C5 Storage
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
C5 Storage
Soon I will be putting my '01 convertible away for the winter. It will be stored, covered in an unheated garage here in Wisconsin. When I had a C3 I would pull the battery out and store it in the basement, not touching the car for 4-5 months. I have not decided whether to start the C5 once a month and idle it for 30 minutes or pull the battery, cover it and wait until spring.
Any opinions?
Any opinions?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 784
From: Fort Myers Beach Florida
My Suggestion
If your battery is healthy and remains with a reasonable charge it will not freeze. Cold weather actually extends battery life and slows down chemical degradation. I would not remove it from the car if I was you. What I would do is install a batter tender to insure it remains charged. I don't see a need or advantage to periodic starting and idle.
I store my vert for five months during the summer when I travel to my summer home in New England. Before leaving I fill it with ethanol free fuel which I obtain at a local marina plus I added stabilizer to it. Just took it out on Saturday, first time since May and it ran like it did earler this year. I was suprized but I didn't even have tire pressure alarms.
I store my vert for five months during the summer when I travel to my summer home in New England. Before leaving I fill it with ethanol free fuel which I obtain at a local marina plus I added stabilizer to it. Just took it out on Saturday, first time since May and it ran like it did earler this year. I was suprized but I didn't even have tire pressure alarms.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, Alberta
I have stored my C4 and C5 for many Winters with only a cover and put on a Battery Tender and a full tank of Gas with Seafoam. Never any issues when Spring arrives.
If we get a Chinook and it stays a few days and Roads clear up I take it out, other than that it stays under wraps till Spring.
If we get a Chinook and it stays a few days and Roads clear up I take it out, other than that it stays under wraps till Spring.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
I have heard arguments both ways. A friend used a tender on his 442, it malfunctioned, the battery went dead and froze when it dropped to 30 below zero. Another mechanic friend claimed letting a car sit for 5 months without running is hard on it, but my C3 seemed to come out just fine in the spring without starting all winter. The battery still had a full charge after sitting in the basement. I am still not sure which way I will go.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: Appleton WI
If you take out the battery, how long will take to loose data in the cars electronics? At some point the capacitors will loose their charge.
Clean car
Full take of gas
Sea Foam
Battery tender placed where you can see the light on the charger.
Kiss good night
Car cover.
Clean car
Full take of gas
Sea Foam
Battery tender placed where you can see the light on the charger.
Kiss good night
Car cover.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
GO PACK!
So you take the battery out and put a tender on it in your basement? Mine held full charge all winter in the basement without one.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
I have heard some bad things about Sea Foam. I just use Stabil in ethanol free gas.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 23
From: Anaheim CA
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 13,220
Likes: 2,501
From: Bluffton SC via Canton Oh
I'd never start and idle a car in storage. Especially for such a short time.
I'd be more worried about varmints then electrical.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 784
From: Fort Myers Beach Florida
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
Likes: 894
From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
I've stored my car for years from the end of October until the middle or end of April. I've never started it once I put it away. I change the oil, add Stabil and fill the gas tank, over inflate the tires, and disconnect the negative battery terminal. I store mine at a climate controlled facility, so I don't cover it. Obviously, you want to make sure it's clean before putting it away. It's always fired up the first time in the spring. 
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,309
Likes: 13
From: FW/d Texas
snow we can get about an inch or so every couple of years ... which also only last a day or two.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
As for getting my hands dirty, I have been working on cars for 45 years. I like getting them dirty. I do know some guys that do put their cars on jack stands and store their tires in the house. Since I am getting new tires in the spring I don't intend to do that.
Battery Life and Performance
Battery life and performance, average battery life has become shorter as energy requirements increase. Two phrases heard most often are "my battery won't take a charge and my battery won't hold a charge". Only 30% of batteries sold today reach the 48-month mark. In fact 80% of all battery failure is related to sulfation build-up. This build up occurs when the sulfur molecules in the electrolyte (battery acid) becomes so deeply discharged that they begin to coat the batteries lead plates. Before long the plates become so coated the battery dies. The causes of sulfation are numerous, let me list some for you.
Batteries sit too long between charges. As little as 24 hours in hot weather and several days in cooler weather.
Battery storage, leaving a battery sit without some type of energy input.
Deep cycling engine start battery, remember these batteries can't stand deep discharge.
Undercharging of battery, to charge a battery let's say 90% of capacity will allow sulfation of battery using the 10% of battery chemistry not reactivated by the incomplete charging cycle.
Heat of 100+°F, increases internal discharge. As temperatures increase so does internal discharge. A new fully charged battery left sitting 24 hours a day at 110 degrees F for 30 days would most likely not start an engine.
Low electrolyte level, battery plates exposed to air will immediately sulfate.
Incorrect charging levels and settings. Most cheap battery chargers can do more damage than help.
Cold weather is hard on the battery the chemistry does not make the same amount of energy as a warm battery. A deeply discharged battery can freeze solid in sub zero weather.
Parasitic drain is a load put on a battery with the key off.
Battery life and performance, average battery life has become shorter as energy requirements increase. Two phrases heard most often are "my battery won't take a charge and my battery won't hold a charge". Only 30% of batteries sold today reach the 48-month mark. In fact 80% of all battery failure is related to sulfation build-up. This build up occurs when the sulfur molecules in the electrolyte (battery acid) becomes so deeply discharged that they begin to coat the batteries lead plates. Before long the plates become so coated the battery dies. The causes of sulfation are numerous, let me list some for you.
Batteries sit too long between charges. As little as 24 hours in hot weather and several days in cooler weather.
Battery storage, leaving a battery sit without some type of energy input.
Deep cycling engine start battery, remember these batteries can't stand deep discharge.
Undercharging of battery, to charge a battery let's say 90% of capacity will allow sulfation of battery using the 10% of battery chemistry not reactivated by the incomplete charging cycle.
Heat of 100+°F, increases internal discharge. As temperatures increase so does internal discharge. A new fully charged battery left sitting 24 hours a day at 110 degrees F for 30 days would most likely not start an engine.
Low electrolyte level, battery plates exposed to air will immediately sulfate.
Incorrect charging levels and settings. Most cheap battery chargers can do more damage than help.
Cold weather is hard on the battery the chemistry does not make the same amount of energy as a warm battery. A deeply discharged battery can freeze solid in sub zero weather.
Parasitic drain is a load put on a battery with the key off.
Last edited by JR-01; Oct 8, 2013 at 09:50 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Had my c5 13 winters. Stored any and all ways..... pulled, tender, no tender. The car quickly relearns when spring comes don't worry about that.
I'd never start and idle a car in storage. Especially for such a short time.
I'd be more worried about varmints then electrical.
I'd never start and idle a car in storage. Especially for such a short time.
I'd be more worried about varmints then electrical.