Tip #4: Stuck in snow, stop spinning the wheels and check the tailpipe
When the tires spin in snow, ease off the gas, because spinning polishes the snow into ice and digs the car deeper. If the engine is running, make sure the tailpipe is clear of snow before you sit in the car to wait.
Tip #4 in one line
When the tires spin in snow, ease off the gas, because spinning polishes the snow into ice and digs the car deeper. If the engine is running, make sure the tailpipe is clear of snow before you sit in the car to wait.
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Call nowWhat not to do
Do not floor it. A spinning tire heats the snow under it, which melts and refreezes into a smooth, icy hollow. Every extra second of spin makes the hole deeper and the surface slicker.
Do not rock the car violently between drive and reverse at high revs. Gentle rocking can work, but slamming the shifter back and forth while the wheels spin is hard on the transmission. Check your owner's manual; some cars advise against rocking entirely.
Do not push the car alone or stand behind a spinning tire. Tires throw ice and gravel, and a car that suddenly grips can lurch. Do not let anyone push from the traffic side on a road.
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Call nowClear the tailpipe first
If the car is buried and you plan to run the engine for heat while you wait, get out and clear the snow away from the exhaust pipe first. A blocked tailpipe can push carbon monoxide into the cabin, and you will not smell it. Crack a window and check the pipe again if snow keeps falling.
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Call nowWhat to try
Straighten the front wheels. Clear snow from in front of and behind each drive tire and from under the car if it is high-centered. Put sand, cat litter or the car's floor mats in front of the drive wheels for grip. Then use the gentlest throttle you can, in the lowest gear, and let the tires crawl rather than spin.
If traction control is fighting you in deep snow, the manual may recommend switching it off briefly to free the car. Turn it back on once you are moving.
Watch where you are. If the car is stuck on a road rather than in a driveway or lot, turn on the hazard lights and keep everyone out of the path of traffic while you dig. Plows and other drivers have a hard time stopping on snow, and a car half in a lane after dark is hard to see. If the car is in danger of being struck, get out and stand well away from it.
If a few careful tries do not move it, stop before you damage anything. A winch out pulls the car back onto pavement, and if it drives, you are on your way. Call (908) 444-0129; storm weeks stretch arrival windows, and the dispatcher will tell you the real number. The winch out guide explains how a recovery works.
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Call nowMore on winter
Keep reading, or go back to every post on the blog.
- Tip #1: The first cold morning is when a weak battery quits
- Tip #3: In extreme cold, crank in short bursts and turn everything off first
- Tip #5: Clear the roof, hood and lights before you drive; New Jersey law requires it
- Tip #6: A frozen door is usually ice in the seal, not a broken lock
- Tip #7: An iced-over car needs ten extra minutes, not a hammer
- Tip #90: Replace wiper blades before they streak, and clear the whole car of snow
- What to do when your car breaks down in New Jersey
- Flatbed vs wheel-lift towing: which does your car need?
- All posts
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