Storing Christine for the Winter

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Oct 31, 2011 | 07:48 PM

#21

The_Maniac

Monte Of The Month -- December 2011
Monte Of The Month -- September 2014

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Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 12,606

From: Mentor, Ohio

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaxJim

I would just add that once you've got it in storage, don't be tempted to go out there and start it up for a while to circulate fluids or whatever - I think that unless you're bringing all the fluids up to operating temperature, you're probably doing more harm than good. We've all seen the condensation that comes out the exhaust during warmup - well, if you shut down the car before the car is at full operating temp, that condensation will remain in your engine and exhaust - not good.

If you are going to start a car that has been stored, you need to run it until it reaches operating temp. This allows all the fluids to properly warm up, T-Stat to open and the battery to charge up.

I do outside storage during the winter and do not believe in starting the car during the winter due to the inconvenience of it. I feel as long as the car is left alone, it's not that bad. But I feel during the hot temps of summer, leaving a car outside and unstarted for more then a week is BAD. Heat helps dry out rubber parts, evaporate fluids, and a host of other bad things.

Nov 1, 2011 | 08:47 AM

#22

ChibiBlackSheep

Monte Of The Month -- August 2014

Joined: Sep 2008

Posts: 25,145

From: Southeast PA

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Maniac

But I feel during the hot temps of summer, leaving a car outside and unstarted for more then a week is BAD. Heat helps dry out rubber parts, evaporate fluids, and a host of other bad things.

It's also good to run the AC at least once a month, because the refrigerant in the system has oils that help lubricate the rubber lines to prevent those from dry-rotting too.