Starting engine during storage
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Marquette MI
Starting engine during storage
My C8 is in storage for the winter which lasts in upper Michigan until May first. What are the pros and cons of starting the car on a monthly basis during winter storage? If done, how long should you let it run?
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Dec 11, 2020, 06:07 PM
Le Mans Master
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From: New Mexico
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Hook up battery maintainer and leave the car alone until you’re ready to drive it.
Racer
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You know you start the engine and it warms up. When it cools off all the moisture condenses all over whatever was warm. You decide if that is a good thing to do.
You can put fuel stabil in it, add the battery maintainer, and lift car off tires of you wish and it should be good for the duration of the winter.
You can put fuel stabil in it, add the battery maintainer, and lift car off tires of you wish and it should be good for the duration of the winter.
Last edited by Katie22; Dec 11, 2020 at 06:13 PM.
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Drifting
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From: Upper Michigan
Hi neighbor! I am also a Yooper and store my cars for the winter. Since we get extreme cold temperatures, I feel it is best not start them up in our climate. It would take some time to get up to temp and you would have a lot of moisture build up when cooled down. I find it best to put a vapor barrier under my cars, put foam board insulation underneath the tires and plug in a battery tender that I monitor from time to time all winter long.
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Pro
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From: Marquette MI
Thanks for the advice guys. Guess I will just let the new C8 with 1400 miles sit quietly until May 1,2021. But damn, I would like to hear that start up exhaust note once in a while. Guess I will just have to enjoy how the old Ram pick up sounds until May.
Advanced
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From: New Baltimore,MI
On a somewhat related question--- Is it normal for the engine to rev to 1500 RPM for 30 seconds on a cold start up before it drops down to 700 RPM? My HTC with 178 miles does. When engine is warmed up the car revs to 900 RPM on start up but quickly drops to 600 RPM.
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Le Mans Master
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Used to live in upstate NY....what I did: As noted, just hook up a battery maintainer (auto). Sta-bil in gas. Perhaps increase the air pressure in tires by about 5 psi (but remember to lower in the spring). Put a sheet of heavy poly under the entire car (helps keep moisture from rising up into the car through your floor). Close all the windows. If its in a cold garage, I like to put something in to absorb moisture....go to your old fashioned hardware store and get some of that stuff that can go in a closet to absorb. Set it in a plastic pan on floor just in case it did grab a lot of moisture. Use a nice soft car cover. Do not start it. Just let it sleep and it will be fine in the spring.
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On a somewhat related question--- Is it normal for the engine to rev to 1500 RPM for 30 seconds on a cold start up before it drops down to 700 RPM? My HTC with 178 miles does. When engine is warmed up the car revs to 900 RPM on start up but quickly drops to 600 RPM.
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Excellent post - regarding the summer tires- here is part of it to save time-Caution
High performance summer tires have rubber compounds that lose flexibility and may develop surface cracks in the tread area at temperatures below −7 °C
(20 °F). Always store high performance summer tires indoors and at temperatures above −7 °C (20 °F) when not in use. If the tires have been subjected to −7 °C (20 °F) or less, let them warm up in a heated space to at least 5 °C (40 °F) for 24 hours or more before being installed or driving a vehicle on which they are installed. Do not apply heat or blow heated air
(Continued)
High performance summer tires have rubber compounds that lose flexibility and may develop surface cracks in the tread area at temperatures below −7 °C
(20 °F). Always store high performance summer tires indoors and at temperatures above −7 °C (20 °F) when not in use. If the tires have been subjected to −7 °C (20 °F) or less, let them warm up in a heated space to at least 5 °C (40 °F) for 24 hours or more before being installed or driving a vehicle on which they are installed. Do not apply heat or blow heated air
(Continued)
Pro
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I have a heated garage, also a mid michigander. Is it okay to warm it up outside the garage for one hour then let it cool inside? no worries about the tires as it is heated in a balmy 60 degrees F. I have done it on my 720S with no problem.
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Battery tender, fuel stabilizer, covered, done...see you in the Spring!
Last edited by Too-Fast; Dec 12, 2020 at 05:07 PM.
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Tech Contributor
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Best thing to do is drive the car. Lived in UpState NY for 43 years and found there was almost always one day per month when I could take the Vette for a ride. Roads dry and able to exercise the engine in the cold weather. I would usually put 30 to 40 miles on the car before putting it back in the garage. The stock summer tires can stand the low Temps just have to take it easy on throttle application.
Bill
Bill
Drifting
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From: Grand Rapids area MI and Palm Coast, FL
C6–Nov 1 each year pumped up tires to 40 psi, disconnected negative battery cable, covered and let sit to April. Never any problems.
C7–Take to FL. Much better plan than MI winters!
C7–Take to FL. Much better plan than MI winters!
Burning Brakes
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I have been storing cars for the winter for more than 30 years. I used to use battery tenders, but sometimes they die and there have been some stories of them catching on fire, so I just disconnect the battery cable. I inflate tires to the maximum pressure on the tire sidewalls (45 psi for my tires). I put in Stabil and run the car for 10 minutes. Wash the car, blow dry with jet dryer and then put on the cover. I throw mothballs around and under the cars to deter any mice (not sure if that has any benefit or not, but so far no problems from mice). I also buy the moisture trap containers from Dollar store and put two on the floor in each car. In the spring I put a battery charger on each battery to make sure it is up to full charge before starting the car and reset tires to normal pressures.
I will be storing four cars this year, same procedure for all of them. This procedure has worked fine for years. I am in Nova Scotia, so probably not as cold as Michigan, but some cold days for sure.
I will be storing four cars this year, same procedure for all of them. This procedure has worked fine for years. I am in Nova Scotia, so probably not as cold as Michigan, but some cold days for sure.