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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / February 2008Starting in the winter in cold climates?
I figured rather than hi-jack the other thread where the poster said that he started his motors once a month in the winter, I'd start a new one and get people's thoughts. Having owned motorcycles and Corvettes pretty much all my life and living in either the snowbelt of PA or upstate NY I've researched this question quite a bit. Without going into gory details, starting an engine once a month in the winter is hard on the motor, exhaust, you name it. Here's a site that I ran across a long time ago that has, what I consider to be great advice for winterizing most anything. It's a motorcycle "checklist" but with minor modifications, will work for most anything. I've done these procedures on everything I've stored through the winter for the last 40 years and have never had any issues starting them in the spring. I swear by this method but I'm sure there are other opinions that folks hold onto just as dearly. I'm not trying to change anyones mind as no one's going to change mine. I just thought it may make for an interesting discussion. Heck, we don't even have a motorhome. Ours is a trailer. ;-) -- Steve >Here's a site that I ran across a long time ago that has, >what I consider to be great advice for winterizing most >anything. Wow, that's really helpful! Thanks <g>. GB in NC oops, forgot the url: http://www.clarity.net/~adam/winter-storage.html > I figured rather than hi-jack the other thread where the > poster said that he started his motors once a month in the [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > -- > Steve REPLY: Steve, I have a 2006 vette and i restored a 1970 big block Vette which i still have. What years have you owned. ? > REPLY: Steve, I have a 2006 vette and i restored a 1970 big block > Vette which i still have. What years have you owned. ? '67, '69 BB, '73, 84 Z51, 97, back to the 84 (yes, the same one. I didn't like the C5 so I bought my old '84 back.) It's for sale now. WISH I still had the '67 and '69! 20-20 hindsight. Of 'em all, I really wish I had the '69. Convert. w/hardtop Lemans Blue L71 - 427ci, 435hp Power Windows Headreasts AC Special suspension power brakes posi power steering tilt-tele column AM/FM Stereo But I don't remember much about it.... ;-) -- Steve > IlBeBa...@gmail.com wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > -- > Steve REPLY: Thats a highly desirable 69 with that TriPower Engine. You should be kickin' yourself. Have you thought of getting a C6 ? I love the technology. > REPLY: Thats a highly desirable 69 with that TriPower Engine. You > should be kickin' yourself. Have you thought of getting a C6 ? I > love the technology. You have no idea how many times I've had to be taken to the emergency room to have my foot surgically removed from my a-- for selling that car.... Nope, I don't like the ride of the C5's or C6's personally. Like driving a high-powered Buick from a ride point of view. My Z-51 actually feels like a sports car and sticks to the road like it's on tracks. A little rougher ride? Sure, but I like feeling the road not like I'm sitting on a couch. Personal preference I suppose. It's for sale.? ;-) -- Steve 'Nope, I don't like the ride of the C5's or C6's personally. Like driving a high-powered Buick from a ride point of view. My Z-51 actually feels like a sports car and sticks to the road like it's on tracks. A little rougher ride? Sure, but I like feeling the road not like I'm sitting on a couch. Personal preference I suppose. It's for sale.? ;-)  SignatureSteve' REPLY: For sure the C5/6's are very refined and a vastly different animal from the early C3's ; I think GM has done a marvelous job putting that much power into a 6.0 litre small block engine with fuel economy of 19/28 mpg . But theres something about taking the '70 big block out for a 'spirited' sunday afternoon ride with the clunky 4 speed and loud exhaust singing 'rumpity-rumpity-rump' to you. I dont think ill ever get rid of the '70 --- ive got hundreds of restoration hours into it . I had it out once and this 16 year old boy had no idea what it was ! Its too bad todays youth cant experience what we did with ordering a hi-perf. car anyway you like with a choice of engines, trans, and rearend ratio . Times have changed. >For sure the C5/6's are very refined and a vastly >different animal from the early C3's ; I think GM has done >marvelous job putting that much power into a 6.0 litre >small block engine with fuel economy of 19/28 mpg . But >theres something about taking the '70 big block out for a >'spirited' sunday afternoon ride with the clunky 4 speed >and loud exhaust singing 'rumpity-rumpity-rump' to you. >I dont think ill ever get rid of the '70 --- ive got >hundreds of restoration hours into it . I had it out once >and this 16 year old boy had no idea what it was ! Its too >bad todays youth cant experience what we did with >ordering a hi-perf. car anyway you like with a choice of >engines, trans, and rearend ratio . Times have changed. Sadly, yes the times have definitely changed all the way around. For the worse in my view, but that's a different story. You still have you BB '70? Lucky devil! Got pics somewhere? I'm really going to miss my '84, which certainly isn't the same as a BBC but it ain't too shabby either. ;-) But times and "toy requirements" change so I'm probably parting with her again this spring. Enjoy