Amazon: - 122S Road trip Winchester to Murmansk - Page 3

Bristol603 · Jan 11th, 2015, 20:55

I don't know what the VOC Forum has been doing, but Internet access to the site was blocked in Russia - hence radio silence yesterday.

As you all know Amazons, you will not be surprised to hear that after 36hrs cold soaking at -21c in a Murmansk hotel car park, the car started first turn of the key. Even with 0w40 the cranking was much slower than normal, but it did start without a problem.

It was super cold crossing northern Norway today. It.got down to -39c, which was brutal. The door mechanisms started playing up and the heater blower decided not to blow when it got below -30c. Ram air through the heater kept the windscreen from icing, but there wasn't much left for the rest of the cabin. Big coats, hats and gloves inside the car kept us comfortable. It got so cold we needed extra air in the tyres as the pressures sagged.

We are now in North Cape at the northern tip of Norway (even further north than Murmansk) where it is a positively tropical -7c as we are getting the Gulf Stream. Doors and blower have now decided to work again.

We do have some better pictures as my friend has a gaint digital SLR. Mobiles are a lot easier to blog with and in more skilled hands than mine would take better pictures.

Bristol603 · Jan 11th, 2015, 20:57

PS - destination ='Murmansk is "because it's there" and the biggest settlement North of the Arctic Circle.

Bristol603 · Jan 21st, 2015, 15:30

Arrived back at Winchester. Mileage by car was 4300 miles. Min temp -39C. Zero breakdowns. Toolkit and spares unopened.

amazon69 · Jan 21st, 2015, 18:20

Brilliant. All these people who look at us like we're mad for driving an 'unreliable old thing' really have no idea.

jamie · Jan 21st, 2015, 21:49

The door mechanisms started playing up and the heater blower decided not to blow when it got below -30c. Ram air through the heater kept the windscreen from icing, but there wasn't much left for the rest of the cabin.

Hi thanks for all your reports. I don't understand what "Ram air" is when the heater blower decided not to blow.....?
Best wishes and can't wait to get my Amazon back after having its engine tuned, but I don't think my first trip will be to Murmansk!!!

Bristol603 · Jan 21st, 2015, 22:11

As the car moves this produces relatively higher air pressure at the base of the windscreen and this forces some air through the heater matrix and into the car, I.e. You can get some airflow when moving even when the blower is switched off or is frozen. This is the ram air I was referring to you. If you stop moving, then then ram air flow stops.

PS - perhaps not for you first trip, but Istandbul looks like a good destination for a summer road trip - a journey to the edge of Asia.

Faust · Jan 21st, 2015, 22:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bristol603

Arrived back at Winchester. Mileage by car was 4300 miles. Min temp -39C. Zero breakdowns. Toolkit and spares unopened.

Fantastic stuff!

Really enjoyed reading about your trip.

arcturus · Jan 22nd, 2015, 09:20

Well done!

volvoid · Jan 22nd, 2015, 10:39

Fabulous trip !
Next one - jack up the suspension a few inches, fit super knobbly tyres, and go to the far end of the world.

scvolvo · Jan 22nd, 2015, 11:18

A very good read I enjoyed that

Jan 21st, 2015, 15:30	#23
Bristol603 Member Last Online: Apr 5th, 2024 12:46 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Winchester	Safely Home Arrived back at Winchester. Mileage by car was 4300 miles. Min temp -39C. Zero breakdowns. Toolkit and spares unopened.

Jan 21st, 2015, 18:20	#24
amazon69 Premier Member Last Online: Jun 5th, 2024 15:23 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Falmouth	Brilliant. All these people who look at us like we're mad for driving an 'unreliable old thing' really have no idea. __________________ Falmouth, Cornwall. 1970 California white 131.

Jan 22nd, 2015, 09:20	#28
arcturus arcturus Last Online: Yesterday 08:20 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sagres Portugal	Well done! __________________ life's too short to drink bad wine

Jan 22nd, 2015, 10:39	#29
volvoid Monster Raving Loony Last Online: Nov 12th, 2018 20:03 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: hitchin	Fabulous trip ! Next one - jack up the suspension a few inches, fit super knobbly tyres, and go to the far end of the world. __________________ 1994 850 2.0 bought at 32,000 miles used daily now 45,000. Still like a nearly-new car 2004 filthy polluting diesel VW

Jan 11th, 2015, 20:55	#21
Bristol603 Member Last Online: Apr 5th, 2024 12:46 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Winchester	I don't know what the VOC Forum has been doing, but Internet access to the site was blocked in Russia - hence radio silence yesterday. As you all know Amazons, you will not be surprised to hear that after 36hrs cold soaking at -21c in a Murmansk hotel car park, the car started first turn of the key. Even with 0w40 the cranking was much slower than normal, but it did start without a problem. It was super cold crossing northern Norway today. It.got down to -39c, which was brutal. The door mechanisms started playing up and the heater blower decided not to blow when it got below -30c. Ram air through the heater kept the windscreen from icing, but there wasn't much left for the rest of the cabin. Big coats, hats and gloves inside the car kept us comfortable. It got so cold we needed extra air in the tyres as the pressures sagged. We are now in North Cape at the northern tip of Norway (even further north than Murmansk) where it is a positively tropical -7c as we are getting the Gulf Stream. Doors and blower have now decided to work again. We do have some better pictures as my friend has a gaint digital SLR. Mobiles are a lot easier to blog with and in more skilled hands than mine would take better pictures.

Jan 11th, 2015, 20:57	#22
Bristol603 Member Last Online: Apr 5th, 2024 12:46 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Winchester	PS - destination ='Murmansk is "because it's there" and the biggest settlement North of the Arctic Circle.

Jan 21st, 2015, 21:49	#25
jamie amazon1954 Last Online: Mar 10th, 2021 20:19 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Bath	The door mechanisms started playing up and the heater blower decided not to blow when it got below -30c. Ram air through the heater kept the windscreen from icing, but there wasn't much left for the rest of the cabin. Hi thanks for all your reports. I don't understand what "Ram air" is when the heater blower decided not to blow.....? Best wishes and can't wait to get my Amazon back after having its engine tuned, but I don't think my first trip will be to Murmansk!!!

Jan 21st, 2015, 22:11	#26
Bristol603 Member Last Online: Apr 5th, 2024 12:46 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Winchester	As the car moves this produces relatively higher air pressure at the base of the windscreen and this forces some air through the heater matrix and into the car, I.e. You can get some airflow when moving even when the blower is switched off or is frozen. This is the ram air I was referring to you. If you stop moving, then then ram air flow stops. PS - perhaps not for you first trip, but Istandbul looks like a good destination for a summer road trip - a journey to the edge of Asia.

Jan 22nd, 2015, 11:18	#30
scvolvo Premier Member Last Online: Jun 4th, 2023 18:24 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: hertford	A very good read I enjoyed that

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