Pontiac G8 Winter Survival

Pontiac G8 GXP GT FireHawk Winter Driving in Blizzard Conditions

You should have some type of winter survival kit and Plan in your Pontiac G8 in case of winter time emergency.


Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow
or ice between the tires and the road,
creating less traction or grip. Wet ice
can occur at about 32°F (0°C) when
freezing rain begins to fall, resulting
in even less traction. Avoid driving on
wet ice or in freezing rain until roads
can be treated with salt or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the
condition. Accelerate gently
so traction is not lost. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels
to spin and makes the surface under
the tires slick, so there is even
less traction.

Try not to break the fragile traction.
If you accelerate too fast, the drive
wheels will spin and polish the
surface under the tires even more.
The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves Pontiac G8 GT
stability during hard stops on
a slippery roads, but apply the
brakes sooner than when on
dry pavement.
Allow greater following distance on
any slippery road and watch for
slippery spots. Icy patches
can occur on otherwise clear roads
in shaded areas. The surface of
a curve or an overpass can remain
icy when the surrounding roads
are clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while on ice.
Turn off cruise control, if equipped,
on slippery surfaces.


Blizzard Conditions:
Being stuck in snow can be a serious situation. You should have some type of survival kit in your Pontiac G8 FireHawk if you Live where blizzard conditions exist. Plan for the worst and hope for the best.
Stay with the
Pontiac G8 unless there is help nearby.

To get help and keep everyone in the Pontiac G8 safe:
Turn on the Hazard Warning Flashers
Tie a red cloth to an outside mirror.

Snow can trap Pontiac G8 engine exhaust
under the Pontiac G8. This may cause
exhaust gases to get inside.
Pontiac G8 engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the Pontiac G8 is stuck in the snow:
Clear away snow from
around the base of your
Pontiac G8, especially any that is
blocking the exhaust pipe.
Check again from time to
time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
Open a window about
two inches on the side of the
Pontiac G8 that is away from the
wind to bring in fresh air.

Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument panel.
Adjust the Pontiac G8 Climate Control
system to a setting that
circulates the air inside the
Pontiac G8 and set the fan speed
to the highest setting.

Run the Pontiac G8 engine for short periods
only as needed to keep warm,
but be careful.
To save fuel, run the Pontiac G8 engine for only
short periods as needed to warm
the Pontiac G8 and then shut the Pontiac G8 engine
off and close the window most of
the way to save heat. Repeat
this until help arrives but only when
you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. Moving about to keep
warm also helps.
If it takes some time for help to
arrive, now and then when you run
the Pontiac G8 engine, push the accelerator
pedal slightly so the Pontiac G8 engine
runs faster than the idle speed. This
keeps the Pontiac G8 battery charged to
restart the Pontiac G8 and to signal for
help with the Pontiac G8 headlamps. Do
this as little as possible to save fuel.