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I'm almost embarrassed to make this my very first post (other than my introductory post) here on the Corvette Forum, but I want to be able to ease my wife's mind about a high performance vehicle and whether sitting for a period of time will end up causing damage, or at least degradation, of the vehicle. My hope is to end up with a C8 Z06. I'm a recent retiree, and because of this, the car won't be used daily. In fact, depending upon circumstances, and worst case, the car may end up being started and run 2 or 3 times a month. Hopefully, it will be used more often than that, but again, my wife has a concern about whether the car will suffer any ill effects (don't worry about battery charge...that can easily be addressed), by sitting for that kind of time. I know there may be issues with flat spotting of the tires, particularly with the steamroller tires that will be on the Z06, but what about the flat plane crank engine? Is there any tendency for that type of engine to be more prone to oil drainage, and potential engine wear? How often would you think a Z06 vehicle should be run (and I mean driven, not just started) to preclude the wife's concerns? Oh, if it matters, I live in Las Vegas, NV, and the climate is, obviously hot and dry.
You will be fine. Might be a good idea to have a tender attached while sitting in the garage.. but flat spotting won't be a problem.
I'm in Toronto, Canada and my cars sit for at least 4 months out of the year... Normal procedure for me is fresh oil, full tank and raise tire PSI, when parking it then attach tender.. EZ-PZ.
I'm almost embarrassed to make this my very first post (other than my introductory post) here on the Corvette Forum, but I want to be able to ease my wife's mind about a high performance vehicle and whether sitting for a period of time will end up causing damage, or at least degradation, of the vehicle. My hope is to end up with a C8 Z06. I'm a recent retiree, and because of this, the car won't be used daily. In fact, depending upon circumstances, and worst case, the car may end up being started and run 2 or 3 times a month. Hopefully, it will be used more often than that, but again, my wife has a concern about whether the car will suffer any ill effects (don't worry about battery charge...that can easily be addressed), by sitting for that kind of time. I know there may be issues with flat spotting of the tires, particularly with the steamroller tires that will be on the Z06, but what about the flat plane crank engine? Is there any tendency for that type of engine to be more prone to oil drainage, and potential engine wear? How often would you think a Z06 vehicle should be run (and I mean driven, not just started) to preclude the wife's concerns? Oh, if it matters, I live in Las Vegas, NV, and the climate is, obviously hot and dry.
I have a somewhat different perspective. Have a street rod I built when I retired 20 years ago. Now it only goes to car shows a few times/year. It is on a maintenance charger 24/7.
First, the worse thing for an engine and oil is starting and not getting the oil hot enough long enough to evaporate much of the water that gets past the large piston/ring gaps when the engine is cold! IF I start the Rod between shows I drive ~20 miles to get the oil hot and drive long enough to evaporate much of the water. Otherwise you can form sulfuric acid etc that corrodes metal when it's sitting!
Some other points:
Todays tires don't flat spot! I don't even feel that for the first few miles. And talk about "steamroller," the C8 tires are anemic compared to my tubbed 16.5 section width rear tires (420 metric!)
RE keeping the tank full. For the C7 it was recommended to keep it <1/2 full to keep the fuel level float resistor out of gasoline so it did not form an insulating silver compound! Lots written on the C7 Forum. The issue is to replace the sender on the C7 (not sure on the C8) BUT the whole drivetrain had to be dropped as there is a large tube connoting the two tanks! In fact I used Techron additions to my 2 C7s and do now on my C 8 about every 3 months to help avoid the issue having seen many posts on re the issue on the C7. The Techron info states that is one benefit! Also with todays sealed gas system to prevent gas vapors from getting into the atmosphere there IS NOT MOISTURE CONDENSATE ISSUE! Now I keep my 12 gallon tank full and always use Stabil. But I installed the fuel sender and can drop my tank and install another is needed!
The flat plan crack is no different re starting. Heck had those in My Corvairs as in all Boxer Porsche engines! Still have the same crank throws and mains! Just displaced somewhat different!
For the C7 it was recommended to keep fuel level <1/2 full to keep the fuel sender resistor out of the gasoline to prevent an insulating silver compound for causing fuel sender failures. Recall one member who had to add a number of bottles of Techron to her C7 to solve the fuel sender errors. It worked a few times BUT she had to have it replaced at 100,000 miles as ! recall! NOT cheap! Other's had it fail during warrantee and the dealer did similar on GM's dime!
Good stuff. ^^^. Our country home is very remote and surrounded by fields. Tenn can have big temp swings that leave the car and engine bay coated with condensation droplets. Mice, rust, squirrels, bugs… this fixed it. I splurged this year and bought the model that has inflatable structure. Worth every penny. I have the advantage that I can spin my engine till I see oil pressure. Then a few pumps on the Holley then start.
I'm almost embarrassed to make this my very first post (other than my introductory post) here on the Corvette Forum, but I want to be able to ease my wife's mind about a high performance vehicle and whether sitting for a period of time will end up causing damage, or at least degradation, of the vehicle. My hope is to end up with a C8 Z06. I'm a recent retiree, and because of this, the car won't be used daily. In fact, depending upon circumstances, and worst case, the car may end up being started and run 2 or 3 times a month. Hopefully, it will be used more often than that, but again, my wife has a concern about whether the car will suffer any ill effects (don't worry about battery charge...that can easily be addressed), by sitting for that kind of time. I know there may be issues with flat spotting of the tires, particularly with the steamroller tires that will be on the Z06, but what about the flat plane crank engine? Is there any tendency for that type of engine to be more prone to oil drainage, and potential engine wear? How often would you think a Z06 vehicle should be run (and I mean driven, not just started) to preclude the wife's concerns? Oh, if it matters, I live in Las Vegas, NV, and the climate is, obviously hot and dry.
