Do you start your car once a week in the winter or do you let it sit all winter and start it up once in spring?

If you do the latter, what procedures do you follow to ensure proper oiling before startup?

 

Last winter I stored it in a storage unit. I drove it for about 5-10 minutes every 2 weeks. No problems.
That's what I'm doing this winter too.

 

Anyone else?

 

Just let it sleep you do more bad than good starting it up every other week.All you do is buidling up moisture in the engine and exhasut . If you just run it for a few minutes the car dose not reach operating temp.You can also place it on jackstands if you like just dont raise the tires completly off the ground.Fill your gas tank up to the top and add some fuel stabalizer,remove or disconnect your battery,if you remove it from the car make sure you don't place it directly on a concret floor.I would give it a oil change too.Hope this helps you out a bit.





NICK

 

I know of some friends up north who actually put the car up on cinder blocks and remove the wheels in order to "relax" the chassis...

 

Well the reason for jackstands is to prevent flat spots from ocuring on the tires. I let my car sit on jack stands for like 4-5 months with out starting it. Disco the battery. Thats all I did to it. I have had no problems.

 

Huh? January is the best time to go to the track here

 

I was worried about starting it in spring with all the oil in the pan.

I've heard the argument about the moisture before with starting it every week.

 

If you are garaging it at home, hook up a small trickle charger which automatically turns off when the battery is topped off.(motosrcycle type)

If really damp where stored, get a couple of those thingys that RV folks put in their rigs to absorb excess moisture which can turn to mildew.

Keep the tank full so as not to collect too much moisture. I'd shy away from driers, since they can play havoc with rubber type seals.

You can probably find a much better source of info than what I propose. Just look around.

I do like the idea of the charger though, especially if you need a jump or an emergency transportation. JMHO

 

I heard that letting the suspension drop down (like when u jack it up to change a tire or something) and leaving it for months at a time can actully screw it up somehow....I don't know how true this is, just seeing what people respond with.

 

Yeah I heard you aren't supposed to let the suspension hang either.

 

5-10min of driving is nowhere near long enough to get the oil hot enough to fully burn off the moisture though.

You should drive it at least 20min.

 

Unless you have bias ply tires there is really no need to worry about flat spotting the tires.

 

I just take her out every 2-3 weeks on a nice day and drive her for about an hr or a lil less.... feels good too. going from my 4cyl sunbird to my well loved camaro z/28

 

I've had mine is storage for over a month now.
All pretty and shiny under the car cover.

It's got an automatic trickle charger on it and some fuel stabilizer in the tank.

I start it up and run it around for 15 mins or so every month - get the brakes going and such.