How's the Delica so far in this Calgary weather?

[jky]

Hello folks,
I frequented this site over the summer as my wife & I were planning on buying a Delica... but the $ was allotted elsewhere of higher priority so that plan was ditched. Now, we're again revisiting the idea... especially since the start of this cold, icy, snowy weather here in Calgary...
I was wondering how the Delicas are holding up in this deep freeze? I'm assuming the 4wd came in handy at times considering one can skate out on the roads.
Was there any special things to do to ensure it runs smoothly in this type of weather? I'm new to both the Delica & diesel so please forgive my ignorance...
Thanks for your assistance.
jc (calgary)

[EnviroImports.com]

a block heater is a MUST for Alberta weather , and remember its still a rwd VAN, put some weight in the back end.

[wookie]

Ditto, I just put in a block heater. We're going to be in Calgary on the weekend and then off to Manitoba. burrrrrr. thinking about it gives me shivers. I let ya know how the van runs! Oh yea and we got studded tires.

[jky]

Wookie & Enviro, thanks for your reply... if a block heater is all it takes to ensure a good driving experience in the winter, then that's not bad at all. My current pickup is 2wd so I know about weights and such...

Wookie: if you can share your experience here once you're finished your trip, that would be invaluable. Be safe.

Regards, j

[EnviroImports.com]

Hi, well I wouldent say that a block heater is ALL thats needed, a quality battery is a must, make sure your belts are in good shape, a snaped belt in -30 +wind chill can be leathal, try and have a good tow point incase you get caught in a storm and need to get pulled out of a ditch, from Calgary to Manitoba, the ditches are only about a 10 degree dip so its easy to end up in them in a blowing snowy bout of nastyness, I grew up in Alberta and used to longhaul along there. tire chains are good to have and I think law now to have in the vehicle if you dont have dedicated winter tires. but im not sure of what provinces now have the manditory winter tire law... remember the skinny pedal is not your friend on the ice....
Noel

[jky]

Thanks Enviro,
I'm quite familiar with winter driving (& the beauty of fishtailing) in my 2000 rwd frontier... thank goodness for winter tires & 5 sandbags (oh & my brand spankin' new battery)! I love my truck, but a number of times I wished I spent the extra $ for 4wd. If we choose to go ahead with the Delica, it would mostly see city driving with trips out to the Rockies approx 2-3X per month (Canmore, Banff & Lake Louise). Therefore it won't really get into rural Albertan winter conditions...
The recent dumping of snow, -40 weather & packed ice on the streets just made me wonder how the Calgarian Delica owners fared.

j

[idiggit]

Hey. I just bought a Deli and drove from Vic to Edson AB. It was a learning experiance. For instance, I didn't know that the standard antifreeze in vehicles in Victoria is only rated to 0 degrees. Not so good when parking your van overnight in Kamloops (-25 with windchill).
I also didn't know that the original batteries would freeze solid if parking your van for 15 min (3.5 hr in a walmart parking lot later, I figured out where the battries were, and how to switch them out).
And good quality winter tires are a must.

[Brandelica Winnipegger]

A cold weather thermostat is something you need. I am driving in Winnipeg, and it has been -30 for a week, and the engine does not get up to temp, so the heater only blows luke warm air. I am currently looking how to find a cold weather thermostat.

[EnviroImports.com]

are you looking for the typical diesel thermostat of 180* or you want one to open at say 140* 160*
one thing to also look at, is the delica is designed to scoop all the air from under the bumper, in the prairies with the cold, its very comon to cover the majority of the grill , blocking the icy air from keeping the rad to cold, might want to get under your van and put some cardboard blocking a portion of your rad, or you could remove part of the air scoop from underneith, I think its 3 bolts...... Im sure you can find some way to deflect some of that CRAZY COLD air....
Noel

[Erebus]

Well, hmmmm, .... my delica is quite happy staying in the driveway. It's only been out twice in the last week -- I take transit to work.

The first time out, it was -25 or so, but the lower rad hose heater had been running all day. It started fine (okay, not great, but I have an injection pump issue).

