incubusjohnny

Preparing for winter just wanted to see if people with aftermarket intakes switch back to their stock intake for the winter.

Also any other precautions people take to winterize their maxima other than snow tires.

This is my first winter that i will be driving the maxima so just wanted some input. Thanks in advance

TallTom

I can't imagine switching intakes for winter.

I don't run snow tires, but do keep a small shovel in my trunk in addition to a pair of AutoSocks (haven't had to use them yet though).

http://www.autosock.co.uk/

Also, make sure your wiper blades are in good shape. Ice & snow will destroy them quickly.

If your Max is manual trans, just launch from stops in 2nd gear to keep the torque out of the equation.

ColtMax

- 5W30 oil grade
- Winter Wipers (Armor all)
- Aqua Pel rain repelant
- Undercar Rust proof treatment with oil
- Snow tires
- Interior rubber carpets
- A good clean and Wax
- Check battery
- Check radiator cap (if it allows air in the system you wont get any heat from the blower)
- Dismantle and grease brake caliper pins if you can. I do it every year before and or after witer.
Shovle and snow broom are good ideas as well

All I can think of at the moment.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

Very good advice, ColtMax.

I can think of no reason to remove an aftermarket air-intake. I use mine year-round.

I also removed my engine brace... but I doubt that applies to the OP.

TallTom

Why did you remove the engine brace? I can't imagine that making an impact on winter driving.

ColtMax

All items that will ensure a direct transfer of torque from the engine to the wheels will reduce the traction in snow. More absorbtion and smoothness will give you better grip in snow.

- Poly Motor mounts
- Engine brace
- Stiff suspension
- Low profile tires

This is why almost all rally cars use 4 bagners with turbos. Gradual application of torque in order not to brake the wheel loose in an never ending spin.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

I don't need that kind of aggressive NVH when driving in the winter on snows & steelies. There's just no point to it... snow tires don't hook up like summer-only tread. For obvious reasons.

So... four months of just laying low and driving the car when I absolutely have to.

I also removed my Sprint Booster for similar reasoning. No point in feeling like you have a sensitive throttle when there's no enthusiastic driving going on. I really hate winter.

[edit] What ColtMax said. Guy's on a roll today with good advice.

ColtMax

Bored at work...

Now I am working on a LSD thread... we might have a quick and dirt cheap solution for 5.5 gens (500$ + time)

rays66fb

No need.

trooplewis

iTrader: (1)

Winter only lasts a couple of days here, so I try to make sure my sunroof is closed.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

I'm sure somebody is going to laugh at that, because it's pretty clever.

No one from the Northeast, however.

shdwonthsun

iTrader: (1)

on topic. leave the intake.


one thing tho:





anyone not using this is probably still using dial-up and a VCR. this **** melts ice like a blowtorch and eliminates the need for wipers above ~60mph. i run it all year long!

L_U_D_I_AMaxima

iTrader: (3)

the best thing you can do I get a $500 winter beater and keep the maxima for the nice days...
Why???
Here is my point you can do what ever you want to your car to get it ready for the winter... but when going down the road the chances of meeting with "Mr. I don't give a F**K" about any think on the road because I have 4 different worn bald tires, brakes that don't work correctly... Chances are he might meet with you on one of the intersections... Then you gonna stand there proudly and say but I had my car winterrised???

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

Do what you have to do. Not everybody has a 3-car garage.

I'm constrained by my garage space and the size of my property.

Besides, who wants to drive a POS four months out of the year?

Jaz2001

Is this done by you or a autoshop

cici

yet, i think it is really high time to prepare for the winter. oh, so many things to buy.

ColtMax

I just dont do the oil treatment my self, we have specialised places that will do that for uneder 100$.

http://www.antirouille.com/index_en.php

For the rest, I take a lot of pleasure to do all maintenance and service of my car(SSS).

