Putting the car up for winter
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 519
From: Talbott, TN
Re: Putting the car up for winter
I too live in a cold winter climate area -40 celcius is not uncommon.
I put mine away for about six months and this is what I do:
1) fill her up add fuel stabilizer (STP) and I go for a 15 minute ride. Car is up to operating temperature before I fill up.
2) pull it in the garage shut it off and leave it until the first time to start it in the Spring.
3) pull the battery and put in basement
Oh yeah before you pull the battery make sure you take out any Cds you wish to hear
I too believe that if you are starting your car once per week you are not gaining anything over not starting it in fact I think it is worse. I too believe that starting it once a week will add moisture to the exhaust system that may not be fully dried out due to the fact that you will be just idling and not a part/full throttle run making the engine work and actually getting up to some hotter temps over a longer period of time to dry the exhaust system out. Just idling may or may not fully "dry" the oil out and any moisture you are creating when you first start may be combining with the exhaust gases and form some acids that although may be short lived,, over repeated exposures may not be good and if you didn't keep the oil hot enough long enough the oil acidity may remain acidic.
Additionally a cold dry start once a week in my opinion has more negative than positive due to wear. I see no gain in fact I see gain to leaving it over the winter, the engine is not going to rust over a cold dry winter like what we have up here.
any way that is my long opinion
I put mine away for about six months and this is what I do:
1) fill her up add fuel stabilizer (STP) and I go for a 15 minute ride. Car is up to operating temperature before I fill up.
2) pull it in the garage shut it off and leave it until the first time to start it in the Spring.
3) pull the battery and put in basement
Oh yeah before you pull the battery make sure you take out any Cds you wish to hear
I too believe that if you are starting your car once per week you are not gaining anything over not starting it in fact I think it is worse. I too believe that starting it once a week will add moisture to the exhaust system that may not be fully dried out due to the fact that you will be just idling and not a part/full throttle run making the engine work and actually getting up to some hotter temps over a longer period of time to dry the exhaust system out. Just idling may or may not fully "dry" the oil out and any moisture you are creating when you first start may be combining with the exhaust gases and form some acids that although may be short lived,, over repeated exposures may not be good and if you didn't keep the oil hot enough long enough the oil acidity may remain acidic.
Additionally a cold dry start once a week in my opinion has more negative than positive due to wear. I see no gain in fact I see gain to leaving it over the winter, the engine is not going to rust over a cold dry winter like what we have up here. any way that is my long opinion
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 866
From: So.Cal on the Best coast
Re: Putting the car up for winter
Originally Posted by pearlpurple
I too live in a cold winter climate area -40 celcius is not uncommon.
I put mine away for about six months and this is what I do:
1) fill her up add fuel stabilizer (STP) and I go for a 15 minute ride. Car is up to operating temperature before I fill up.
2) pull it in the garage shut it off and leave it until the first time to start it in the Spring.
3) pull the battery and put in basement
Oh yeah before you pull the battery make sure you take out any Cds you wish to hear
I too believe that if you are starting your car once per week you are not gaining anything over not starting it in fact I think it is worse. I too believe that starting it once a week will add moisture to the exhaust system that may not be fully dried out due to the fact that you will be just idling and not a part/full throttle run making the engine work and actually getting up to some hotter temps over a longer period of time to dry the exhaust system out. Just idling may or may not fully "dry" the oil out and any moisture you are creating when you first start may be combining with the exhaust gases and form some acids that although may be short lived,, over repeated exposures may not be good and if you didn't keep the oil hot enough long enough the oil acidity may remain acidic. Additionally a cold dry start once a week in my opinion has more negative than positive due to wear. I see no gain in fact I see gain to leaving it over the winter, the engine is not going to rust over a cold dry winter like what we have up here.
any way that is my long opinion
I put mine away for about six months and this is what I do:
1) fill her up add fuel stabilizer (STP) and I go for a 15 minute ride. Car is up to operating temperature before I fill up.
2) pull it in the garage shut it off and leave it until the first time to start it in the Spring.
3) pull the battery and put in basement
Oh yeah before you pull the battery make sure you take out any Cds you wish to hear
I too believe that if you are starting your car once per week you are not gaining anything over not starting it in fact I think it is worse. I too believe that starting it once a week will add moisture to the exhaust system that may not be fully dried out due to the fact that you will be just idling and not a part/full throttle run making the engine work and actually getting up to some hotter temps over a longer period of time to dry the exhaust system out. Just idling may or may not fully "dry" the oil out and any moisture you are creating when you first start may be combining with the exhaust gases and form some acids that although may be short lived,, over repeated exposures may not be good and if you didn't keep the oil hot enough long enough the oil acidity may remain acidic.
Additionally a cold dry start once a week in my opinion has more negative than positive due to wear. I see no gain in fact I see gain to leaving it over the winter, the engine is not going to rust over a cold dry winter like what we have up here. any way that is my long opinion
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 28
Re: Putting the car up for winter
Yeah, Found out at the dealership about the radio. Have 2001 Z28 vert. Played with the top so much (unstarted) that battery died. Salesman went and got hot starter. Car started fine (got a hard on listening to the rumble), but radio didnt work. It is an anti theft design, you have to have a code to put in it, or your screwed. I do not think that they come from factory with code programed in it, but if it has been programed your screwed. Can always get code from Dealership, just like an ignition key. Besides why would you remove battery anyway? To keep it from freezing? Sorry boys, I live in Texas and dont have to store anything, at least not for cold. I would say that the damage that takes place during a freezing start up is better offset by buying a new battery if needed. Oil wont get hot enough to burn water, plus exhaust rust will be accelerated right? Lubricants will settle if sitting in cold long enough, but why would you start the car several times a winter with no lube, as opposed to once in the springtime? Thoughts?
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 28
Re: Putting the car up for winter
I agree fuels94ta, Why even start it? Other than to move the lube around, and save a battery? Doesnt make sense to me. The lubes will settle in lower engine parts in a matter of days anyway, so why do it? Batterys are cheap if thats what your trying to save.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,676
From: Melvindale, MI, US
Re: Putting the car up for winter
Originally Posted by palerider
How do you post pic of your car on the left hand side? I would love to post mine. Help anyone?
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