C8 Corvette storage
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 213
Likes: 96
From: northville mi
C8 Corvette storage
Just put my C8 in storage until next May. I have it on a trickle charger but I was wondering what what would happen if I did not use a charger and the battery goes dead.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 566
From: Bolingbrook IL
Not the end of the world, but draining a battery to a "dead" state, then recharging it, over time can cause damage to the battery. Overall, not a huge problem if you didn't use a trickle charger.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 386
Likes: 317
From: Plymouth Michigan
Just be prepared that you must get to the battery if the trickle charger doesn’t bring the battery back to acceptable charge to start the car if needed.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 213
Likes: 96
From: northville mi
My concern is if the battery did go dead does the car loose its memory and everything needs to be reset. I left the frunk open and I have the panel that covers the battery removed
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,867
Likes: 307
From: Wantagh,L.I. New York
No. All presets have flash memory. The window indexing may require reset, but not certain.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,833
Likes: 2,151
From: Kelso, Wa
May as well just disconnect the battery. The car will be dead AND the battery drained. If you go ahead and disconnect it, at least the frunk is already open and you won't have to fight for access. Plus the battery will still be charged. Just hook it back up and away you go. You could leave the door and trunk open before you disconnect it if you think you'll be needing access.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 204
Likes: 90
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34,950
Likes: 12,363
From: NE South Carolina
Second, worse thing for an engine and oil is a starting and not letting the engine oil get up to temperature long enough to evaporate the water of combustion that gets past the large gaps when pistons are cold! Also it takes time to charge a battery, can't just start it and make up for the drain!
There is a way to shut down most systems as they do when it's transported. Believe that sequence is in the manual. Rich Conti's tech had a video where it was discussed. Probably battery will be OK for perhaps 1 1/2 to 2 months.
BUT once a lead acid battery goes to a very low voltage it's NOT like a phone battery! You have reduced the life even if you have a charger that will break through the sulfated layer on the lead plates! Nope not like a cell phone or battery powered tools!
Last edited by JerryU; Nov 17, 2021 at 12:16 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 204
Likes: 90
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34,950
Likes: 12,363
From: NE South Carolina
PS: Moving it back and forward a few feet will help a bit with the DCT gears. Might help a bit with the Stabil you should add. I do on my Street Rod that mostly goes to Shows. But it is on a maintenance charger 24/7. Don’t use one on my C8 as it’s a DD.
Last edited by JerryU; Nov 17, 2021 at 02:30 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,301
Likes: 928
From: Garden City New York
During winter here in the Northeast- I routinely run my car daily about 20 miles- keeps the battery charged and the fuel mixed. With the exception of significant snow thats my winter "storage"
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34,950
Likes: 12,363
From: NE South Carolina
^^^
20 miles is what I found it took to get the Yellow Top Optima in my street rod recharged just from stating the BB and sitting for a week. At <10 mpg I installed a maintenance charger and have used it for 20 years! Now it's only off the charger when the car goes to shows!
20 miles is what I found it took to get the Yellow Top Optima in my street rod recharged just from stating the BB and sitting for a week. At <10 mpg I installed a maintenance charger and have used it for 20 years! Now it's only off the charger when the car goes to shows!
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 1,611
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 1,282
Likes: 778
The manual says that if you dont use a tender, disconnect the negative cable. You may have to reindex windows. I have been storing cars and motorcycles with no charger for about 30 years and never a problem. On another forum I visit members are getting 3-4 years out of smartchargers that are plugged in all the time and perhaps that might actually be a problem. It might even be a case where if a disconnected battery cannot last 6-8 moths, maybe its time to replace. As afr as just running the engine I don't but at idle speed the battery may not be charging. I know on motorcycles charging doesnt occur under 1500 rpm.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 678
Likes: 356
From: Not Sure….location with NE accent
2023 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C8 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
I just saw the weather and the Northeast is suppose to get less snow than normal this winter….Bill and Ted….Excellent. More drive time!
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,136
Likes: 24,734
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
If you have a battery tender, not sure why you would want to leave it disconnected and let the battery go dead. I keep mine on the tender all winter long and come spring, battery is fresh and car is ready to go.