I'm seriously thinking of spending the $200 to get a block heater installed, the lower rad hose heater really doesn't do much.

The second time it was a balmy -14, no heater plugged in, and it started too. Oh, and I still am running with my original Japanese batteries.

In Calgary good snow tires aren't necessary. Good ice tires are critical. And my Bridgestone ATs don't really cut it, so I don't go out too much. As long as I get out of town, I'm fine, the rest of the province seems to be able to plow. Gotta check to see if the set of chains I have fit. But it is too cold to do so right now.

Calgary, unlike pretty much every other city in Canada, doesn't know what a snow plow is for. The do a half-assed job of plowing major roads, but only after everything is packed down and polished into ice. Then they also sprinkle some 1/4" stone on it -- not crushed stone that has sharp edges for grip, but river gravel that are more like ball bearings. So you are likely to get cracked windshields from the 2WD pickup truck in front of you spinning his tires madly on the ice.

Here's a news story as the city tries to blame labour laws for its own ineptitude. In the 12 years of "living" here, I've only about 3 times seen a plow with the plow actually down in contact with the surface. EDIT: forgot link: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/ ... roads.html

Side roads like residential streets are NEVER plowed, only sometimes get some gravel or sand. And sidewalks are the responsibility of whoever lives there, not the city.

News release from city reported that in the 24 hours from Tuesday morning until Wed morning there were 336 non-injury and 30 injury accidents.

My personal suspicion is that city council is paid off by the body shops and windshield places. They claim it would cost too much to do real snow removal. But lets go with the accidents I just mentioned. 360 accidents, figure 2 vehicles per accident gives 720 vehicles damaged. Figure a very low $1000 damage to each and you've got $720,000 in expenses for the owners in just that 24 hour period. Hard to believe it wouldn't be cheaper to have some plows and sanders out.

Okay, I'll stop ranting now.

[idiggit]

Nope, I'ts not just Calgary. It seems that every municipalty in alberta thinks that If you don't own a jacked up 4X4, then you deserve what you get on the roads. I spent 1/2 hr yesterday helping my neighbours push their cars onto the street, and try and get enough momentum going to actually be able to move. And yet If I don't have my sidewalk cleard within 24h of snowfall, the bylaw officer is very punctuall handing out citations.
God love prairie winters.

[Erebus]

And yet If I don't have my sidewalk cleard within 24h of snowfall, the bylaw officer is very punctuall handing out citations.

And of course, the areas where the city is responsible for clearing the sidewalks, they give themselves several days, and rarely actually do it. Like the stretch of sidewalk right beside the transit train station that isn't cleared all winter.

A couple of years ago during a nice storm, went for a long drive in the countryside in the mothership (Caprice with 4 snow tires). 8 hours later, after going up the (plowed) Forestry Trunk Road, and an uneventful trip, we get back to town. Only to almost get stuck trying to get back into my driveway. Grrrrr

[drrod]

Wookie,
Were you on #1 near Moose Jaw about 2:30PM on Saturday? I passed a Delica on the hiway heading east about that time.
Damn cold that is for sure!!
Rod

[jky]

Man, I'm hooked on this website... anyways, I've been corresponding with Mardy & it seems from what I read here & on his ads that he goes through a pretty thorough preventative service prior to selling his Delicas. This gives me some piece of mind as i'm definitely not a mechanic! I'm envious of you folks in the lower mainland there... it seems like you guys have so much support - that's wonderful! It's also nice to see that there are some members here in Calgary and a couple garages that know how to work with these "brick on wheels"... even more piece of mind :)

Fred, looking forward to checking out your Delica... thank you so much & I definitely appreciate this!

[wookie]

Hey Rod,
We travelled from Calgary to Brandon Mn yesterday (Sunday). And went through Moose Jaw around 3:30 pm, I think. It must have been another crazy Delica driver heading into the deep freeze. Right now it's -34 here. I tried to go for a walk - didn't last long!
As long as the van is plugged in it starts great but I'm going to have to put some cardboard in front of the rad because it just doesn't get warm. Burrr!
Darcy