How to winterize a car

[White Shadow]

Originally Posted by danthemann5

The "cold start" has me thinking. Engine operating temperature is usually about 200 to 300 degrees. I would think that every start after sitting for a few hours, whether it's at an ambient temperature of 70 or 0, would be a cold start.

Maybe the colder temperature has a detrimental effect on the viscosity of the oil. Lower temperature means higher viscosity, which means greater resistance to movement in the lubricated parts. I would think that heat of friction would overcome that pretty quickly. Plus, the synthetic oil should stay more liquid at a lower temperature by design.

If I drove the car every day during the winter (as per my original plan), wouldn't I be cold starting it every day? I'd really like to see or hear a good scientific explanation of whether it's better to run a car every few weeks or not at all while in storage for the winter.

Yes, you are correct. That was exactly the point I made a few posts up. Every morning when you start your car, it's a "cold" start. If you're storing your car for the winter and you start it every two or three weeks, then that's just a few cold starts for the entire winter, as compared to driving it through the entire winter and doing a cold start every day. So nobody should shy away from starting the engine of a stored car once in a while. If anything, it only helps. What you don't want to happen is for the oil film to drain completely off the engine internals and end up in the oil pan. That's why starting the engine of a stored car every two or three weeks is a good idea.

[Justin.b]

Originally Posted by wbradley

I dont know about you ^^ but I take off the insurance while the car is garaged. It has fire and theft only now for $200 vs $1100

Taking it out without collision insurance is illegal here with a $5000. penalty.

I keep it insured year-round.

-Justin

[wbradley]

I am torn between starting the engine or my original plan to leave the fuel system completly filled. Not sure if there is any truth to keeping fuel at F to lessen internal water acumulating.

I'm thinking after 6 months never started a cylinder and piston with thin oil long dripped dry might not be to good for optimal compression in the future?

I'm a clueless fuck so please correct this if it is pure conjecture (bs)

[fatoni]

its an easy two step process. one, move to southern cali. two, buy summer tires.

[White Shadow]

Originally Posted by wbradley

I am torn between starting the engine or my original plan to leave the fuel system completly filled. Not sure if there is any truth to keeping fuel at F to lessen internal water acumulating.

I'm thinking after 6 months never started a cylinder and piston with thin oil long dripped dry might not be to good for optimal compression in the future?

I'm a clueless fuck so please correct this if it is pure conjecture (bs)

Do both. Fill the gas tank and also start the engine occasionally. You won't use much gas at all if you start the engine and let it run for a little while every two or three weeks. A car uses VERY little fuel idling.

And yes, keeping gas in the tank is always a good idea. Condensation can easily form on the inside of an empty gas tank, so if you keep the fuel level high, there's that much less chance for condensation to form inside the tank.

[wbradley]

Originally Posted by Justin.b

I keep it insured year-round.

-Justin

Oh I just realized, you are Justin B!!!!!!!!!

How ya liking the chrome Fisker Karma?