Running Car During Winter
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 268
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From: Oh
Running Car During Winter
I'll drive my C5 in the winter if the roads are clean and dry, but lately we're having some pretty good snowfall here in Columbus, OH. IS it OK to start the car and let it run for a few minutes every week or so or should I just get a battery tender and drive it when the weather clears? A friend of mine who owns a 911 told me not to start it and let it sit in the garage because condensation in the oil may damage the engine. Thanks and Happy Holidays to All!!!
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 404
Likes: 2
From: Essex il
it's ok to drive it in the winter. if you plan on doing so, make sure you get all of the internals hot( oil,coolant,transmission) and you will be fine. just starting it for a few minutes and shuting it down would not be good. this is when you get condensation in the internals.
also you give the tires a chance to keep their roundness.
This is just my opinion.
also you give the tires a chance to keep their roundness.
This is just my opinion.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
If you're gonna run it, but can't drive it, at least back it out of the garage and let it run at least 15-20 mins until it's up to normal operating temp. (at least 200deg. oil temp).
Only running it for a few minutes is much worse for the engine than not running it at all.
Only running it for a few minutes is much worse for the engine than not running it at all.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,339
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From: Killeen TX
St. Jude Donor '14
Originally Posted by REDRWUT
it's ok to drive it in the winter. if you plan on doing so, make sure you get all of the internals hot( oil,coolant,transmission) and you will be fine. just starting it for a few minutes and shuting it down would not be good. this is when you get condensation in the internals.
also you give the tires a chance to keep their roundness.
This is just my opinion.
also you give the tires a chance to keep their roundness.
This is just my opinion.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,077
From: Guelph, Ontario
Don't start your engine unless you're planning on driving it for a half hour or more. In the cold weather you'll never get the oil temperature hot enough by just sitting and idling. And idling is not good for the engine either, you'll just end up with more carbon in the combustion chamber.
You can leave the engine unstarted for the entire winter and it'll be fine. When I had my 98 Firebird Formula I stored it in the winter and one year it went 4 solid months without being started. In the spring it fired up first crank and made no strange noises at all and ran smoothly. No harm done. So why do you guys think it needs to be started?
You can leave the engine unstarted for the entire winter and it'll be fine. When I had my 98 Firebird Formula I stored it in the winter and one year it went 4 solid months without being started. In the spring it fired up first crank and made no strange noises at all and ran smoothly. No harm done. So why do you guys think it needs to be started?
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: monroeville pa
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Originally Posted by Patman
Don't start your engine unless you're planning on driving it for a half hour or more. In the cold weather you'll never get the oil temperature hot enough by just sitting and idling. And idling is not good for the engine either, you'll just end up with more carbon in the combustion chamber.
You can leave the engine unstarted for the entire winter and it'll be fine. When I had my 98 Firebird Formula I stored it in the winter and one year it went 4 solid months without being started. In the spring it fired up first crank and made no strange noises at all and ran smoothly. No harm done. So why do you guys think it needs to be started?
You can leave the engine unstarted for the entire winter and it'll be fine. When I had my 98 Firebird Formula I stored it in the winter and one year it went 4 solid months without being started. In the spring it fired up first crank and made no strange noises at all and ran smoothly. No harm done. So why do you guys think it needs to be started?
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,077
From: Guelph, Ontario
Originally Posted by charlene
You were lucky after all that time that your car started.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
Originally Posted by Patman
So why do you guys think it needs to be started?
I typically drive it once every 2 weeks or so to keep the battery charged and keep everything fresh and moving.
I agree just running and idling isn't be the best solution, it should be driven, but if it's been sitting a few weeks w/o a charger, you best get it started now while you still can. And if you do so, at least get it up to temp...and yes, it will reach temp w/o driving it.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 404
Likes: 2
From: Essex il
Originally Posted by Patman
Don't start your engine unless you're planning on driving it for a half hour or more. In the cold weather you'll never get the oil temperature hot enough by just sitting and idling. And idling is not good for the engine either, you'll just end up with more carbon in the combustion chamber.
You can leave the engine unstarted for the entire winter and it'll be fine. When I had my 98 Firebird Formula I stored it in the winter and one year it went 4 solid months without being started. In the spring it fired up first crank and made no strange noises at all and ran smoothly. No harm done. So why do you guys think it needs to be started?
You can leave the engine unstarted for the entire winter and it'll be fine. When I had my 98 Firebird Formula I stored it in the winter and one year it went 4 solid months without being started. In the spring it fired up first crank and made no strange noises at all and ran smoothly. No harm done. So why do you guys think it needs to be started?
i just sold my last "Baby",an '87 Choo Choo w/44k on it and it sat through long storage periods. Everything just starts to deteriate from non-use.
wouldn't do it again.
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Just use the battery tender unless you can get the car out and get her up to operating temp. This includes the oil, coolant, and other fluids like differential and transmission.
