De-Winterizing my car
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 293
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From: Massachusetts
De-Winterizing my car
A buddy of mine recommended pulling the plugs and using an oil fogger on the cylinders before starting the car if it has been sitting all winter...any thoughts on this? What type of fogger would you recommend if any?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 104
From: Des Moines Iowa
I've been putting my corvettes in and out of winter storage for years now, both C3 and C5. I've never done anything other than get in, unhook the battery tender, and fire that mother up. I always use stabil in the fuel tank before filling the tank, before storage. That's it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
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I've been putting my corvettes in and out of winter storage for years now, both C3 and C5. I've never done anything other than get in, unhook the battery tender, and fire that mother up. I always use stabil in the fuel tank before filling the tank, before storage. That's it.
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I've stored mine each winter for seven years and never did that procedure. Just get in and turn the key. 
Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 658
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From: Toronto Ontario
I've been putting my corvettes in and out of winter storage for years now, both C3 and C5. I've never done anything other than get in, unhook the battery tender, and fire that mother up. I always use stabil in the fuel tank before filling the tank, before storage. That's it.
Done this since 1978
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Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2006
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From: Fort St John B.C
Just to be on the safe side, If my car hasnt been started for a while..IE winter, When I go to start I hold the gas pedal to the floor and turn the engine over so it doesnt start, just to get the oil pumpin' then I fire it up.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 544
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From: SW of Chicago Illinois
Wouldn't the oil pump work just as fast if the engine started or not? I would think just turning the engine 'dry' would yield the same result as starting the engine 'dry' or am I missing something?
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2006
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From: Fort St John B.C
I noticed that when starting the car it takes what, a couple seconds before you see pressure, So after sitting for some time all the oil as drained back to the pan.
It can only help to turn the engine over first at much less RPM than firing up right away and idling at 1000 RPM dry.
Thats how I see it, Plus all you have to do is hold the pedal down, it takes all of an extra 20 seconds.
It can only help to turn the engine over first at much less RPM than firing up right away and idling at 1000 RPM dry.
Thats how I see it, Plus all you have to do is hold the pedal down, it takes all of an extra 20 seconds.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 544
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From: SW of Chicago Illinois
Ahh, thats what I was missing. I was always under the assumption that the concern was a dry cylinder wall and the initial movement of the dry piston rings along the dry cylinder wall, which of course happens at the first movement of the pistons irregardless of the method that moves them. But the slower load does make sense for possibly less wear. Although my personal belief is that with todays engines and oils, a few months shouldn't create any problems.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 137
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From: Ham Lake Minnesota
I always thought that fogging the cylinders PRIOR to storage was a great idea and I was always faithful in doing that. However, a few years ago one of my cars had a serious problem. The 1936 chevrolet 2 door town sedan ended up with stuck pistons and this was just storing it for one winter season. Not just one cylinder but two of them. The number 3 and 6 pistons were so stuck that we tried every trick in the book to get them free.
Popping the clutch on a hill, putting various remedies in the cylinder area, etc. all didn't work. We ended up pulling the engine and pounding out the pistons as they were rusted tight. Now remember this car was only stored inside one season but in Minnesota where it gets cold.
I don't fog cylinders anymore as I feel it is a waste of time and didn't save me from my headaches on the '36.
So if your wondering what we did with the old '36... well all was not lost, as we saw this as our opportunity to turn her into a street rod and put in an LT1 engin in there... 
Popping the clutch on a hill, putting various remedies in the cylinder area, etc. all didn't work. We ended up pulling the engine and pounding out the pistons as they were rusted tight. Now remember this car was only stored inside one season but in Minnesota where it gets cold.
I don't fog cylinders anymore as I feel it is a waste of time and didn't save me from my headaches on the '36.
So if your wondering what we did with the old '36... well all was not lost, as we saw this as our opportunity to turn her into a street rod and put in an LT1 engin in there...
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 544
Likes: 33
From: SW of Chicago Illinois
I always thought that fogging the cylinders PRIOR to storage was a great idea and I was always faithful in doing that. However, a few years ago one of my cars had a serious problem. The 1936 chevrolet 2 door town sedan ended up with stuck pistons and this was just storing it for one winter season. Not just one cylinder but two of them. The number 3 and 6 pistons were so stuck that we tried every trick in the book to get them free.
Popping the clutch on a hill, putting various remedies in the cylinder area, etc. all didn't work. We ended up pulling the engine and pounding out the pistons as they were rusted tight. Now remember this car was only stored inside one season but in Minnesota where it gets cold.
I don't fog cylinders anymore as I feel it is a waste of time and didn't save me from my headaches on the '36.
So if your wondering what we did with the old '36... well all was not lost, as we saw this as our opportunity to turn her into a street rod and put in an LT1 engin in there...
Popping the clutch on a hill, putting various remedies in the cylinder area, etc. all didn't work. We ended up pulling the engine and pounding out the pistons as they were rusted tight. Now remember this car was only stored inside one season but in Minnesota where it gets cold.
I don't fog cylinders anymore as I feel it is a waste of time and didn't save me from my headaches on the '36.
So if your wondering what we did with the old '36... well all was not lost, as we saw this as our opportunity to turn her into a street rod and put in an LT1 engin in there...
BTW MRJB nice 50th Vert.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 693
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert AZ
I've been putting my corvettes in and out of winter storage for years now, both C3 and C5. I've never done anything other than get in, unhook the battery tender, and fire that mother up. I always use stabil in the fuel tank before filling the tank, before storage. That's it.
