Winter storage PROS/CONS

[Anthony C.]

[Mark F.]

Re: Winter storage PROS/CONS

Anthony,

I'm one of those (like you) who does not put my car to sleep over the winter.
I'm a believer that the following avoids potential problems of letting it sit - even if nicely prepared for the winter sleep

• Starting him up roughly every two weeks or so;
• backing him up out of the garage (watch out for that carbon monoxide !);
• letting him run for a minimum of 30 minutes (get the water up to hot running temp) to get all the seals and lubed running gear wet w/ hot oil
• Do a little "reving" after warm - nothing crazy
• as you say, a drive around the block or so is also very good, too - but hard to do some time.

I also like to exercise the brakes scuffing off the crud on the rotors and exercising the Master cylinder and calipers (even if not driven around the block).

Can't wait to see what others say - you've hit on one of those issues where black & white opinions prevail

[Patrick H.]

Re: Winter storage PROS/CONS

I put all of mine away and don't touch them for months.
In the spring, they start right up.

You do the most damage when starting a car, so why start it?
There is salt on the roads here from November to late April, so why drive it?

No damage done by letting it hibernate, assuming temp controlled.

[Keith B.]

Re: Winter storage PROS/CONS

disconnect the battery, check fluids, put a cover on it the car, and walk away

[Patrick H.]

Re: Winter storage PROS/CONS

disconnect the battery

I prefer to use a Battery Minder, or CTEK charger, over the winter.
I've gotten far more years out of some batteries than I should by doing this.

[Keith B.]

Re: Winter storage PROS/CONS

I prefer to use a Battery Minder, or CTEK charger, over the winter.
I've gotten far more years out of some batteries than I should by doing this.

I got ten years out of my last battery not using a minder. Seven of those years was an unheated non insulated garage here on PA.

[Ralph S.]

Re: Winter storage PROS/CONS

Used to drive mine all year round when it was new in 1969

[Mark E.]

Re: Winter storage PROS/CONS

Not using a C2/C3 for several months is a prescription for leaky seals and gaskets- calipers, RMS, front seal, valve covers, PS system, ...

Why not drive it or at least start it and use the brakes every few weeks?

[Duke W.]

Re: Winter storage PROS/CONS

I've been storing cars for a few to 18 months for over 30 years. Prior to storage I change any fluids that might expire during storage, but I've been going 2 years on oil since my annual mileage on most is down to no more than 500. Fresh oil doesn't "age" in the crankcase, but the clock runs on brake fluid and antifreeze during storage.

Fill the tires to the max cold pressure placarded on the sidewall. Disconnect the battery, charge it once a month, or leave a battery tender on it with a timer set for one to two hours per day. A couple of my cars use the same battery. One is my "summer car" and the other my "winter car", so I just swap the battery into the car coming into service. Thus no worry about the battery during storage.

Wash and clean the interior, fill with fresh fuel, put a dust cover on it and you're done. This is assuming it's stored in a garage that doesn't see condensing humidity. Cold temperatures are not a problem. The colder it is the slower the rate of any form of oxidation, including the fuel.

Periodically starting the car during winter storage without taking it out for a drive is a fool's errand. Numerous studies over the years have shown that 80 percent of wear on a typical engine occurs during cold start and warmup. Just idling the engine with no load won't get the oil hot enough to evaporate the cold start blowby, so you just contaminate the oil. Also, you won't get the exhaust system hot enough to evaporate all the condensed water and guess what that does?

Since I don't drive my cars that are in storage, I cancel all insurance except comprehensive. There's no point paying for full coverage if a car is stored in a locked garage.

For a few months of winter storage in areas that have cold, snowy winters, do the above, put a blanket on them when they sleep and wake them up in the spring.

About a year ago when I went to start my winter car it cranked, but no start. A quick test pointed to the fuel pump relay. So I ran diagnostics and that was it... ordered a new one on line, picked it up locally the next day and Shazzam... instant start!

That's the only time I remember that one of my cars failed to start after a storage period over the last 30+ years.

Duke

[Bill M.]

[Patrick H.]

Re: Winter storage PROS/CONS

Not using a C2/C3 for several months is a prescription for leaky seals and gaskets- calipers, RMS, front seal, valve covers, PS system, ...

Why not drive it or at least start it and use the brakes every few weeks?

My 51 year old car sits for long periods of time and doesn't leak a bit.
I don't think it hurts them whatsoever - provided we're talking months, not years.

[Bill M.]

Re: Winter storage PROS/CONS

For me the winter is too long to not sit in my corvettes and listen to their-motors roar. Plus there is always something to fix on 55 year old cars.

[Paul H.]

Re: Winter storage PROS/CONS

I've driven my 65 year round for 52 years with zero issues. It was my daily driver in the Boston area in the early 70's. I don't drive it in the snow now, but I'm always looking for opportunities to drive. As long as the roads are clear and dry, why let the calendar dictate whether you drive or not? It's good for the car and for me.

[Mark E.]

Re: Winter storage PROS/CONS

My 51 year old car sits for long periods of time and doesn't leak a bit.
I don't think it hurts them whatsoever - provided we're talking months, not years.

You have a charmed life, or at least charmed seals.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Winter storage PROS/CONS

You have a charmed life, or at least charmed seals.

Nope.
None of them leak from sitting over the winter.
Never have.