Coquihalla Highway - New Year - Advice pls :)

Kinl · Post by **Kinl** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 4:17 pm

Hi Guys

I'm planning a trip to Sun Peaks from Vancouver and was looking for tips on driving in my Deli up the Coquihalla Highway at new year.

1. Is it advisable? ;)

2. I'm running on Nexen Roadian HT's, will I NEED anything else to get up there? (bear in mind I'm on a budget)

Anything other suggestions much appreciated.

Kinl

Green1 · Post by **Green1** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 5:20 pm

I have driven the coquihalla every month of the year in a rear wheel drive car with all-season tires. (I've also done it a few times in the Delica) I have even done it a few minutes before they closed it due to a particularly nasty blizzard.

You don't need anything special.

Winter tires are highly recommended, but I've never owned a set.

TAIT · Post by **TAIT** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 5:43 pm

My wife and i lived up at Sun Peaks for a few years, and used to make regular trips to Van to visit her sister...i can say we drove my Landcruiser (my last vehicle before the Deli), AND her Honda Civic all through the year with never a problem. Just keep your distance from trucks, as they LOVE to barrell up your yoohoo! Other than that, the switchbacks up to the resort from Heffley Creek (where you turn off from Hwy. 5) are twisty turny, and deer running across the road can cause some interesting scenarios.

Great skiing there...not as good as here in Revy, but really really nice.

Enjoy!

Chris

Kinl · Post by **Kinl** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:37 pm

Great thanks, I thought as much as I've done some winter driving on mountain highways before, just not this particular one! always good to get local opinion... I'll have some chains if we get caught short...

I've done the Kamloops to Calgary part (with an impromptu hold up in Revelstoke due to an avalanche) in pretty crazy weather, especially with all the trucks that were held up causing them to not just be up my yoohoo but coming at me from all directions... Coquihalla hwy isn't any worse than that is it?

jrman · Post by **jrman** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:53 pm

One thing related to the long hills on the Coqu - make sure the following IMHO;
1 - rad & cap is in good condition
2 - hoses in good condition
3 - waterpump & thermostat in good condition
4 - find a nice comfortable gear and try to keep the motor below 3000 RPM
5 - enjoy the ride...you'll get to the top eventually.
I feel the same about 9 mile hill from Hope up to the slide....don't bother trying to rush anything.
Cheers.

jrman · Post by **jrman** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:57 pm

Oh...come to think of it - try to keep it "well" underneath 3K on the tach.
Last time I did 9 mile hill at night I could see my side exit exhaust tip glowing red hot....I know the pipe isn't that long - but I'm sure I wouldn't have been happy had I know the EGT numbers....EGT guage is also good idea, but I've not yet followed my own advice on that one....ignorance is somewhat bliss....till my valves are poooo'd.

impalator · Post by **impalator** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:03 pm

I have had a catastrophic breakdown going to Kamloops with severe overheating (cylinderhead actually cracked) - but this was in early September 2008 and the temperature was around 28 degrees... In addition I didn't have anything checked or done to the cooling system (i.e. I drove with a plugged radiator full of calcium, didn't have any rad hoses checked, old waterpump, thermostat and all... - that was when I was still stupid in terms of Delica-know how - and I had been told by the dealer where I bought it, that the Van had everything done that needed to be done... I hadn't read too much on the forum at that time)... well - live and learn...

I am somewhat confused, though with jrman's post! When jrman talks about keeping the rev's "well below 3k". After my above experience, reading quite some stuff about turbodiesel's in various sites and forum's and getting feedback from various members of delica.ca I was - and continue to be - under the impression that the worst thing you can do, when working your turbodiesel up a hill, is to try to keep your rpm's "as low as possible"... If you keep the gear high and the rpm's low, your waterpump will also turn slower - and thus pump less coolant through your block, your turbo and IP will pump lots of air and fuel into the cylinders - more than they can handle... your Delica will spew black smoke out the tailpipe and you will rapidly increase your EGT's to a level that is very dangerous for the turbo, valves, cylinderhead etc...

