How does a 4.5 handle in snow? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

joshhol · #16 12-03-2003, 03:40 PM

I dunno, I don't have any plans yet. It will probably be a short trip though, there is an Outdoor adventure program through my work that goes on day trips. I wouldn't be driving then anyway, but I have some time off and would like to stay up there longer than 8 hrs.

My 300D handled well up there several years ago, we had some chains for her then. My brother drove at the time and did pretty well. It must have been a really hard trip on the car though, none of us knew anything back then: No fuel treatment added for anti-gelling, no altitude correction on the IP. Day 2 in the morning, she did not want to start and my brother cranked and cranked to get her going, finally getting it to catch, flooring it to keep it running (don't even want to think about oil viscosity and flow rate

) blackening the snow behind the pipe.
That was probably the hardest start on the car, aside from some IDIOT mechanic who bled the fuel sys. after changing the filter by cranking!

And the time the glow plugs crapped out and my mom cranked and cranked her again to get it going.

I'm not sure the 4.5 is up for a 4 hour run.

Tomguy · #17 12-06-2003, 01:12 AM

Today was our first heavy snow in the area and being the curious SOB that I am, had to take her out to find how she did in the snow.
Although there was never more than 3" of snow on the roads themselves, they were all white (and some were slushy and crummy). I was amazed at how well she did in the snow! The only time she really lost traction was when I was going up a rather steep hill from a dead stop (but she made it without much issue) and when I was doing donuts in the Viewmont Mall's empty lot

I was afraid that the car wouldn't go anywhere but that's far from true. And I have all-season tires on it (not snow tires) so that's an accomplishment in my book.