SR safe to drive in winter?

[2plus4plus0eq6]

I WAS in the process of doing my sr swap in May, but ran out of money to finish it after I found out I blew my stock turbo. Now I am considering fixing it all right now so I can drive around for at least a few months before it snows.

I need to know if its OK to drive my car in the winter - even if its snowing. I am talking about temperatures as low as -15 celsius.

btw.. its got a fmic


Thanks

[Dousan_PG]

no its not
it doesnt snow in japan
regular 75 F year round
there's no snow there

......

[BoostGetsULaid]

its a RWD car. in the snow i wouldnt drive a rwd car with studs and chains.

[mRclARK1]

You can drive it... I did it (VERY occasionally on warmer days when I had no choice) but it's not going to like it, and neither are you.

[2plus4plus0eq6]

I don't want to drive it in the winter, but its kinda one of those 'no choice' things. Its been driven in the winter before, but not since the SR swap. Just gotta put sandbags in the back because of the RWD.

Do you mind explaining to me what its like MrClark?

Does it not start up right away or have a rough idle when cold? Should I be worried because I have a fmic?

[lflkajfj12123]

bigger wheels, grip tires, lots of sand bags, easy on the throttle and your fine

just make sure you have antifreeze in it before winter starts and turbo cars love cold air don't worry about the fmic its meant to be cool

[eastcoastS14]

my SR wouldnt even crank over in the cold weather

[mRclARK1]

I don't want to drive it in the winter, but its kinda one of those 'no choice' things. Its been driven in the winter before, but not since the SR swap. Just gotta put sandbags in the back because of the RWD.

Do you mind explaining to me what its like MrClark?

Does it not start up right away or have a rough idle when cold? Should I be worried because I have a fmic?

I didn't have ANYTHING in the rear... so I slid around like a mofo. If you MUST drive it (You probably have a couple months at least till the really cold part of winter hits... bust your ass and see if you can afford a POS that will at least last out the December, January, February, and March stretch since it's the worst part) then just take it carefully. Especially no fast turns... I slid out and across the intersection onto the otherside of the boulevard (sp?) once because I took a turn too quick and lost traction. Trust me... it happens even easier then you think it will. haha

Also, park indoors whenever possible at least, heated is even better, and let your car get to operating temp before you take it out of the garage into the cold. That helps a lot.

[HalveBlue]

240's are fine in the winter...

as long as you don't take it above 2 mph.

Seriously, driving my 240 for 15 minutes in the winter time was more exhausting than a road trip from LA to Salt Lake.

As long as you treat her with respect you should be fine. Don't do anything stupid and learn to drive in the snow in an open, empty parking lot where you don't have to worry about wrecking anything. Take your car out on the first day it snows and see when it looses traction.

Not the preferred car for winter driving, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

Good luck, stay safe.

[azndoc]

Well if its got a FMIC then it's no good then.

Nah your fine dude.

It's good all 4 seasons.

[frosti108]

id imagine it would be ok to drive. same as any other turbo motor. i would just make sure to let it warm up for a while before driving...

as for rwd in snow... yes it can get wild. but its surely possible. ive driven my 92 ka hatch in the winter and an 87 mazda b2000 mini truck, also my old 82 2wd s-10 . never bothered with any sandbads or anything and i did fine with all 3. just play it safe safe safe. most people get nabbed when they understeer into a curb. i gotta admit i bent a rim once on the curb in my mazda truck from doing that!

[xanavi_D]

if you can try to garage it during the night, a friend of mine had his tranny freeze so bad in colorado that it got fucked up and he had to get a new one.

[spool_sample]

bigger wheels, grip tires, lots of sand bags, easy on the throttle and your fine

just make sure you have antifreeze in it before winter starts and turbo cars love cold air don't worry about the fmic its meant to be cool

Actually, for snow, you want SKINNY tires. Big wheels and tires just "float" on top of snow... look at WRC cars and you'll see what I mean.

[garagelu]

if you have a nice 240sx with a sr20, why take the risk? Is it really worth all the trouble? There has to be other alternatives. You may regret it when the rear end comes around and slides into a ditch. Think about it long and hard.

