Leave snow on car or sweep it off?

Col7777

philbostavros wrote: »

Many years ago (when prolonged periods of snow were more common - even here in the South), my brother left his Austin Princess for over a week with a significant amount of snow on the roof and bonnet. During this time it partly thawed and refroze several times.

Eventually, (probably when he ran out of food or booze?) he ventured out to the car and wondered why, when he got in to start it, his head hit the roof linning.

Turned out the weight of the snow and ice had caused the roof to buckle. I seem to remember that the insurers paid out for a new body shell (car was nearly new then).

I know that British Leyland cars were not that well thought of, but given the increasing use of lightweight materials these days, could become a modern hazzard?

Now where did I put that soft broom?

Keep warm.

Perhaps we had a heavy snow fall that year.

jayme1

philbostavros wrote: »

snip

Turned out the weight of the snow and ice had caused the roof to buckle. I seem to remember that the insurers paid out for a new body shell (car was nearly new then).

I know that British Leyland cars were not that well thought of, but given the increasing use of lightweight materials these days, could become a modern hazzard?

Now where did I put that soft broom?

Keep warm.

I wouldnt think that it would do it nowadays as strict safety requirements mean that a car can be upside down on its roof without it crushing in therefore protecting the occupants, so that would equal a very good several feet of snow.

just for reference 1 cubic meter of water at 4C is exactly 1 ton (1000kg) so since snow and ice are less dence than water at 4C it is slightly less weight per cubic meter, so if your car roof was 1m by 1m and your car was say 1.5 ton you should be able to have 1.5m high snow on your car roof before it even thinks about buckling (likely you can have more than 1.5m high as the manufacturer will have factored in the greater forces on the roof when the car is turned upside down, so you should be good with 2m or 2.5m snow high)

:cool:

mikey72

The roof pillars stay intact, but the roof skin can bend inwards with much less force.
Don't stand on yours based on the above.

unlucky67

A few years ago I left my old fiesta (d reg) parked overnight on a Friday near the students union...obviously someone thought it was a good idea to climb on it - the roof was bowed in quite dramatically...I just pushed it up from inside and it popped back into shape - even with a sunroof - no problems... But someone with a modern mini had a similar thing happen and it ended up in the body shop... Don't know what that says about how much weight of snow on the roof a car can take or modern safety standards... Mine hasn't moved for 4 days now - snow is over the tops of the wheels- thought about digging it out today so tried it yesterday (still covered in snow) and it started straight away...changed my mind as it snowed *again* last night -another 10 cm - and the road hasn't been gritted (again) yet...not starving so not going anywhere...

almillar

Batteries don't enjoy this weather. Your car should start first time with fuel injection etc. But batteries perform FAR worse in the cold. If a battery is weak, the winter will probably kill it off. Be very careful sitting in it listening to the radio etc (engine off), you mightn't be able to do it for long. My wife's car got a flat battery after using the hazard lights for 30 mins in the cold!
Sitting on the driveway with the engine running is actually illegal in Germany for environmental reasons and this is why most car manuals will tell you to drive off straight away. Well, AFTER you've cleared all the snow/ice off it without the engine running!

epz_2

Anyone got an idea what this snow would do to a ragtop convertible?

I had my heart set on a xkr convertable but dont have a garage, it snows about a foot at night for the past 3 days so I am a lot more hesitant now.

skylight

I had bought a battery recharger last year after the car's battery failure so will dig that out of the garage and leave it in a more accessible place.

On the advise here, I will then stop turning the engine on each morning and will just let it be. Although I had better go and buy a socket set so I can get the battery out (had to borrow one last year but I wont be able to this year).

All I need to do now is get my internal lights working and all will be AOK!

ali-t

Deleted_User wrote: »

I've just cleared my car of snow this evening. Not used it since Wednesday night when the snow started. Was like 2 foot deep on the roof!

Theres a van in my street looks like the popemobile, theres so much snow piled on the roof.:rotfl:

adouglasmhor

skylight wrote: »

I had bought a battery recharger last year after the car's battery failure so will dig that out of the garage and leave it in a more accessible place.

On the advise here, I will then stop turning the engine on each morning and will just let it be. Although I had better go and buy a socket set so I can get the battery out (had to borrow one last year but I wont be able to this year).

All I need to do now is get my internal lights working and all will be AOK!

Does your battery charger have a lighter socket adaptor? If so get a lead from your house to the car and charge it for a couple of hours anyway without removing the battery. (why is your car outside if you have a garage anyway?).

skylight

There is no lighter adapter unfortunately. And the car is a people carrier and far too big for the old garage!