Club 80-90 Forums

hi guys, being only a new campervan owner (oct last yr) had a couple of wonderful weekends in it so far i was just wondering with this horrid weather ( i love it but its tiresome now) the van "henry" hasnt been out or started for a good 3 weeks, what do you all advise? do i wait till the 6-7 inch of snow has gone and take him out for a good run (if he starts) or do i go start him and let him tick over for a bit? im just concerned that the minus tepmeratures might be doing something "bad" to him and his pipes, breaks etc? dont want to do more harm than good, its a 1.6 d t25 1981,
cheers
louisa
the worrier

Rear engine and rear wheel drive+snow and ice= O **** I have just crashed

Let the engine tick over on the drive for 10 mins, thats what I have done.

As long as you have the correct amount antifreeze in you will be fine

and welcome to the nut house

Welcome to the club Louisa the worrier

thanks for the welcome guys, i have posted before....another worry of mine....the little so an so wouldnt start!!!! only turned out to be a flat battery am a born worrier so expect lots of urgent posts when we get him out and start using him in the better weather.
as for the anti freeze question...im assuming he has enough in him as i didnt check am sure he did have as the previous oners where very keen to keep him on top form and he was used daily, if not im sure i will find out soon enough!
so if i start him up and let him run for a little while tomorrow that should be ok?
the reason i question this is i was doing this when i got him, every 3 days as he was used daily before we bought him, i was then advised not to keep doing this as it wasnt doing him any good? a long drive was far better, well as you have said rear wheel drive, rear engine+ ice and 6 inch of snow= huge problems. plus i have to get him out of a very tight ginnel!!!!!
lou x

A drive is better, but with this weather and moronic drivers I would let the engine tick over, until the snow and ice have gone

thanks, i shall try him tomorrow, he may require a jump start after such a long rest in this poor weather!!!!
and as for moronic drivers in this weather i second that, had a few "quibbles" with said morons over the past 2 days!!!!
lou

If you need to bump start it, you may as well wait until the snow and ice has gone and give it a good blow out

A battery charger is a real necessity if you are only driving the van occasionally (like me). It's really easy to connect if both batteries are behind the front seats, and makes starting the engine so much easier when cold.

I run my engine for 10 minutes in the drive every week or so if I can't get out. (It drives the dog nuts, coz he thinks we are going on another jolly! )

i am going to invest in a battery charger, however my car battery is on the engine at the rear and my leisure is behind the drivers seat!!!!
havent been able to get into van today as the locks are frozen!!!!

If you are near Lidl get one of these

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl ... x_7575.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

am going to try to get one, we have a lidl in our village but its brand new so is always rammed hopefully i will get one, i might even nip late on the weds night before see if they have put them out in preparation.....i know they do this in the makro near us.

im so happy...he started first time!!! let him tick over for about 20 mins the battery light kept flashing but was ok when i gave him some revs and if i put it into gear and moved a bit, this happened before he just needs a good run, so hopefully will take him out soon ish, think i might get in there today nad line the roof as ive been meaning to do since xmas!! finish of his brand new interior.
lou

I'm totally marooned in Suffolk - have been all week. I'm miles from a main road and theres snow and ice all the way so wouldn't attempt to move. I occasionally glance at the voltmeter and it reads ok so it'll start I'm sure.

A decent drive will do it the world of good it'll get every thing up to temp oil, water, wheel bearings, brakes, gearbox etc a 10 min start up will do more harm than good, it takes 7 miles to put back into the battery what u used to start it thats not including lights, heater, radios etc take care on the side roads and open it up on the main roads if you can.

Same up here! Battery went flat and my poor bus has been stranded in snow and ice for nearly 3 weeks. Had to buy a charger, and was chuffed to bits today when he actually started first time after being re-connected! I dug him out and took him for a quick trundle round the block (no further because of the snow). I thought this would have been good for it? I've read it's not good to let it sit and idle, but sitting there not moving at all can't be too good for it either?