Winter start up

[John H.]

As we all know, most bearing wear is at start up. We also like to start our motors to keep them lubed during winter storage. Question is, start once a week or start it next spring? I have heard opinions for both.

[Tom H.]

Re: Winter start up

If you don't have any reason to start it, other than to just start it to let it cool down, let it sit. JMO. Owner of many sitting cars !!

[Jim L.]

Re: Winter start up

I agree with Tom. Unless you are planning to drive the car, and drive it a long enough distance and time to get it thoroughly warmed up, don't bother starting it.

Jim

[Michael W.]

Re: Winter start up

We also like to start our motors to keep them lubed during winter storage.

My skin crawls every time I see or hear that phrase. Engines do NOT 'need' to be lubed during storage.

Prior to retirement, I was responsible for the maintenance and airworthiness on a fleet of over 1,000 aircraft engines which were rotating out of active service to storage and back again- a rental fleet so to speak. An opportunity arose to inspect a couple of engines that had remained dormant for three full years. I can assure you that the amount of residual oil sitting on the bearings and all oil wetted surfaces was no different than an engine that had sat for just 24 hours. The engines had all been stored in accordance with standard practices- low humidity and with fresh oil or no oil.

There is an often overlooked downside to running car engines during the winter. Even though the engine may be brought up to full temp, the rest of the car is not. The frame, suspension, body etc will cool off to outside air temperature, presumably below freezing. Once back in the warm cozy garage a layer of condensation will form on all the cold surfaces. This is a great way to initiate corrosion.

Let sleeping Corvettes lie.

[Edward B.]

Re: Winter start up

Unless you are going to drive the car for a substantial time so as to get everything up to operating temperatures, let it sit until Spring. For my cars, it is usually about a 10 week recess period.

[John H.]

Re: Winter start up

I have let both of my cars sit dormant over the winter and both have fine oil pressure and no starting issues. The reason I asked is that I read , and then talked among my car friends, about a guy who proudly stated that he started his car in storage every week to keep things lubed. I was wondering if I had missed something.I guess not. Thank you.- John

[Michael H.]

Re: Winter start up

My skin crawls every time I see or hear that phrase. Engines do NOT 'need' to be lubed during storage.

Let sleeping Corvettes lie.

I agree 100%. I also fire the engine one last time before storage for a minute or two when it's cold so the oil that is circulating through the engine is thick and doesn't drain off of the components. That leaves a thicker layer of oil on everything.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Winter start up

i would install fresh oil and filter to get rid of the acid and moisture in the old oil. fresh oil and filter and then start the engine and let it run for several minutes to send the fresh oil thru the engine or pull the distributor and use a oil pump primer to move the oil thru the engine.

[Jack H.]

Re: Winter start up

A vote of confidence here comes from GM... Has anyone seen a 'use before XX/XX/XX' warning label on a GM crate motor? Have you ever heard of parts dealers opening crates and manually turning the crank to keep the motor lubed while it's in extended storage?

[Mark K.]

Re: Winter start up

Just as a confirmation of non-requirement to start engines regularly - consider that the 405HP LT5 engines for the later C4 ZR-1s were completed in 1993 but not installed in some cases until well into 1995. GM did not run these engines while they waited to be installed - because these was no need.