out of one yesterday and thankfully could see out the back window or wouldve had an accident

last year slide half a street sideways and stopped right when the intersecton met--I thought for sure i was going to slide into an intersection of cars....hit a house, or go into a ditch, i stopped right in time thank God

go slow on ice!
 
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#110 ·
Rain x wash with de icer, yellow liquid, Is the only wash I use in the winter. I am also thinking about the heated wiper blades you can get...but my 2 jeeps eats blades so I am not sure its worth it.
 
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#112 ·
kojack said:
Rain x wash with de icer, yellow liquid, Is the only wash I use in the winter. I am also thinking about the heated wiper blades you can get...but my 2 jeeps eats blades so I am not sure its worth it.
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heated wiper blades? I'm going to need to look into that! I have two big complaints about pretty much every vehicle I've ever driven... Ice on the wiper blade and dirty headlights. Some cars address these things, but I don't really want to own those cars. A retro fit of heated blade could be awesome. Now I just need to find a way to retro fit headlight cleaners.
 
#113 ·
Bing it. I cannot remember the name. I am mounting washers to spray my lights. That's a must.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk
 
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#114 ·
Been using summer and winter rain-x for a decade, awesome stuff. At $5.00 a gallon it gets expensive in winter, especially with the Audi fire-hosing it all over the headlights and windshield.
 
#115 ·
Me too. I care less about how much stuff like that costs and more how it performs. normal stuff is 3 bucks good stuff is 5...not enough to worry about.
 
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#116 ·
kojack said:
Me too. I care less about how much stuff like that costs and more how it performs. normal stuff is 3 bucks good stuff is 5...not enough to worry about.
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I once bought the bargain w/s/w fluid and discovered it would freeze . . . after it was in my system. One of my earliest car experiences was with my GF (now Wife) pulling all those hoses out of my '68 Impala and thawing them in the kitchen sink. Fun date, huh? Well, it beats getting killed on the way cuz I couldn't see out.
 
#119 · (Edited)
kojack said:
Oh, the biggest tips I can provide from someone who spends many many many miles per year driving in less than ideal conditions is 1. SLOW DOWN. 2. Turn your lights on!

Makes life much easier in crap weather conditions.
Click to expand...
Great advice. Then there are the morons who think they're being clever by only turning on their parking lights even when it's snowy and nearly dark. I think daytime running lamps should be standard equipment on all cars.
 
#120 ·
As already pointed out, tires makes such a difference. I'm from Calgary and venture out to the mountains alot. I had my All Seasons that came stock and then switched to BF Goodrich KO2S All Terrains, I immediately felt more confident and less scared whenever I hopped in my Jeep.

Besides tires, always drive at an appropriate speed especially if you're not comfortable. Rather to get to your destination late than to not get there at all :)
 
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