[djcobra]

You guys haven't seen the weather up north, CANADA! I've been driving my SR car for 2 years in -30C and below weather. 'We' haven't had any problems, as long as you start the car and warm it up for a good 10-15 min and just be easy on the throttle. They're alot of SR owners In Calgary, and in Edmonton, Alberta, and trust me the Winters are harsh! Get a good set of winter tires and you'll be fine, no need for chains, argh! Having the car in the garage during the night would help, but i've seen my friends leave their SR power'd RiCE outside and starts fine. Might want to invest in a Romote Starter? also comes in handy as a Turbo timer. I have a CompuSTAR, I don't know if you Americans have heard of that... Regardless if you have a FMIC or SMIC that shouldn't be a problem at all. Anyways, drive safe and don't rush in the snow, I found to have more control with my RWD than any of my previous FWD cars... Maybe its the way we Canadians Drive haha.... good luck! DoRiFto!

[Silverbullet]

driving it in the snow is when it gets fun. You can get side ways just with a tap of the gas and all the cars around you will slow down because they think your out of control and about to crash LOL. I have spun out a couple times in bad spots though, so ya becareful of what you do.

[glitched]

wow, these kinds of threads really get me. "i wouldnt even drive a RWD car with chains" ???

as long as you get a set of dedicated SNOW tires on stock wheels (dont put them on wide summer wheels) and a LSD you should be fine. i cannont stress enough the NEED for dedicated snow tires here! gets some practice so that you are comfortable while out of control i.e. you dont panic.

http://nissaninfiniticlub.net/photopost/data/500/17428DSCF0025-med.JPG
http://nissaninfiniticlub.net/photopost/data/500/17428DSCF0024-med.JPG
http://nissaninfiniticlub.net/photopost/data/500/17428DSCF00171-med.JPG

That night we got so much snow that i was plowing snow with my front lip... never got stuck once. Havent ever spun out on snow tires either. 3 years of winter driving in my 240 and now I look forward to some snow driving in the 240

[unicoladron]

if you're concerned about spinning or you dtend to have a heavy foot the tires turn down your boost too. if you don't want to invest in a boost controller, just hook the wastegate straight to a nipple on your cold side and it'll be ~7psi as opposed to stock of ~11 (if you're using the factory soolenoid). also like the guys said, get yourself some bridgestone blizzaks on your steelies if you have em. if you got coilovers definitely set yourself to 4x4 mode so you don't drag your aero in the snow. i plan on driving my sr20 alllllll winter with some blizzaks on the rear and sandbags.

[2plus4plus0eq6]

Thanks for the comments so far.

I have actually driven my car for the past 3 winters so I am somewhat pro at drifting now hah. I have a good set of winter tires and a remote start for my car. I was just worried about the SR engine and fmic.

If you guys say its OK to drive then, I will really think about getting it back on the road soon then.

[JaeTea]

I have a Subaru and without winter tires the thing is NOT fun to drive in the snow.

I got stuck trying to make it up a hill.

I couldn't imagine trying to drive a RWD car with street tires in the snow. Maybe lower you tire pressure to like 10 psi.

[lflkajfj12123]

Actually, for snow, you want SKINNY tires. Big wheels and tires just "float" on top of snow... look at WRC cars and you'll see what I mean.

gotcha, makes sense was thinking wider wheels for more traction but you wouldn't fit snow tires on those. i've always driven with just steelies and 295's in the winter

[GRIPPY]

My cousin drive his SR all last winter, even in minus 30* celcius!

[mRclARK1]

Basically if you don't have to drive it: Then don't.

If you must, then be careful, and baby your motor as much as you can. Especially since I assume it's a bit of a project anyway.

[240truk]

KAs are almost more dangerous on slippery surfaces because of the low-end torque. SR should be no problem as long as your not trying to stomp on it. but why not??? driving with no traction is so much fun!!!!

[jskateborders]

I always used to look foreward to the snow, and drove my 240 all the time (which wasnt my DD at the time.) Even on cheap tires, I never lost control. I love snow cause you can go find an abandoned parking lot and drift without any wear on your car!!!

[celica3sgte94]

no its not
it doesnt snow in japan
regular 75 F year round
there's no snow there

......

dude your dumb man it snow in japan too and 75F year around WOW seriously u kno how hot it gets in the summer over there and how cold it is in winter.i wish it was 75F all year around lol

[Irukandji]

dude your dumb man it snow in japan too and 75F year around WOW seriously u kno how hot it gets in the summer over there and how cold it is in winter.i wish it was 75F all year around lol

Have you ever heard of sarcasm?

