The "Snowflake"
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From: USA
The "Snowflake"
I'm still discovering niceties about my 2013 XJ, even after 6 mos, or so. One of which is the amber "snowflake", described in the manual as "illuminates when the external temperature is low enough that ice may be present on the road".
Mine illuminates when the temperature hits 40 degrees Fahrenheit; I think that's about 5 degrees Celsius. My question to those in U.K. is, does it actually snow, or sleet, or freeze at 5 degrees Celsius or do you need to wait until it gets to "zero" (32 degrees F), like the rest of us?
On the other hand, if as the manual states, it illuminates when "ice may be present on the road" then there must be a remarkable sensor scanning the road ahead and the "snowflake" lights up to warn you -- even if it may be 50 or 60 degrees outside, when high in the mountains, and some of that ice may still be lingering in the shadowy corners of the road.
I'll have to test it out in February when I head up to the nearby mountains.
Safe motoring
Mine illuminates when the temperature hits 40 degrees Fahrenheit; I think that's about 5 degrees Celsius. My question to those in U.K. is, does it actually snow, or sleet, or freeze at 5 degrees Celsius or do you need to wait until it gets to "zero" (32 degrees F), like the rest of us?
On the other hand, if as the manual states, it illuminates when "ice may be present on the road" then there must be a remarkable sensor scanning the road ahead and the "snowflake" lights up to warn you -- even if it may be 50 or 60 degrees outside, when high in the mountains, and some of that ice may still be lingering in the shadowy corners of the road.
I'll have to test it out in February when I head up to the nearby mountains.
Safe motoring
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Perth Ontario Canada
I must be reading your question incorrectly.
Think over passes/bridges that can have ice on them when above freezing everywhere around them. As some drivers found out here in houston winters past when there was a accident on almost every overpass. I also just state that it comes on to let you know its cold outside just incase you park in the garage and never step foot outside to know 
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From: Kansas
Think over passes/bridges that can have ice on them when above freezing everywhere around them. As some drivers found out here in houston winters past when there was a accident on almost every overpass. I also just state that it comes on to let you know its cold outside just incase you park in the garage and never step foot outside to know
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Snowflake
I surrender! I'll accept if for what it is -- a reminder. Just to ruffle a few more feathers, I'd rather they took that spot on the dashboard and gave us a nice-sized readable compass. Then I wouldn't need to worry about ice, accept in my glass.
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From: Nottingham
I'm still discovering niceties about my 2013 XJ, even after 6 mos, or so. One of which is the amber "snowflake", described in the manual as "illuminates when the external temperature is low enough that ice may be present on the road".
Mine illuminates when the temperature hits 40 degrees Fahrenheit; I think that's about 5 degrees Celsius. My question to those in U.K. is, does it actually snow, or sleet, or freeze at 5 degrees Celsius or do you need to wait until it gets to "zero" (32 degrees F), like the rest of us?
On the other hand, if as the manual states, it illuminates when "ice may be present on the road" then there must be a remarkable sensor scanning the road ahead and the "snowflake" lights up to warn you -- even if it may be 50 or 60 degrees outside, when high in the mountains, and some of that ice may still be lingering in the shadowy corners of the road.
I'll have to test it out in February when I head up to the nearby mountains.
Safe motoring
Mine illuminates when the temperature hits 40 degrees Fahrenheit; I think that's about 5 degrees Celsius. My question to those in U.K. is, does it actually snow, or sleet, or freeze at 5 degrees Celsius or do you need to wait until it gets to "zero" (32 degrees F), like the rest of us?
On the other hand, if as the manual states, it illuminates when "ice may be present on the road" then there must be a remarkable sensor scanning the road ahead and the "snowflake" lights up to warn you -- even if it may be 50 or 60 degrees outside, when high in the mountains, and some of that ice may still be lingering in the shadowy corners of the road.
I'll have to test it out in February when I head up to the nearby mountains.
Safe motoring
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From: Mooresville, NC (Race City USA), home of most NASCAR teams.
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From: Central Florida
... My question to those in U.K. is, does it actually snow, or sleet, or freeze at 5 degrees Celsius or do you need to wait until it gets to "zero" (32 degrees F), like the rest of us?
On the other hand, if as the manual states, it illuminates when "ice may be present on the road" then there must be a remarkable sensor scanning the road ahead and the "snowflake" lights up to warn you -- even if it may be 50 or 60 degrees outside, when high in the mountains, and some of that ice may...
On the other hand, if as the manual states, it illuminates when "ice may be present on the road" then there must be a remarkable sensor scanning the road ahead and the "snowflake" lights up to warn you -- even if it may be 50 or 60 degrees outside, when high in the mountains, and some of that ice may...
It may help to investigate and understand the meaning of the word "may" as used in the description of this helpful (but not omnipototent, as is Lou appears to be) feature, and how to discern the difference between "may" and "will".
Did we ever get a definitive answer to the OP's question on how physics are different in the U.K.; one that could satisfy his curiosity?
After all, snow and ice immediately turn to vapor as the temperature rises above 0C at any altitude/pressure, doesn't it? (Rhetorical)
Last edited by 12jagmark; Jun 17, 2015 at 06:08 PM.
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From: Mooresville, NC (Race City USA), home of most NASCAR teams.
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Water can go from a solid directly to a gas, but only at a near perfect vacuum. gotta love having useless knowledge in your head. Granted, I make my money knowing the properties of water under very unusual circumstances. Nuclear reactors can really push the limits of things.
In the words of Bill Clinton, "can you please define 'IS'". LMAO.
In the words of Bill Clinton, "can you please define 'IS'". LMAO.
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From: SEC Country
Glad you asked the question since I don't yet have a manual yet and also live in FL. Sometimes the temps here will get well below 40F and if that light popped up I would be thinking there was a malfunction of some sort. Of course, with any luck, I'll never see it come on (lizards start falling from trees when it gets that cold here), but if it ever does happen at least I'll know what it is.
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From: Reynolds Lake Oconee, GA USA