To store or drive during the winter months

[dlrshort]

In the north we don't have the luxury of being able to drive our collector vettes every day during the winter. What do you do...drive it or put it to bed for the winter? If you drive on select nice cold winter days (like me), do you do anything special to the vette during the winter months? If you do store it till spring, what do you do to protect it during idle time:confused ?

Dave S

 

[JohnZ]

I've been garage-storing my "toys" through our long Michigan winters for over 40 years. I fill the tank, wash them, change the oil, air up the tires to 40#, disconnect the battery, roll up the windows, and throw a dust cover over them. I put a "Battery Tender" on them once a month for a day or so until the green light comes on, and when spring comes, I check the tires, connect the battery, and drive. I change coolant and brake fluid every two or three years while they're "sleeping". Anything else is a waste of time unless you have a damp garage floor or rodent issues. Don't start them unless you intend to drive them at least ten miles so the oil gets up to full temperature to boil off condensation and rich-start contaminants in the pan - no seals will "dry out" over the winter if they're not started. These cars aren't fragile.

 

[reefdiver]

Are you saying that it's better NOT to start them every couple of weeks? I dont have a battery tender so I usually start it up and let it run for about 15 minutes or so,just to keep the battery charged. I do this about once a month. This is my 1st winter with my vette so I'm still learning the ropes.

 

[BruceBed]

As long as there isn't snow or rain on the ground, I take my car out for a run on Sunday. I get it warmed up and I go for about a 20 mile run down the interstate. I usually get north of the speed limit and open up the four barrell. I would reccomend that you start the car and run it thru the transmission cycle and make sure the tires don't get flat spotted or soft. These cars like to run and it is your duty to see that it happens.

 

[Stallion]

I pretty much just make sure that there is no salt on the ground. But, I do prefer the summer riding better, of course.

 

[JohnZ]

Are you saying that it's better NOT to start them every couple of weeks? I dont have a battery tender so I usually start it up and let it run for about 15 minutes or so,just to keep the battery charged. I do this about once a month. This is my 1st winter with my vette so I'm still learning the ropes.

Yup, starting it every couple of weeks only loads the pan with more acid, which generates sludge unless it's boiled off, and it won't boil off unless the oil gets over 200* or so, and that won't happen unless you highway-drive the car for at least ten miles (preferably more). Starting it takes more out of the battery than 15 minutes of idling puts back; buy a "Battery Tender" or "Battery Minder" and plug it in once a month or so.

"Flat-Spotting" isn't an issue with modern tires; whatever minor flat-spotting you get from sitting for six months disappears after about the first three miles of driving in the spring. Just park it and leave it alone.

 

[mcditalia]

I do have another question which I was going to post as the weather got nicer, but being that this topic came up............

Once the car gets back on the road in spring after the initial storgae oil change, should you change the oil again before you get the car back on the road even though I put 0 miles on it over the course of five months or so?

And, is there a benefit of putting a cover on the car thats in a garage other than just keeping the dust off it?