First Time Owner...First Winter... question.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Pembroke MA
First Time Owner...First Winter... question.
Hi,
I bought a 92 6 speed coupe back in September...I have enjoyed it every moment we have had dry pavement here in Massachusetts....well the snow came last week..I put the car away, in my garage and covered it up. It came with a trickle charger already connected so all I have ot do is plug it in...but my question is, how often/long should I start her up over the next few icy months? Garage is attached but not heated...so I am keepng my eye on her every day and night!
Thanks,
Shaker
I bought a 92 6 speed coupe back in September...I have enjoyed it every moment we have had dry pavement here in Massachusetts....well the snow came last week..I put the car away, in my garage and covered it up. It came with a trickle charger already connected so all I have ot do is plug it in...but my question is, how often/long should I start her up over the next few icy months? Garage is attached but not heated...so I am keepng my eye on her every day and night!
Thanks,
Shaker
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,030
Likes: 10
From: Edmonton, Alberta
Well there is a couple trains of thought here, if you can't drive it for months at a time.
Some start their cars every couple of weeks. Now the argument here is
that they say it doesn't warm the engine correctly and you could have condensation problems, cold starts etc etc.
Others, like me do what you did. Fill my tank, add Stabil and throw on
a battery charger that maintains your battery, not just any trickle charger.
Members here do both and have had no problems with either way. So
I guess it boils down to your personal choice.
Some start their cars every couple of weeks. Now the argument here is
that they say it doesn't warm the engine correctly and you could have condensation problems, cold starts etc etc.
Others, like me do what you did. Fill my tank, add Stabil and throw on
a battery charger that maintains your battery, not just any trickle charger.
Members here do both and have had no problems with either way. So
I guess it boils down to your personal choice.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
Well there is a couple trains of thought here, if you can't drive it for months at a time.
Some start their cars every couple of weeks. Now the argument here is
that they say it doesn't warm the engine correctly and you could have condensation problems, cold starts etc etc.
Others, like me do what you did. Fill my tank, add Stabil and throw on
a battery charger that maintains your battery, not just any trickle charger.
Members here do both and have had no problems with either way. So
I guess it boils down to your personal choice.
Some start their cars every couple of weeks. Now the argument here is
that they say it doesn't warm the engine correctly and you could have condensation problems, cold starts etc etc.
Others, like me do what you did. Fill my tank, add Stabil and throw on
a battery charger that maintains your battery, not just any trickle charger.
Members here do both and have had no problems with either way. So
I guess it boils down to your personal choice.
But I still start mine and jiust let it run some to lube the gaskets and such. Condensation is a minor problem.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,773
Likes: 177
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
If you can't drive it long enough for a complete warm-up, then just let it sit.
Just starting it up and letting the engine get warm is not enough. Your internal combustion engine will create quite a bit of water vapor, and this will collect in the exhaust system.
It takes a good 20 minute drive to get the whole system (engine oil, exhaust, rear end, etc.) warm enough to evaporate this moisture.
Remember, your oil temp will be quite a bit lower than water temp for quite some time. And this will create condensation, and that is bad unless you drive it far enough to burn off.
Doing once a month warm-ups in the garage or driveway until the water temp is up, will do more harm than just letting the car sit.
Just starting it up and letting the engine get warm is not enough. Your internal combustion engine will create quite a bit of water vapor, and this will collect in the exhaust system.
It takes a good 20 minute drive to get the whole system (engine oil, exhaust, rear end, etc.) warm enough to evaporate this moisture.
Remember, your oil temp will be quite a bit lower than water temp for quite some time. And this will create condensation, and that is bad unless you drive it far enough to burn off.