TallTom

I need to buy that stuff. I have a spray bottle of the Prestone De-Icer and it works well but this would be even better.

Does it also help the blades from icing up? That would be nice if it did.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

It's snowing right now outside my office window.

And no, it's not charmingly seasonal. It's wet and miserable.

SublimeKing

lol I did. Lucky him. Winter sucks up here and is way to long. I am not looking forward to it. Only thing worse then coming winter is winter 2 years ago when I had to drive a Lincoln Mark VIII. My Maxima is a god in the snow compared to that. Lincoln never liked to turn in the winter, I would turn the wheels and the car would still go straight. Not to mention if I wanted to go up any hill I could only make it in reverse up it because of the rwd. Gotta love the Maxima's fwd

BuRoJo

Just a thought, but wouldn't RWD work better going forward up-hill, since the weight is transferred to the rear, where the traction is needed?

shdwonthsun

iTrader: (1)

it does

theoretically, as long as there's weight over the wheels. the suspension compressing is good, but you need weight over the drive wheels to begin with

trooplewis

iTrader: (1)

Well, winter is here in San Diego. This morning my onboard computer indexed over to the temperature reading and said "Icy" 37 degrees. Da*n, that's cold. Glad I have the Meridian package with the heated steering wheel.

ColtMax

In order to transfer the weight from the powertrain to the rear, you need major acceleration! Acceleration is a direct equation of power and traction... Although Maxima's make decent power, the icy condition will offer little or no traction.

In low traction condition FWD offers the best performance. The wheels with the most weight are pulling into the direction you want. As opposed to a RWD where little weight is on the wheels that are pushing you against the front end wheels. You really want those fronties to be having the steering effect you are seeking for if not, babaya!

After reading the statement I just made, I would add that AWD offers the best performance, but that's not the debate we are into overhere.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

Bite me.

We had 3" of snow this afternoon. First snow of the season.

SublimeKing

All I know is that every time I would try and get up my girlfriend's hill, the Lincoln would just spin and the back end would swing out, no matter how lightly I hit the gas. Once I would turn it around in a driveway before her house and reverse, it would go straight up that hill no problem.

jeff5347

Troop, not funny



























if it only got to 37 as the lowest temp i would still wear shorts. Im in the same boat as Rochester. Had some flurries last night. Didnt get the 3" he got but winter is coming quick. I get to look forward to everyone turning into 16 yr old drivers who just got there license. It seems here everyone forgets how to drive in the snow and still tailgates, drives to fast and acts like a moron. oh the shoveling too

Prophecy99

iTrader: (1)

some other things are switching out hamurgerless grille to hamburger grille, and softening the illuminas 2 notches down to 2F/3R
that deicer looks nice

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

Agreed. I've made note to get me some of that. Been planning on some new wiper blades this month, too.

I like the Valeo Ultimates, from TireRack. Bought a set 3 years ago, and they've been excellent ever since, year round.

BuRoJo

OK, but since the car is on an angle, doesn't the acceleration of gravity get shifted rearward? (See thumbnail below for a rough picture illustrating my point, "babaya")



It goes against my intuitive sense but your experience speaks otherwise! Perhaps the old addage that a chain is easier to pull than push applies here, in some way or other.

RR5

iTrader: (6)

RainX also has a two-in-one bottle that does the bug gut remover and water repellent + de-icer. I been using that ever since the summer and this year we got our snow and ice, it easily cleared the windshield without a problem at all, no frozen lines at all.

TallTom

Used the Autosocks last night for the first time and was impressed. Got me almost home. About a 1/3 way down the street, my Max decided that it didn't want to plow through 15" of snow anymore so I had to shovel a spot on the street and park it (car is lowered on H&R springs which didn't help).

Today, I get home and as soon as I took the autosocks off on my inclined driveway, the car started to slide down it, LOL.

From a 1-10, I would give them an 8 and say that they are great for emergencies but wouldn't use them all the time.