Storing Create Engine (In Car)
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 234
Likes: 15
Storing Create Engine (In Car)
Hi Team,
Here in my state it's very cold and I don't feel good driving a 75 convertible around town. Have a new BluePrint 350 create motor in the car with about 50mile on it. (Started the break-in process in the fall but it got to cold fast to continue.) Need to store the car for about 3-4 months. I always thought to start the engine once a week and let it warm up (running engine for about 20min) then turn off. This I thought would keep the oil and other fluids circulated and everything in the engine lubricated.
Was recently told not to do this because condensation would build up in the engine causing moisture and ultimately damage. If your not going to drive the car don't start it. Better to leave the engine un-started for up to 6-8 months and all will be just fine.
Any thoughts on this? Is this true?
Thanks.
Here in my state it's very cold and I don't feel good driving a 75 convertible around town. Have a new BluePrint 350 create motor in the car with about 50mile on it. (Started the break-in process in the fall but it got to cold fast to continue.) Need to store the car for about 3-4 months. I always thought to start the engine once a week and let it warm up (running engine for about 20min) then turn off. This I thought would keep the oil and other fluids circulated and everything in the engine lubricated.
Was recently told not to do this because condensation would build up in the engine causing moisture and ultimately damage. If your not going to drive the car don't start it. Better to leave the engine un-started for up to 6-8 months and all will be just fine.
Any thoughts on this? Is this true?
Thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,663
Likes: 417
From: Central Texas
My concern if leaving the car for 6-8 months would be gasoline. Dont know where you are located, but ethanol does bad things to your carb when sitting too long. I would start at least once/month and let it warm to operating temp [10min]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
It's best to Not store with dirty oil. It's best to change O&F, run & check for leaks then put it away for winter. Using a filter with an Anti Drain Back Valve virtually eliminates any slow drain that may occur. Yea, I know; folks say "because filter is open-end-up that it needs no ADBV" ... well, do as you please ... ADBV cannot hurt.
It'll store for a long time without need to "keep the oil circulated" (especially w/ ADBV) and routinely running for short periods does only create acids in the oil but doesn't allow time to to get hot enough to boil moisture off.
You should remove battery and store it (warm better than cold) where you can put a trickle changer on it at least monthly.
It'll store for a long time without need to "keep the oil circulated" (especially w/ ADBV) and routinely running for short periods does only create acids in the oil but doesn't allow time to to get hot enough to boil moisture off.
You should remove battery and store it (warm better than cold) where you can put a trickle changer on it at least monthly.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 940
Likes: 242
From: Fruita CO
[QUOTE=Stev-o;1600824799]My concern if leaving the car for 6-8 months would be gasoline. Dont know where you are located, but ethanol does bad things to your carb when sitting too long. /QUOTE]
I have a car that sits all winter. In the past the battery was my main concern. I had foot surgery almost 2 years. Complications kept me from driving the car for 20 months. It ran like crap until I got some Techtron thru it and fresh gas. Now when I put it to bed for the winter I fill it with corn-free regular.
I have a car that sits all winter. In the past the battery was my main concern. I had foot surgery almost 2 years. Complications kept me from driving the car for 20 months. It ran like crap until I got some Techtron thru it and fresh gas. Now when I put it to bed for the winter I fill it with corn-free regular.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,377
Likes: 282
From: Bedford New York
Put a battery tender on it and don't worry. If you want to play it extra safe, cover the carb opening with a towel, and cover the exhaust pipe outlets with saran wrap or tennis *****. Keep the rodents and moisture out.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,399
Likes: 8,204
From: Napa Valley California
I believe in starting mine once a month and letting it warm up in the garage, shut it down and cover it back up.
But I live in Northern California and my garage never gets under 50 degrees.
When I lived in higher elevations where we got heavy snow and we owned boats, I would run the gas out in the fall, cover them up in the garage, place a 60 watt light fixture next to the engine block and turn the light on during a deep freeze and not worry.
Come spring, we pulled them out, and never had a problem.
But I live in Northern California and my garage never gets under 50 degrees.
When I lived in higher elevations where we got heavy snow and we owned boats, I would run the gas out in the fall, cover them up in the garage, place a 60 watt light fixture next to the engine block and turn the light on during a deep freeze and not worry.
Come spring, we pulled them out, and never had a problem.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 697
I'm in balmy central MN. I always run corn free premium gas in my hot rods. I start mine up and let them run for 20-30 minutes so I know they come up to temp. Burns up any moisture in the oil. Also allows me to sit them and pretend its the middle of July!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 173
From: hebron IL
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I think 20 mins should be good. Your car should easily be up to a good operating temp to burn off any moisture. I do this about 1 every 2 weeks and i pump my brakes to keep the calipers from leaking.