Mid-Winter break
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,167
Likes: 173
From: Somewhere North of The 49th Parallel Ontario
Mid-Winter break
Well we're about halfway thru winter here in SW Ontario and just came back in from the garage and had my fix. Car's been in hibernation since Nov.01, Took the cover off and open up the hood and wow, what a gorgeous machine. Had a coffee, put some tunes on and just stared. I am so blessed to own this car. I feel all better again. Just two more months to go maybe.
Anybody else going thru withdrawl. LOL
Anybody else going thru withdrawl. LOL
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 11,992
Likes: 1,331
From: Middletown, DE
Well we're about halfway thru winter here in SW Ontario and just came back in from the garage and had my fix. Car's been in hibernation since Nov.01, Took the cover off and open up the hood and wow, what a gorgeous machine. Had a coffee, put some tunes on and just stared. I am so blessed to own this car. I feel all better again. Just two more months to go maybe.
Anybody else going thru withdrawl. LOL
Anybody else going thru withdrawl. LOL
DD here -- I get my fix every day. Sign of a true addict...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 8
From: Belleville Il
Our January thaw is going on right now.Put bird feed out so they could feed through the snow time,,and they thank me by crapping all over my car
. Warmed up today,,and was able to get the foul weather road grime and bird crap off today!! She's clean and shiny,,,for now!! I just can't stay out of it for long,,and we don't get winter long perma-snow,,so my withdrawal stretches rarely last much more than a week or so!!
. Warmed up today,,and was able to get the foul weather road grime and bird crap off today!! She's clean and shiny,,,for now!! I just can't stay out of it for long,,and we don't get winter long perma-snow,,so my withdrawal stretches rarely last much more than a week or so!!
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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I know how you feel. I haven't driven my car since the end of November. Am hoping that it rains soon, cleans off the roads and then stays nice for a while - I can get the car back out again. 
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Chester County Pennsylvania
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Yeah, this is really tough right now, we have been having great weather, 50's and sunny and the vette sits covered, with the charger on since Oct. and it won't come out until late April/early May. Our cul-de-sac is still snow covered and the roads have salt and gravel everywhere. Uncovered it at Christmas to show my son, but I sure do miss it. I find myself spending more time on the Forum, just to get some kind of C5 experience. 
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,079
From: Guelph, Ontario
Well we're about halfway thru winter here in SW Ontario and just came back in from the garage and had my fix. Car's been in hibernation since Nov.01, Took the cover off and open up the hood and wow, what a gorgeous machine. Had a coffee, put some tunes on and just stared. I am so blessed to own this car. I feel all better again. Just two more months to go maybe.
Anybody else going thru withdrawl. LOL
Anybody else going thru withdrawl. LOL
I drive mine year round, but even if I didn't I would keep it fully insured just for times like this when we get a stretch of spring like weather in the middle of winter. They say the rest of January is going to be above normal temps as well.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 316
Likes: 1
From: Douglas MA
Maaaaajor withdrawls!
I was fortunate to drive mine until Dec 1 though. I started working on mine this weekend. I've got a list of little projects to keep me busy. Now it's just a matter of time and money.
I was fortunate to drive mine until Dec 1 though. I started working on mine this weekend. I've got a list of little projects to keep me busy. Now it's just a matter of time and money.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 33
From: GRAYSLAKE IL
Oldtimer
St. Jude Donor '13
Hey folks I'm dreaming of spring to get vette driving again. Used to live in Houston & never let the vette sit for any period of time. Now living in the midwest the car hasn't moved in over a month. Question, what do you do re first oil change after winter non-use? Should I run car & get fluids temp up b-4 draining oil or what? Tks for your input!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
In the "old days" when grampa had an inline six in his Desoto and used single viscosity oils like 30w and 40w, it was recommended to warm the car up before changing oil/filter. That insured the oil would flow freely out of the pan.
Now with 0w, 5w, 10w multi viscosity oils that we use, I wonder if that's even necessary anymore. They'll flow like water when cold.
If the car has been sitting for extended hibernation then most of the old oil is already drained down into the pan. If it's the old oil up in the heads that is of concern, then running the car will only replace the old oil in the heads with more old oil and leave old oil dispersed throughout the motor again.
Does anyone know if this practice has changed or is it still warm up and drain for you? Then change at 3,000 miles again because that's how grampa did it (and ignore the DIC)...
Now with 0w, 5w, 10w multi viscosity oils that we use, I wonder if that's even necessary anymore. They'll flow like water when cold.
If the car has been sitting for extended hibernation then most of the old oil is already drained down into the pan. If it's the old oil up in the heads that is of concern, then running the car will only replace the old oil in the heads with more old oil and leave old oil dispersed throughout the motor again.
Does anyone know if this practice has changed or is it still warm up and drain for you? Then change at 3,000 miles again because that's how grampa did it (and ignore the DIC)...
Last edited by hotwheels57; Jan 18, 2010 at 12:13 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,413
Likes: 502
From: Rio Rancho NM
I just had the targe top off last week what the hell is winter storage lol? I feel for you guys there may be 1 or 2 days I can't drive in the winter here but other then then it's gtg the rest of the time.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 0
In Quebec there has been a law passed where we are obligated to have winter tires form the 15th december to 15th of march. otherwise it's a 300$ ticket. It makes it more enjoyable though, when you pull out the Vette after those long months of hibernation!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,308
Likes: 6
From: Kentwood MI
In the "old days" when grampa had an inline six in his Desoto and used single viscosity oils like 30w and 40w, it was recommended to warm the car up before changing oil/filter. That insured the oil would flow freely out of the pan.
Now with 0w, 5w, 10w multi viscosity oils that we use, I wonder if that's even necessary anymore. They'll flow like water when cold.
If the car has been sitting for extended hibernation then most of the old oil is already drained down into the pan. If it's the old oil up in the heads that is of concern, then running the car will only replace the old oil in the heads with more old oil and leave old oil dispersed throughout the motor again.
Does anyone know if this practice has changed or is it still warm up and drain for you? Then change at 3,000 miles again because that's how grampa did it (and ignore the DIC)...
Now with 0w, 5w, 10w multi viscosity oils that we use, I wonder if that's even necessary anymore. They'll flow like water when cold.
If the car has been sitting for extended hibernation then most of the old oil is already drained down into the pan. If it's the old oil up in the heads that is of concern, then running the car will only replace the old oil in the heads with more old oil and leave old oil dispersed throughout the motor again.
Does anyone know if this practice has changed or is it still warm up and drain for you? Then change at 3,000 miles again because that's how grampa did it (and ignore the DIC)...
I change the oil in the spring "before" the first start. That way all the old oil is out and fresh oil can flow thru.
Drive a thousand miles or so and change it again.
Maybe over kill but fluid is cheap and it can't hurt anyting.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 1
From: Minnesota
Well we're about halfway thru winter here in SW Ontario and just came back in from the garage and had my fix. Car's been in hibernation since Nov.01, Took the cover off and open up the hood and wow, what a gorgeous machine. Had a coffee, put some tunes on and just stared. I am so blessed to own this car. I feel all better again. Just two more months to go maybe.
Anybody else going thru withdrawl. LOL
Anybody else going thru withdrawl. LOL