Winter storage
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
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Winter storage
I have my car in a heated garage for the winter. I did not do anything to winterize it because every now and then I take the car out when the roads are clean just to get all the fluids circulating. However, with the weather being what it is by me it may be a little while until I can get the car out so I was thinking about backing it out of the garage and letting the car idle in my driveway. I know I have to get the engine up to full operating temperature, but I also heard that you should rev the engine. How many time should I actually rev it and how high on the tachometer should I be going?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 3,340
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From: Lehigh Valley PA
Just so you know, it would actually be better to leave the car on a battery tender and NOT start the car at all till spring. I know you said that you bring the car up to temp - but there is no need to circulate the fluids... In addition, I wouldn't be revving the engine either. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,348
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Fully agreed.
Garaging the car for the winter is not storage, it is extended parking. Nothing special need be done other than to put a good charger on the battery, or take the battery out. Then leave the car alone. The highest wear on an engine occurs when the engine is cold and the oil has settled.
Plus, if you do not drive it you can remove liability and collision coverage and save a good bit of money on an insurance.
Garaging the car for the winter is not storage, it is extended parking. Nothing special need be done other than to put a good charger on the battery, or take the battery out. Then leave the car alone. The highest wear on an engine occurs when the engine is cold and the oil has settled.
Plus, if you do not drive it you can remove liability and collision coverage and save a good bit of money on an insurance.
Last edited by Elk; Mar 1, 2019 at 09:35 AM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
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From: Guelph, Ontario
As others have said, don't start it unless you're going to drive it, and at this point we are at the tail end of winter. Worst case scenario you might have to wait 6-8 more weeks before your roads are perfect but that's not a long period of time at all really. I know some people (crazy ones mind you!) that store their Corvettes for 6 months out of every year.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Paoli, IN
St. Jude Donor '17, '19
As others have said, don't start it unless you're going to drive it, and at this point we are at the tail end of winter. Worst case scenario you might have to wait 6-8 more weeks before your roads are perfect but that's not a long period of time at all really. I know some people (crazy ones mind you!) that store their Corvettes for 6 months out of every year.
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The best thing to do has already been said - rather than just having the car sit at idle until it gets up to temp, just park it and hook it to a battery tender.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2010
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I have my car in a heated garage for the winter. I did not do anything to winterize it because every now and then I take the car out when the roads are clean just to get all the fluids circulating. However, with the weather being what it is by me it may be a little while until I can get the car out so I was thinking about backing it out of the garage and letting the car idle in my driveway. I know I have to get the engine up to full operating temperature, but I also heard that you should rev the engine. How many time should I actually rev it and how high on the tachometer should I be going?
If you cannot drive the car 20 to 30 minutes on the streets and highways, leave it be. You're doing more harm than good letting it idle/revving the engine.
..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,299
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From: Long Island New York
Idling on the driveway, a dry sump car will never get up to full oil temperature, so as all above have said: don't do it.
Even if you are able to take the car out, if it is a Z51, GS , Z06 or ZR1, you really need to drive it for at least 20 miles to get everything fully warm and circulated. I am hoping to get my on the road in another few weeks - it has been salt city around here: my dark gray Jeep is now fully white.
Even if you are able to take the car out, if it is a Z51, GS , Z06 or ZR1, you really need to drive it for at least 20 miles to get everything fully warm and circulated. I am hoping to get my on the road in another few weeks - it has been salt city around here: my dark gray Jeep is now fully white.
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Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
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Thanks for all the good advise. Looks like I’ll leave it in my garage for another few weeks (hopefully) it should warm up soon here. I was gonna take it out if the roads were free of sand and salt, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen for about 3 weeks now. If if it’s cold I’ll take it out without shutting it off until it’s back in the garage, but that’s only if the roads are clean and they are a mess now.
Melting Slicks
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I know a guy who does this so he can have the car off the insurance from Oct to Apr. Seems like if you can afford a Vette you should be able afford the insurance.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
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1) At some point, won't sitting too long be bad for the tires? Like potentially flat spotting them? Or does this take years? I'm not talking about a massive, or exaggerated flat spot, but just sort of bad for the tires in general.
2) The issue I have is that whatever is use as my DD has to be able to run short errands. I see the note about letting it run for 20 miles or whatever, but I still want to take the car to the gym (3 miles way) or other short errands. There's really no way around this.
2) The issue I have is that whatever is use as my DD has to be able to run short errands. I see the note about letting it run for 20 miles or whatever, but I still want to take the car to the gym (3 miles way) or other short errands. There's really no way around this.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2015
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From: Indiana
[QUOTE=
2) The issue I have is that whatever is use as my DD has to be able to run short errands. I see the note about letting it run for 20 miles or whatever, but I still want to take the car to the gym (3 miles way) or other short errands. There's really no way around this.[/QUOTE]
Brief runs are not really an issue with your daily driver. It is prior to storage that it is important to drive it long enough to get fully up to temperature. In my own case, I will do this if it will be parked for even a week. Having said all this, if all your daily driving is very short trips, your car would still benefit from a full warm-up every few days to boil out condensation and resulting acids.
2) The issue I have is that whatever is use as my DD has to be able to run short errands. I see the note about letting it run for 20 miles or whatever, but I still want to take the car to the gym (3 miles way) or other short errands. There's really no way around this.[/QUOTE]
Brief runs are not really an issue with your daily driver. It is prior to storage that it is important to drive it long enough to get fully up to temperature. In my own case, I will do this if it will be parked for even a week. Having said all this, if all your daily driving is very short trips, your car would still benefit from a full warm-up every few days to boil out condensation and resulting acids.
Formula 1
Joined: May 2014
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From: Washington
One of my cars sits for 6 plus months and I don’t use ethanol fuel as if can turn and clog injectors. So only use racing gas that has no ethanol.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
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From: Guelph, Ontario
True! And insurance is rather affordable on these cars, I only pay $100 CDN per month ($75 US). I just leave mine on all year round even though during the winter months there is that possibility of not being able to drive it for a few weeks at a time (I haven't been able to drive mine since January 12th this year)