Can You Drive a Mustang in the Winter
Everyone who is considering ownership a Mustang (peculiarly one with a large V8) thinks near having to drive their car in the winter. People ask me this all the time in person. Hither's my personal research subsequently iv long Chicago winters in my daily-driven Mustang.
Can you drive a Mustang in the winter? It is not dangerous to drive a modern Mustang in the winter on all-season tires. Although the rear wheels tin slip in whatever car if too much ability is applied, the mill traction control and stability systems are tuned very well to avert over-application of the throttle in slick conditions.
Previous generations of rear wheel drive cars have put a lot of people off of wintertime driving, only at that place are a lot of things yous tin can exercise to drive your Mustang twelvemonth-round.
Winter Driving Is No Large Deal
A Mustang is a machine only like any other on the route. It has iv tires and a steering cycle. It is susceptible to the laws of physics but like everything else. Simply because yous take a lot more power under the hood doesn't mean that the tires will work any worse.
So the first thing you need to practise is go on your right foot under control. I know! Information technology's difficult, but snow and ice are slippery. Instead, now is the time to attempt and beat your MPG high score. Utilize the loud pedal judiciously.
The weight residual in our cars is not over the drive beam like front wheel drive cars, so traction of the rear is always the main concern. Manage that and you lot'll be just fine.
Fugitive Extremely Adverse Conditions
That being said, at that place will certainly be times when it's non a good idea to drive any motorcar on the road. We become some weird winter weather condition here in Chicago. I've seen both Thunder Snow (seriously, lightning in the winter!) and many flavors of freezing rain.
If you tin't see where yous're going or the roads haven't been cleared yet, it's going to suck driving around. Lowered cars need to peculiarly consider this. If you're merely 5-6 inches off the ground, snow drifts volition ruin your day.
That doesn't have anything to do with a Mustang. Driving is naturally dangerous. There are times when the weather is non cooperating and it's just a better idea to stay dwelling. Reschedule your pedicure engagement if information technology's too crazy outside.
Get out the Traction Control On
Don't effort to be a hero. I've seen quite a few people on the Facebook groups who merits to turn it off every time they drive. Now is not the time for that sort of thing.
Traction control has saved my life at to the lowest degree 3 times. The first time, I was giving her the beans on the on-ramp and it was raining out. I didn't experience the dorsum finish come up out, and so I didn't know to lift. Without traction control, I'm sure I would take spun the motorcar.
Traction control on the S197 is incredible, in my opinion. Information technology allows you to practice some crazy direct-line things in the summer without penalizing you also much and will preclude you from killing yourself in bad weather condition. It's only the idiots who plough it off that cease upwards on YouTube.
There may be times when turning it off might assistance you, such as excavation your way out of a minor snow drift, only these are few and far between. You're much amend keeping it on and forgetting virtually it.
Keep Some Winter Equipment in Your Automobile
It'south never a bad thought to keep some supplies in your trunk. I have a summer kit for runway days and autocross and a wintertime kit for the off-season. I switch them out when I change into my winter tires. It'due south got some safety stuff such every bit extra clothes and gloves, just in case.
I also keep some one-apply manus warmers in there, too. If there's ever a situation where I accept to get out of the car, I desire to be as warm as possible. Treatment whatever problem you lot have is a lot easier when y'all're not freezing your parts off!
Total disclosure: I exercise keep a shovel in the trunk. It's a little "survival" one. I've never needed information technology, only it doesn't hurt to be prepared. If yous demand it, you'll be glad you lot take information technology. It's a lot ameliorate than digging with your easily, that's for sure.
Last but not least, I likewise have an extra gallon of windshield wiper fluid. This was a trick I learned the once I was stuck. If y'all're ever just stuck on a small incline on ice like I was, a petty windshield wiper fluid will melt the water ice under the tire and go you lot on your manner.
Call up Nigh Putting Something Heavy in the Trunk
If yous've taken your spare tire out of the trunk to salvage weight, now is a skilful time to return it. Potholes go bigger in the winter, giving you lot an fifty-fifty greater chance at a flat tire, and having extra weight in the trunk is too a skilful idea to better traction.
Yous tin can also try a sandbag or two if you're really worried about traction, simply I've never needed to go that far.
Consider AAA
I audio similar an one-time person, merely I like AAA. I accept it for two reasons. In the summertime, it's pocket-sized insurance to get a tow home in example of a apartment tire or if I have an unexpected issue at the race rails (MT-82 life! Check out this article on how to solve MT-82 issues: What Causes Mustang GT Transmission Transmission Problems?)
Information technology also does double duty in the wintertime. Will this help you lot bulldoze amend in the winter? No, but if the worst happens and y'all do get stuck, you don't have to worry about it. You lot tin can just relax in the commuter seat with your mobile phone until the tow truck arrives and then getting unstuck is his trouble.
Are Wintertime Tires Worth It?
Yes. This is my start yr on wintertime tires and I tin't believe what I've been missing. Let me put it this way; practiced wintertime tires are the summer-but tires of the winter.
I've got some Blizzaks and they are surprisingly great. I changed my tires back in Nov when my summer rubber was getting a little hard. I noticed an instant deviation and they actually hold really well on turns when it's dry out. In the snow, they simply dig right in, no problem. They really inspire a lot of conviction.
By the fashion, if you are even thinking of trying this on drag radials, don't carp. Accept your wife or girlfriend or mom drive you. Rain is bad enough with those guys, let alone cold weather condition. It's just not going to work out.
Are Convertibles Warm in the Winter?
The convertible Mustangs out there are totally fine. The canvas they use for the tops is very thick and keeps the heat in nicely.
Coyotes have no problem getting up to temperature. The heaters, especially in S197s, are more than capable of heating upwards the cabin. I asked around in my local club and everyone had good things to say virtually their convertible tops keeping in the heat.
Misc. Mustang Winter "Race Car Problems"
MT-82s that have the thicker fluid are sometimes a little cranky, I've heard. They revised the fluid around 2013 to address cold weather drivability issues with thicker fluid and notchiness in the gearbox.
My worst winter problem so far has been with my Paxton kit. You're really not supposed to drive the auto beneath 40F, according to the manual. "Tight tolerances" of the supercharger, or something. I've never actually had a trouble and I'm at 20,000 miles, going strong.
If you have a Paxton/Vortech car of your own, cheque out this article for some important winter tips: How to Run a Mustang Supercharger in Cold Atmospheric condition
The one serious problem I had was with the metal couplers that come with the kit. Paxton and Vortech kits extend the lower radiator hose from the bottom of the radiator back into the engine and reroute it around the new components. It makes a 24-inch hose into a 60-foot hose with a few connections for turns.
For some reason, when information technology was -40F out last winter, the clamps would allow get and I'd lose all of my
Drew suggested some monster clamps from Napa. Evidently, there are some high-pressure diesel applications that need serious hose clamps, not the crappy ones that normal applications use. These did the flim-flam and the hose has been fine since so.
My point hither is, the more your car is modified, the bigger take a chance you volition have to encounter weird issues like this and information technology'due south never a bad idea to fix with a picayune extra equipment. You'll be happy you lot did.
Related Questions
Does Snow Mode exercise anything? Newer Mustangs take this feature. It adjusts the corporeality of power that the pedal makes so y'all tin can command the car easier. You tin exercise the same thing by just taking it piece of cake.
Are donuts approved in parking lots? Yep, of course. Be prophylactic. Watch out for others… and policemen.
Source: https://www.dmarkperformance.com/can-you-drive-a-mustang-gt-in-the-winter/
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