Getting ready for winter? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hatterasguy · #1 08-29-2006, 12:21 AM

I was just thinking about this. Its time to get the SD ready for winter again.

Time for some maintaince, have a set of oil cooler lines made up, and maybe a front brake job. Other than that she is good to go.

The SDL gets a detail, oil and filters changed, then is placed under a car cover in the garage until the bad weather clears out.

Oct 1 is the switch date this fall.

What does everyone else do to there cars for the coming cold weather?

BodhiBenz1987 · #2 08-29-2006, 12:31 AM

I'm planning a big, thorough wash, clean, polish, wax job, but I'll probably wait another month for that. It's something that takes me forever, so I want to do it while the weather is mild, the wind is quiet and the days are long. I definately want the paint as protected as possible. I have no garage and will not have one anytime soon. Will probably do an engine compartment clean-up, too.
I'm thinking about getting some all-weather mats this year, because I'm tired of junking up the OE ones with slush, sludge, mud, gravel and all the other crud that clings to boots and shoes in the winter.

I'm getting the lifters done next week, two, which isn't really urgent, but I'm going to have to do it sooner or later and would rather incur that financial blow in the late summer months, when my wallet is a little less strained. Winter is just more expensive in general, and handing over money just hurts more.

For the most part, I'm trying to keep the Benz on easy street in the winter. It's spent so much time in slush and snow over the years, it deserves a little rest from that now. I have the Jeep, which is more of a run-around-in-the-snow kind of vehicle. Of course on nice days I'll be in the Benz, but I'm trying to keep it away from icy hazard and evil SALT.

pawoSD · #3 08-29-2006, 12:37 AM

Might be switching oil types to a light synthetic....and going over the underside with a dremel+wirebrush tool, then a can of POR then a good deal of undercoating...

I'll be swapping out my MB mats with rubber ones that catch water and stuff. And I will wash it and coat it heavily with some Turtlewax Platinum, then she should be ready to go!

I already changed all the glow plugs about 3 weeks ago when I had one blow, battery is only 1.5 years old....P/S hose is new, radiator/both cooling hoses/expansion tank are new, new steering damper will be going in with my oil change next week.....and I need to get around to putting in a new monovalve I have in the garage + the inline fuse to protect the CCU in case my aux heater pump dies. Other than that it should be good to go......any other little things along the way will be dealt with as usual.

Hatterasguy · #4 08-29-2006, 06:38 PM

I am thinking about dragging the SD out of the back yard in the next couple of weeks to remove the oil cooler lines. Man those look like a huge pita. Maybe I'll just cut them and hose clamp them in place!

TWeatherford · #5 08-29-2006, 08:53 PM

very curious about this as well. I just ordered a few hundred bucks of filters, fluids, and other little stuff to get the new 300CD whipped into shape. I will be at college in the fairly mild Kentucky winter, but have no way to plug in. Hopefully it'll start right. I'm going to check glowplugs in a few weeks. I'd love to buy a set of winter tires and maybe some wheels for them to stay on, or I might consider snow chains.

Hatterasguy · #6 08-29-2006, 08:57 PM

Just replace the glow plugs. I think testing them is a waste of time. I tested all 5 of the SD's last winter and they all checked out with a meter. But when it got below freezing it just wouldn't start. 5 new Bosch glow plugs and it fired right up.

When put on a battery only 2 of the five actualy glowed red.

I wouldn't consider going through a winter on old glow plugs. Change them once and be done with it.

Don't worry about plugging in, even the SD which is shot will start to just below 20, maybe high teens. Below that she needs to be plugged in.

Now the SDL in the winter is amazing. The only winter I drove it I remember lighting it off at below 0 temps after having sat not plugged in for the night. As soon as the GP light went out, it fired right up like nothing.

#7 08-29-2006, 10:09 PM

I need to get my skis tuned.

On a 616/617, I just carry a couple of spare Bosch GPs and replace them when/if they burn out. I can change one in about 5 minutes, so it's no big deal. I use 5W40 synthetic for cold starting. I try not to drive them in the snow so I just keep "all season" tires on the cars and keep a set of tire chains in the trunk "just in case."

sailor15015 · #8 08-29-2006, 10:59 PM

[QUOTE=Craig;1261455]I need to get my skis tuned.

QUOTE]

Lucky dog. Skiing is at least a ten hour drive for me, and that's to New Mexico slopes so I only get to go once a year. I replaced three glow plugs when we had our first 65 degree night this week. I thought I might have one bad because it would have a slight stumble in the 75 degree mornings we've been having but I had to crank for about 30 seconds when the cooler temps rolled in. Fired off in less than a crank at 62 degrees this morning right after the light, though.

BodhiBenz1987 · #9 08-29-2006, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Now the SDL in the winter is amazing. The only winter I drove it I remember lighting it off at below 0 temps after having sat not plugged in for the night. As soon as the GP light went out, it fired right up like nothing.

My 300D has been the same ... last winter I came out one morning and it was -7F ... I let the GP go until the relay clicked, then turned and it started right up. Couple little kicks in the idle but they smoothed out fast. And that with nearly 20-year-old glow plugs ...

pawoSD · #10 08-30-2006, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BodhiBenz1987

My 300D has been the same ... last winter I came out one morning and it was -7F ... I let the GP go until the relay clicked, then turned and it started right up. Couple little kicks in the idle but they smoothed out fast. And that with nearly 20-year-old glow plugs ...

Are you sure your glow plugs are 20 years old? They only seem to last about 2-4 years tops....so I would have to doubt they're that old (if they are still working)

Hit Man X · #11 08-30-2006, 12:49 AM

In Oct it's still in the 90s here in Texas LOL

captainmonk · #12 08-30-2006, 04:13 AM

my sdl likes starting in the winter with 392000 miles better then my 6.5 chevy does with 185000 miles and the glow plugs are easier to change but i would appear funny drivin 2000 lbs of monkfish down the road in the sdl Then there is dear old dad with his heated garage that leaves his cars outside on the coldest nights just to see U gotta b love anal retired engineers

Rudolphrocks · #13 08-30-2006, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TWeatherford

very curious about this as well. I just ordered a few hundred bucks of filters, fluids, and other little stuff to get the new 300CD whipped into shape. I will be at college in the fairly mild Kentucky winter, but have no way to plug in. Hopefully it'll start right. I'm going to check glowplugs in a few weeks. I'd love to buy a set of winter tires and maybe some wheels for them to stay on, or I might consider snow chains.

Boo frickin' hoo. I have no place to plug my 1975 240D in and I am going to college in NORTHERN MICHIGAN!!!