[Slow*Jim]

no its not
it doesnt snow in japan


You sure about that?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapporo_Snow_Festival

[celica3sgte94]

i wish it didnt snow over there cause snow mess me up all the time when im down there in the winter time cant do shit

[lflkajfj12123]

dude your dumb man it snow in japan too and 75F year around WOW seriously u kno how hot it gets in the summer over there and how cold it is in winter.i wish it was 75F all year around lol

You sure about that?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapporo_Snow_Festival

LOL man you guys are daft :keke:

[aznpoopy]

lol pwnt

gotcha, makes sense was thinking wider wheels for more traction but you wouldn't fit snow tires on those. i've always driven with just steelies and 295's in the winter

actually they make wide snow tires surprisingly


as long as you get a set of dedicated SNOW tires on stock wheels (dont put them on wide summer wheels) and a LSD you should be fine. i cannont stress enough the NEED for dedicated snow tires here! gets some practice so that you are comfortable while out of control i.e. you dont panic.

snow tires are helpful but not necessary

i drove two winters on summer tires and open diff. yes i was going slower than most cars and not turning too good.

[frosti108]

she loved the white stuff http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y140/frosti108/240sx/240sx006.jpg?t=1189125894

[ho1ywars]

drove sr last winter in jersey on kumo asx tires and an open diff and was fine. just be light on the gas

[daryl337]

if you can't drive in the snow, you suck at driving. I grew up in WA state in the north cascades... we would get tons of snow... tons of ice... if you learn to drive, then you should have no problem regardless of what platform you are using.. adapt.

As far as the motor's capability.. make sure it does warm up first.. turbos dont like uber thick oil.

[BlackZenkiS14]

I daily drove, rain, snow, ice, sleet shine, winter, summer, spring fall, 365 days a year with an SR swap for 3 years, and 3 full winters. It did fine.

Just get a nice set of dedicated snow tires (Dunlop WinterSport M2/Blizzak) for the winter, you will be fine, the SR will be fine. it gets cold as shit in Japan too

[qt_240]

get snow tires.. and you will be fine.. Our snow storms here in the chi get pretty bad (3 to 6ft somtimes) .. I use to drive my Old hatchback in the snow when i was younger because i had no choice.. honestly it does get fun somtimes.. =)

[Drakon]

Sarcasm is lost on them. So funny.

I would assume it's better to have a SR than a KA since you dont have that bottom end torque. Even in the rain I feel safer with my SR than I did with my KA. As long as you dont boost, you're fine.

[DRFT_240sx]

you'll be fine i drove mine around everywhere don't worry i never had a probelm in minnesota...

[s13silvia123]

you'll be fine. on the note sometimes when it gets too cold your car wont start. thats what happens to me. but i havent drove my car in the winter for a long time. starting it up would be an issue when its too cold is a issue sometimes.

[180sxLove]

I drove my SR powered s13 in the winter and the temp was BRUTAL!! -15 below 0 most the times.. it ran fine. just let it warm up nicely, make sure you have anti freeze and change your oil.... you should be good :)

Only real issue I had was my battery dying out on me because of the cold.....

[statik]

http://www.teamhpi.org/gallery/d/1791-1/DSCN0794.JPG

Snow tires and remote start, done.

[lucky7]

ive never owned dedicated snow tires. i usually roll on the cheapest shit i can find on my daily's.
current winter warrior.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o190/dane240/IMG_1711.jpg

i always drive FWD in the winter. living up north my entire life, most people plan ahead for winter like this. but hopefully this is the last year ill be rolling fwd as a daily. i want to pick up a 2000ish outback to have fun in.

you'll be fine. just like everyone else has said. good tires, sand in the rear. most important, let the engine warm up. too many people just hop in the car and go when its cold out. that can really fuck shit up inside the engine.

[DJ_Sunrise]

Omg.. not a winter car??? Wtf, like it never snows in Japan??? No car with summer tires is good in the winter. Ever. My S13 made it through 2 winters on bald rear summer tires and open diff. I'm talkin no tread. No problems. This will be my S14s 3rd winter this year. 300whp S14 sr, j30 lsd. Last two years I ran Blizzak LM22s. It sticks to the road like white on rice. I think the problem with people driving their cars in the snow is.. oh yea, its SNOW. Slow down and don't drive like speed racer. Turn the boost down for daily running. Get snow tires mounted, and everything's cool.

-Bart