I have a dozen or so cars, some do not get driven for months, sometimes longer, the car will be fine if you drive it or park it, just get the proper charger and you will be good to go whenever you want
It’ll be fine. GM know who most of their customers are. My past C7 Z06 and now my C8 Stingray sit for 3-4 months during the winter on a trickle charger. Never had a problem.
I'm almost embarrassed to make this my very first post (other than my introductory post) here on the Corvette Forum, but I want to be able to ease my wife's mind about a high performance vehicle and whether sitting for a period of time will end up causing damage, or at least degradation, of the vehicle. My hope is to end up with a C8 Z06. I'm a recent retiree, and because of this, the car won't be used daily. In fact, depending upon circumstances, and worst case, the car may end up being started and run 2 or 3 times a month. Hopefully, it will be used more often than that, but again, my wife has a concern about whether the car will suffer any ill effects (don't worry about battery charge...that can easily be addressed), by sitting for that kind of time. I know there may be issues with flat spotting of the tires, particularly with the steamroller tires that will be on the Z06, but what about the flat plane crank engine? Is there any tendency for that type of engine to be more prone to oil drainage, and potential engine wear? How often would you think a Z06 vehicle should be run (and I mean driven, not just started) to preclude the wife's concerns? Oh, if it matters, I live in Las Vegas, NV, and the climate is, obviously hot and dry.
You would need to verify this, but I'm guessing that the C8Z will be like my C6Z. If it sits for a period of time, you can build oil pressure without starting the engine by holding the gas pedal to the floor while hitting the start button. The engine will spin but won't start with the peddle floored. Or you could pull the fuel pump fuse- same effect.
The other option, which I highly recommend, is flying me out there weekly to drive the car for you. I live in NorCal, so flights are cheap. Standing by, ready to help.
You will not have a problem with the oil. The TBN is the rating of the oils ability to neutralize acid. The car will have at least 8 quarts of Mobil1 with a TBN of 8.5. It's not good to run an engine for a few minutes and not get rid of the condensation, but with this much oil of that quality, you won't have a problem.
Wow....lots of great information here, guys! Thank you so very much for all this great stuff.
Unfortunately, now that I've gotten all the details supporting that I could run the car the way I was expecting I would, I'm guessing that owning a C8 Z06 is unlikely. I've been in contact with some of the major Corvette dealers who are telling me that the lists of interested parties for the Z06 are so long as to be meaningless (over 5 years long). Plus, here in LV, there are a few C8 Corvettes at dealerships with obscene 'market adjustment' mark-ups that it makes even a Stingray, for me, out of the realm of possible ownership. I'm also thinking that the Z06, and all the subsequent higher performance variants of C8 Vettes, will become almost like Ferraris and Lamborghini, in terms of exclusivity. And, the demand will so far outstrip the ability of GM to supply the vehicles, that being able to purchase anything 'above' a Stingray, essentially out of reach for all but a lucky few who may have connections in order to be to buy one, and even if you could get one, the prices will make them unattainable for all but the extremely well-heeled car buyers. At least this is what I'm beginning to think. I'm not planning ongetting this car for 2-3 years, and we'll see what happens then, but I'm predicting what I've written above will end up being the case.
I'm seeing a lot of interesting recommendations in this thread but the absolute worst thing you could ever do for an engine, it's to start it and then turn it off, condensation buildup is very bad. One of the thing you might consider is running some fuel stabilizer through it beofre you store it because with today's ethanol fuels You can really gunk keep your system. Tires today dont flat spot.
But above all else, do not just go and turn on your car and then not drive it, that is the absolute worst thing you could do.
EDIT: I just read JerryU's post.. he nailed it. It Made me cringe when the OP said he would turn his car on and then turn it off!
I'm also thinking that the Z06, and all the subsequent higher performance variants of C8 Vettes, will become almost like Ferraris and Lamborghini, in terms of exclusivity. And, the demand will so far outstrip the ability of GM to supply the vehicles, that being able to purchase anything 'above' a Stingray, essentially out of reach for all but a lucky few who may have connections in order to be to buy one, and even if you could get one, the prices will make them unattainable for all but the extremely well-heeled car buyers. At least this is what I'm beginning to think. I'm not planning ongetting this car for 2-3 years, and we'll see what happens then, but I'm predicting what I've written above will end up being the case.
You'll be fine, Chevrolet will produce tens of thousands of Z06s. The demand is always very high initially then decreases substantially as the model progresses. People like to say, but, but, but this one is so different - no, it's still a Corvette, and will follow similar patterns as all past Corvettes. Regarding not driving it often, my Z racks up about 1,000 mi per year, if that, & no issues.
EDIT:... It Made me cringe when the OP said he would turn his car on and then turn it off!
I don't believe I ever said I had plans to start and stop the car without driving it. What I MEANT to say that I was planning to START AND DRIVE the car 2-3 times per month!!! Unfortunately, instead of 'drive', I wrote 'run'. I hope that everyone who posted didn't also misunderstand my original post...as that is what I'd intended to convey. I agree to just start the care, let it idle for a short while, then shut it down, is something I would never do! I hadn't thought that this kind of DRIVING treatment would be bad for even for a hot car like the Corvette Z06, but I wanted my wife to hear it from others than just me.
Thanks to everyone who keep on posting great information!
@DevilDog II: I am originally from Illinois, Chicago suburbs, and lived there my entire life until age 42. I had a 1991 Corvette that I stored for the winter, just like you, and I had no issues, either, but I never looked inside the engine to see what storage had done to it. Here in in the desert southwest, obviously, the car would encounter completely different conditions, and would NOT be stored at all, just driven infrequently, but continuously.
Potential Limited Use - A Problem?
