Any time My Corvette is parked in my Garage it is Connected to a Deltran Battery Tender !! I Started doing this back in 1987 with my First C4 Corvette. I have had Batteries last 10 years !
https://www.batterytender.com/plus

 

No question, if a maintainer is always used while parked overnight, it will increase the life of the battery. Sometimes, years, like yours.

 

I'm curious - what benefit do you claim you're gaining, by starting your Vette (every few weeks)?

Tire rotation? Run Flat tires don't get flat spots - if you're not running Run Flats than fill them +5 lbs. before storage. Gear lubrication? Why do the gears need to be lubricated if the car is off and not running?

Bottom line - there is ZERO benefit to starting your Vette during winter storage...and if you don't run it up to temperature, you're actually causing harm.

The most dangerous 7 words in the English language: "Because I've always done it that way..."

 

I'm going to throw a contrarian view out here.

The three main things that kill batteries are environment, age, and cycles. Maintainers are good for keeping batteries at the optimum charge level (and may do other things like desulfation) when a battery is stored or connected to vehicle that has a parasitic draw and isn't being used frequently. I use maintainers for vehicles that are infrequently used or for batteries during storage. But I've also had lead acid batteries last for nearly 10 years without using a maintainer. GM recommends you use a maintainer if you don't drive your C8 at least weekly.

A lead acid battery life degrades significantly faster if cycled below 50% so it i good practice to never let a lead acid get below that. Excessive sulfation isn't normally a concern unless a battery is stored at too low of a charge. Battery cycle life is cumulative. In general, cycling a battery from 100% to 80% twice is like cycling it once from 100% to 60% once. And the battery has a limited cycle life. The computerized charging system in the C8 normally likes to keep the battery charged to about 80% for fuel mileage (it will periodically charge it to 100% when it determines it is appropriate) so that is likely the SOC (State Of Charge) when you park the car. So if you use your car as a daily driver and put it on a maintainer dailey then you could be cycling your battery from 80% to 100% daily. This could be worse than letting your battery cycle from 80% to 75% weekly.

Just throwing this out there, I have no data to back it up.

 

RKCRLR,

You like me, like to over think.🤔 I too have no data. And suspect bottom line, is what we personally experienced. As there are so many variables; like you state.

My experiences is to keep maintainer connected if car is not in use for over 24 hours. I’ve had batteries last 10 years and still show nearly full amperage after a load test. Some may say , a battery is only $200.00 - just replace it. Well, two one my cars (not Corvettes) I need to remove seat, and / or part of the fender on another car. Not to mention, having special tool for the OBD ll reset.

Lastly, last year I called CTEK tech dept, they said to extend battery life, it’s best to use when car isn’t in use. The maintainer is smart enough not to overcharge and clicks off when reaches 100% charge.

 

....advice from Chevrolet, is bad?

Whut.

 

Thankyou. YES, I didn't much like that reply either. Goes against all conventional wisdom regarding moisture and condensation.

 

Thankyou. YES, I didn't much like that reply either. Goes against all conventional wisdom regarding moisture and condensation.

 

Thats what I was wondering: GM states the system is typically charging to 80%. CTEK is doing its thing based on SOC = 100% at 12.76V so if using the Smatrcharger daily are you cycling 80-100? Unfortunately, someone stole my multi meter so I cannot test until after Santa provides a new one.

 

I took mine to the dealership today for the first time and do a pre storage oil change. I told them I was paying for this one and she told me I was going to receive 2 free PLUS the GM 7,500 next time. I was shocked and said great. After all done she said she goofed assuming I purchased car from said dealership. She did comp the first one since I signed it as complimentary….woohoo.

I asked if I could watch when they were filling it up, no problem since it was over a pit. The mechanics (3 of them) were cracking up at my 2 warning stickers I have under the HTC hatch on each side. They initially thought GM installed warning labels until they read them 🤣


Next I went to get Stabil, forgetting by habit that this car needs the special funnel, so I didn’t get as much as I needed but got a fair amount in plus a fair amount out the overflow drain dammit. So, theres a tip for you that need to put Stabil yet. I don’t plan to store as long as previous years, Mother Nature will be the judge though.

At least the dealer made a sad day good.

 

Is adding fuel stabilizer worth doing if you don't have a full tank & it's now parked in the garage?

 

I should’ve clarified, I put the Stabil before a fresh tank of gas. I literally ran it down until the gas light was on for quite a few miles before fill up. In the above GM video, no mention of a fuel stabilizer at all. My parents go south for 1/2 a year so I park in their garage out of the way, makes it nice and I can get my DD in my garage at home (DD outside in summer).

 

Oh no, I wasn't referring to what you did/didn't do. I was thinking of my own car - I think it only has half a tank of gas from when I drove it last a couple of weeks ago. Since I likely won't be able to drive it for a couple of months (it only has the summer perf tires), I was wondering myself if I should try add some type of fuel stabilizer to the half tank I have left. I'm not sure if it matters if the fuel isn't used in a couple of months or not.

 

I don’t think it really matters, hence why I wasn’t too worried about getting the recommended amount in. I’m sure you can get a decent day and pour some in (funnel) before topping off the tank.

 

I do not think it is essential for a couple of months. But if you research it, you will find that folks recommend it for periods that long. If you do use it, I would suggest putting it in, then driving a little bit so that its mixed in the tank and also in the fuel system. Storing with half a tank is good. In the past it was recommended to keep a full tank, but now it is actually recommended to not have a full tank. I don't like to add anything to my C8 fuel tank, but if I was going to do so, I would probably use Startron. I use that in my older cars that really do sit for long periods without running. Although, even then, when I can, I transfer the fuel from them to my daily drivers using a GasTapper - then put some fresh fuel in the older cars - with Startron added.

 

I agree with above post. For 2 months, it’s fine with 1/2 tank. If over 3 months, I prefer Star Tron as a stabilizer.