If you shift back and/or lock your AT out of overdrive or even back into 2nd, your RPM's will jump up, but your engine will be better cooled and the turbo-pressured air and fuel ratio will bring down the combustion temperatures.

To sum it up: I believe it is better to run higher rev's (up to 3000 - I have even done sections at 3'400 for a little while) in a lower gear than to run lower revs in a high gear....

Anyway, I'll gladly accept that I am wrong by other members who know better than I do, if that is indeed the case...

But my water-temp keeps steady at around 1/3 when doing the coke at a variety of rev's (anywhere between 2'900 - 3'400 - even in July and August this year with temperatures being very high so high this summer....) and the van still runs fine...

Cheers,
Chris

jrman · Post by **jrman** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:07 pm

Diesels are ok to "lug" so to speak - not true with a gasser.
Valves can be damaged severely and relatively quickly if Exhaust Gas Temps get too high (EGT) - water / rad temp is important too - but EGT is way more important on a diesel.

Green1 · Post by **Green1** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:07 am

I have had a catastrophic breakdown going to Kamloops with severe overheating (cylinderhead actually cracked) - but this was in early September 2008 and the temperature was around 28 degrees... In addition I didn't have anything checked or done to the cooling system (i.e. I drove with a plugged radiator full of calcium, didn't have any rad hoses checked, old waterpump, thermostat and all... - that was when I was still stupid in terms of Delica-know how - and I had been told by the dealer where I bought it, that the Van had everything done that needed to be done... I hadn't read too much on the forum at that time)... well - live and learn...

wow... so I'm not the only one. The only difference is that my importer never claimed to have done anything to mine, that was part of the deal, I paid less, and he did nothing to it, I knew that, but I still naively thought I could get back to Calgary before doing the work.
I was wrong and it ended up that I cracked the head going up the coquihalla (despite it being winter at the time)
Luckily for me, despite the van being sold with no warranty at all, and no claim of any work done, the importer still towed it back to the coast, and paid for all repairs, including paying for my plane flight home, and offered to pay to ship the delica to Calgary when it was repaired (though I ended up flying back out and driving it home)

Anyway, I guess the big lesson is make sure your cooling system is in good working condition, and watch the temperatures like a hawk! (EGT would be good, but at least watch the built in gauge!)

Kinl · Post by **Kinl** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:55 am

How long (in time) does does the longest hill on the Coquihalla take?

Green1 · Post by **Green1** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:07 am

Kinl wrote:How long (in time) does does the longest hill on the Coquihalla take?

at what speed? I used to do "110" (read 120) in my benz, the delica used to do 70, but my last trip I was down at about 30 trying not to overheat.

Profister · Post by **Profister** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:11 am

To sum it up: I believe it is better to run higher rev's (up to 3000 - I have even done sections at 3'400 for a little while) in a lower gear than to run lower revs in a high gear....

Absolutely. I have the EGT gauge so I can make a judgment.

jessef · Post by **jessef** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:54 am

Keep your rev's up high and your speed low going up long hills.

When you reach the top, pull over and look at your turbo. Don't be surprised if it's glowing fire engine red.

I recommend having a pyro (EGT) gauge/probe installed. It will pay for itself tenfold in the long run.

Kinl · Post by **Kinl** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:58 am

Green1 wrote:
Kinl wrote:How long (in time) does does the longest hill on the Coquihalla take?
at what speed? I used to do "110" (read 120) in my benz, the delica used to do 70, but my last trip I was down at about 30 trying not to overheat.

If you give me time at any speed I can work it out ;) just so I got a rough idea.

jrman · Post by **jrman** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 6:35 pm

I agree with all....and in the absence of an pyrometer...I'll be keeping her at 3000 or lower!

Not sure about yrs Impalator - but mine makes one hell of a racket at 3400rpm as well which I find really uncomfortable.
Fortunately...I prefer the slow lane and smelling the roses.
Feel free to wave as yr all ripping past me!

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