yours! > >For sure the C5/6's are very refined and a vastly > >different animal from the early C3's ; I think GM has [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Enjoy yours! REPLY: Ive got some pics but i dont know how to post them in a NG. If you email me at Daveinlakevilla@webtv.net ill send you a few pics. I had the motor built up from 390 h.p stock to 540 h.p . Torque is up from 500 ft.lbs stock to 600. I seldom run it hard thru the gears because its scary fast, but, the rear wheels break loose in 3rd gear turning 2500 rpms when nailing it. Its been to a few car shows and has won trophies ; last year i only drove it 1,000 miles on the weekends. You dont go to MidAmerica Funfest in southern Illinois by any chance do you ? Its every Sept. Last year over 12000 corvettes showed up for a weekend of celebration . Its my favorite event. I take the 2006 down there . I supposed id consider selling my '70 if the price was right --- id have to get at least $35 k. for it. Ive got about $16 k. in it for the restoration and buildup. > Ive got some pics but i dont know how to post them in a NG. That's a good thing. ;-) Posting pics to a non-binary usenet group is frowned upon by most people and blocked by most servers. I just thought maybe you had some on a site somewhere. > you email me at Daveinlakevilla@webtv.net This email's valid - send away, I'd love to see it. > had the motor built up from 390 h.p stock to 540 h.p . Torque is up > from 500 ft.lbs stock to 600. I seldom run it hard thru the gears > because its scary fast, but, the rear wheels break loose in 3rd gear > turning 2500 rpms when nailing it. That's gotta be a scary sucker! :D My '84 is nothing compared to my '69 Vette or even my '70 Charger 440 6-six pack. Forget about your's! But I like it. I'm gonna probably cry when I sign the title over. Here's the '84: http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=2640029&uid=680057 and here's the '97 that I had: http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=4414568&uid=680057 Sadly, all of my older pictures were lost in a fire so I have none of the older cars. You would have really appreciated the '67 and '69, and probably even the Charger. -- Steve > I figured rather than hi-jack the other thread where the > poster said that he started his motors once a month in the [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > -- > Steve Hi Steve, The site gives some very interesting and informative details. Like you siad, I won't change your mind and I doubt you'll change mine. That being said, I'll explain my reasons for starting up once a month. I don't take out my battery, so starting lets its charge the battery. I always let it warm up and most of the time I drive it for 10 or so miles to lubricate the rearend/axle/tranny and etc. bearings. It is usually 50 (+/- 5 degrees). This also lubes the cylinder walls. By starting it, you move gasoline thru the system. As a motorcycle mechanic myself, I have seen gas evaporate from the carbs which leaves a varnish. When this happens, you have to remove the carbs and disasemble them to clean them correctly. This is no easy task. He adds for "extra credit" that the carbs should be removed and cleaned. How many people would or could do this? Just seems silly to me. The link provides his reasons for not starting in the winter, which are all good. But mine has worked for me. Besides, don't most people start their cars and drive them throughout the cold months? By running my AC, it will keep the bearing on the fan from sticking. Savings of about $150. :-) I haven't kept any vehicle more than 6 years anyway. Hank <~~~~set in his ways too > Hi Steve, > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > I don't take out my battery, so starting lets its charge the > battery. I don't take the batteries out my vehicles in storage either. I leave 'em in and just hook a battery tender plus on em. > I always let it warm up and most of the time I drive it for 10 or > so miles to lubricate the rearend/axle/tranny and etc. bearings. It is > usually 50 (+/- 5 degrees). This also lubes the cylinder walls. Ah, 50 dF makes a big difference in my mind. Heck, at that temp I'd probably still be drivin' 'em. ;-) Well, maybe not a bike. ;-) > By starting it, you move gasoline thru the system. As a motorcycle > mechanic myself, I have seen gas evaporate from the carbs which leaves > a varnish. When this happens, you have to remove the carbs and > disasemble them to clean them correctly. This is no easy task. He adds > for "extra credit" that the carbs should be removed and cleaned. How > many people would or could do this? Just seems silly to me. Agreed. Not many are going to pull carbs off, clean 'em and get them re-sync'ed. But, if you add stabilizer to the fuel then that becomes unnecessary, at least in my experience storing bikes and Vettes pretty much this way from about October to April or so. Done if for 40 years. Problems? zero. > The link provides his reasons for not starting in the winter, > which are all good. But mine has worked for me. Besides, don't most > people start their cars and drive them throughout the cold months? I never start my bikes or Vettes once they're put to sleep for the winter. > By running my AC, it will keep the bearing on the fan from > sticking. Savings of about $150. :-) good point > I haven't kept any vehicle more than 6 years anyway. > > Hank <~~~~set in his ways too Yep, whatever works for ya. |
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