Thread: Snow Chasing

If you're stopping long in the snow, you can get your diesel waxing up. If you fill up near the snow, they usually have 'Alpine Diesel' in the cooler months, with a lower waxing temp. Or you can whack in an additive. You can buy it, or some people DIY with kero and stuff.

I got fuel at Omeo over Easter and it was Alpine diesel.

Dave.

Just back from hillend -6 on wed morn but no snow, came throught lithgow on the way home no snow about but they say there will be more over the weekend

Well Barrington got 10cm's Barrington Tops receives surprise snowfall - ABC Newcastle NSW - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

But would slush today after the wind and 19Deg, they also apparently had some cars go into ditches with Ice.

A nice N/E going thru now and cooling down again.

Wont be going tomorrow but the weather charts are looking good for end of next week/weekend

The site we use to find the snow is

BSCH - GFS Custom Plotter

And the data/settings we use are
1. For Variable select Relative Humidity [%], Level: 700mb, Contours: Shaded and Contours, Cint: 10.
2. For Overlay select Temperature [C], Level: 850mb, Contours: Black Contours, Cint: 1.
3. For Map Projection select SE QLD/ NE NSW.

Then "Request Plot" to see the chart and you can add 3, 6, 12 or 24 hours to see the predictions. You are looking for when there are red bits on the chart (70%+ humidity) at the same time as 0 or below temperatures (shown as numbers on the black lines).

Barrington Tops is around 32°06'S, 151°28'E so the bottom two rows and about 5 grid boxes across.

Dazza

Hi all,thanks for the info on fuel,I use my own Bio-diesel in Brissy which is good down to about 0-2 deg c,I reckon I'll be on about 80% dino-diesel by the time I get to Lithgow.I treat all my fuel with Chem-tec to stop oxidation(essential for bio-diesel),and it's also a cold flow improver??,will it be good enough?,I'm not going any further south,but this will be my first trip to the "real cold" so I wan't to be prepared,getting a new battery,oil change and general once over and carrying a few spares.Any tips greatly appriceated,hope to run into (not litterally)some of you around the area,I'm in the station at Rydal for a week
Cheers Gregg

3G's be very careful using biodiesel in the cold. It may precipitate wax and block your filters. Have had this occur in the defender. most people buy their dieso locally which by now should be winter mix.

the bit below comes from the Monaro RFS
Monaro RFS has discovered some interesting information regarding this years winter diesel.

1. Winter mix will become available at the beginning of May (Monaro distributors)
2. Monaro winter mix is normally rated at -5 degrees.
3. Our sources have informed us that the 2011 mix will be rated at zero degrees.

Equipment Officers should determine what diesel fuels are stored in any drums and how full they are.

Please avoid purchasing your brigade diesel until the winter mix arrives and talk to your Operations Officer if you have any questions or concerns.

Thanks Dromader,
As i said,I should be on about 80% diesel by then,so I'll try and fill up at Lithgow,Ive been in about zero camping o/night with b100,but only one night and the days were above 20. I think I'm more worried about me freezing,hope the fireplace keeps the old Station warm
Gregg

Originally Posted by 3-Gees

Hi all,thanks for the info on fuel,I use my own Bio-diesel in Brissy which is good down to about 0-2 deg c,I reckon I'll be on about 80% dino-diesel by the time I get to Lithgow.I treat all my fuel with Chem-tec to stop oxidation(essential for bio-diesel),and it's also a cold flow improver??,will it be good enough?,I'm not going any further south,but this will be my first trip to the "real cold" so I wan't to be prepared,getting a new battery,oil change and general once over and carrying a few spares.Any tips greatly appriceated,hope to run into (not litterally)some of you around the area,I'm in the station at Rydal for a week
Cheers Gregg

Originally Posted by 3-Gees

Thanks Dromader,
As i said,I should be on about 80% diesel by then,so I'll try and fill up at Lithgow,Ive been in about zero camping o/night with b100,but only one night and the days were above 20. I think I'm more worried about me freezing,hope the fireplace keeps the old Station warm
Gregg

Gregg,
Just buy your fuel from a normal servo locally. I don't know whether they use a local brew in the Central Tablelands (Lithgow/Bathurst/Orange etc) but I have lived there for many years with no issues.

You would have to be lucky to see snow when you are there in July. They get dumps of snow like that spasmodically in winter. In 2009 we got around three dumps but none last winter. It normally only stays around for a couple of days if that. The wind at Rydal can be bitingly cold though....

(BTW, You will see from my location that I have seen the light and moved to a much warmer climate!!!)

Cheers,
Chris