Winter storage guys - How often do you start your car?
 

I try to do it about once a month as long as the temp is over 30. I run it about 15 minutes and get it up to operating temp. If the roads are clean I may take it around the block.

Once a week for about 20 minutes. It's been bitter cold here in the Midwest for the last few days.

Winter storage guys -
 

Technical support at Mobil Oil recommends starting your car at least

monthly to make sure oil is circulated throughout the engine.

I generally don't just start my car and let it idle during downtime winter months of storage. The car will never get properly lubricated or burn off the condensation formed during short idle periods that way.
I wait for as nice a day as possible and drive it for a few miles/minutes to thoroughly lubricate the internals of everything and burn off the moisture that forms in the exhaust and oil.
It's hard to resist sitting in the shop with the motor running/reving and rowing the gears though.:lol:

Weird, I guess the poll posts a little bit after the original message. Yeah, its been crazy cold. 10 today and boy it felt nice.

Mine stays here in AZ while I spend May through October in New Hampshire. It never gets started and the nattery tender keeps it happy for the 6 months. Starts right away. Likewise the big car sitting next to it. The NH car always fires up when we get there as well.

Once it gets put away and covered, I don't like to start it until Spring, when I'm ready to get it out. I agree with somebody up above that I don't like leaving it sit idling to warm up, and once it warms up, then it has to cool back down with the chance of forming more condensation. Would rather leave it alone.

The only concern I have from one of the above posts is that Mobil recommends starting once a month to circulate oil.:confused:

May have to rethink. :cheers:

:iagree:

Every 3 weeks if it is at least 35 above.

I drive mine daily so I don't need to worry about this, but if I did store it in the winter I would not bother starting it at all. With vehicles I stored in the past, I would not start them, and they'd start up just fine in the spring, with no strange noises.

I'm curious, for those of you who do start and idle your engines, could you do me a favor? The next time you do this, could you record the coolant temperatures and oil temperatures that you see during this time? (recorded at 5 min intervals) I'd be willing to bet that it takes a very long time for the oil temperature to come up and even then it won't go as hot as it would during a proper highway drive.

If you start it, you should drive it. Otherwise, leave the tender on and wait for spring. :seeya

Car does not run at all December, January and February each year.

:iagree: Or what is the purpose storing it.

I dont start it at all, Not only would it drive me crazy not being able to drive it, I wouldny even be able to get it out of the garage.

This is the first winter with my vette, and the motor was out of the car this time round. With my other cars I would wait untill spring but would disconnect the fuel and crank it over to build up oil pressure and to circulate oil around then start it. just my .02

Once it's put away for the fall there is absolutely no reason to start it until spring

Northen IL here, been having snow every other day for the past two weeks. Oh and as for your question, everyday. :D

this is our 1st winter with the corvette i start the car at least 1 time a week and let the heat and a/c run and move the car back and forth in the garage so the tires will not flatspot.after the engine is up to operating temps i shut it down and put the tender back on wait for it to cool and put the cover back on....that has worked so far.....:cheers:

:iagree: If I start up, it get's driven at least of 15-20 miles onroad to bring everything up to oper temps.

I try to drive it about once a week on a dry day. Not a great fan of just starting it without "blowing out the tubes". The rest of the time it sits hooked up to a battery tender.