Doing once a month warm-ups in the garage or driveway until the water temp is up, will do more harm than just letting the car sit.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 243
I let mine sit without starting. Sat for about 4 months last winter without a battery tender of any kind in an unheated garage. Fired up instantly at first turn of the key. It did develop a waterpump leak last winter and left a pancake size coolant stain on the floor. Could have been a result of inactivity I suppose but I think it was due to fail anyway at a bit 100k on the original. This year it got fuel stabilizer in a full tank, a battery tender and a garage that the temp doesn't drop below 55 ever.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,773
Likes: 177
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 3
From: Newark, New Jersey
let it sit. Or else your going to pick the coldest day to start it, Murphy will come around, and you'll be cursing and scraping knuckles trying to repair something in frigid weather. At least in the Spring,it will be warmer.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 828
Likes: 103
From: Olney MD
What to do...
I'm in the same boat- just got my 93 vert late last winter, and I'm wondering hte best way to get it through the winter. I'm hoping we get enough warm days her in the mid-atlantic region to take it out for an hour at least once a month. I'll definitely be using STABIL in the gas.
But if we have another winter like last year, I may have to leave the country.
Keep the ideas coming. Anyone for a Corvette Caravan to South America??
But if we have another winter like last year, I may have to leave the country.
Keep the ideas coming. Anyone for a Corvette Caravan to South America??
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
I am of the "don't start" school. A full tank with a stabilizer, a battery maintainer and I would stuff rags in each exhaust to keep damp ait from finding its way into the engine. I don't know if this is really necessary but was common practice when dry storing large boats for the winter.
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 2
From: Gaithersburg MD A member since 2007 but then the computer crashed and then the car crash loss of memory X 2
The way I see it is there's an odometer in the car to record the mileage driven.
Cars were made to be driven. Drive the damn thing.
Cars were made to be driven. Drive the damn thing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,030
Likes: 10
From: Edmonton, Alberta
Really??. For some of us it's an impossibility, hence this thread
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Pembroke MA
Trust me, I'd love to drive it but with 9 inches of snow on the ground and endless amounts of rock salt on the roadways...it's time for a long winter's nap. I have a Jeep to drive in this weather....my vette may be 18 years old and far from show quality but I've waited 35 years to get one and I plan to treat it with the same respect my Dad taught me (although his 93 anniversary is a garage queen)..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 111
From: Cherokee National Forest TN
Back on topic:
When living north I covered the cement floor in the unheated storage garage with 6 mil plastic wall to wall then duct taped the perimeter. I then carpeted it with a tear out. The carpet was used for traction. If you go that route be sure the exhaust system is cool before parking. The plastic covered floor kept moisture at bay + I left a ceiling fan run on low 24-7. No rust on the rotors in the spring time after 6 months of storage.
A full tank of gas with stabil or sea foam, let it run for awhile to get the product circulated to the injectors.
Fresh oil & filter, a coat of wax & a product of your choice to keep rodents at bay.
Add 5/10 lbs of air in the tires. If you are able to push the car a bit once a month it will help to keep the tires from getting square.
After parking disconnect the battery & install a battery maintainer.
Cover the car.
To awake it in spring I would pull the plugs, pump 4-5 squirts of oil in each cylinder then spin the motor with the starter until the oil pressure was up, reinstall the plugs & light it up.
Some may disagree with the above but the system worked well for me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 828
Likes: 103
From: Olney MD
How far do you go with this...
Thanks Churchkey! Some of those ideas are great, including the seafoam and more air in the tires.
But pulling the plugs to squirt some oil in? Must have been a 4 cylinder!!
Everyone I know will do anything to avoid pulliing plugs on a C4. There's gotta be another way to get that oil in there!!
And thanks to all for the great ideas.
But pulling the plugs to squirt some oil in? Must have been a 4 cylinder!!
Everyone I know will do anything to avoid pulliing plugs on a C4. There's gotta be another way to get that oil in there!!
And thanks to all for the great ideas.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
{sound effect of yelping dog running at WOT}You could always tunnel out Sweetsie. Oh....and bring Crown Royal if you're coming.
Sta-bil, battery tender, jack stands, and mouse traps. Your baby will be fine.