Winter Storage
4th Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,473
From: CT
Not starting the car for about 3 months won't hurt it.....I've done this in the past.....never had a problem.....might have to charge/jump the battery.
I was always to busy or stored my cars at my parents house but, if I had the time or convenience of the cars being close I would definitely start them up at least once a month to operating temp and drive around on the driveway.....keeps the mice away
I was always to busy or stored my cars at my parents house but, if I had the time or convenience of the cars being close I would definitely start them up at least once a month to operating temp and drive around on the driveway.....keeps the mice away
6th Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,182
From: PA to KY ('07) to IL ('09) to MS ('10) to FL ('11)
For mice (and it's listed in the many threads on winter storage), stuff steel wool in the exhaust pipe tips and in the air intake box opening. Just driving around the driveway or running the engine to operating temp without loading it up for more than a dozen miles or so is more harmful than just letting it sit for x # of months.
Thread Starter
1st Gear Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 80
From: Ohio
Not starting the car for about 3 months won't hurt it.....I've done this in the past.....never had a problem.....might have to charge/jump the battery.
I was always to busy or stored my cars at my parents house but, if I had the time or convenience of the cars being close I would definitely start them up at least once a month to operating temp and drive around on the driveway.....keeps the mice away
I was always to busy or stored my cars at my parents house but, if I had the time or convenience of the cars being close I would definitely start them up at least once a month to operating temp and drive around on the driveway.....keeps the mice away
4th Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,473
From: CT
For mice (and it's listed in the many threads on winter storage), stuff steel wool in the exhaust pipe tips and in the air intake box opening. Just driving around the driveway or running the engine to operating temp without loading it up for more than a dozen miles or so is more harmful than just letting it sit for x # of months.
driving around the driveway will entice the mice to move! I would say there is nothing wrong with starting up the car once a month letting it run for a bit, maybe take a drive down your street or not starting it up and waiting for the spring.....either way the car will be on the road in the spring and ready for action. In my opinion......I miss my cars during those months and playing around with them on the driveway or my street won't hurt....keeps fluids moving. 3 more months.....I hope!!!
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 264
From: Rochester NY
For mice (and it's listed in the many threads on winter storage), stuff steel wool in the exhaust pipe tips and in the air intake box opening. Just driving around the driveway or running the engine to operating temp without loading it up for more than a dozen miles or so is more harmful than just letting it sit for x # of months.
6th Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,182
From: PA to KY ('07) to IL ('09) to MS ('10) to FL ('11)
It really is...
Quoted text from just one site (http://www.off-road-outdoors.com/Oil-breakdown.html) but echoed by many others:
Quoted text from just one site (http://www.off-road-outdoors.com/Oil-breakdown.html) but echoed by many others:
"It is critical to operate an engine at normal operating temperature to prevent and burn off any water that is present by an evaporation process. The most severe type of driving an oil can be subjected to (as well as an engines internal components) is short drives and intermittent operation in which the engine and oil never have time to reach normal operating temperatures for an extended period of time."
4th Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,473
From: CT
It really is...
Quoted text from just one site (http://www.off-road-outdoors.com/Oil-breakdown.html) but echoed by many others:
Quoted text from just one site (http://www.off-road-outdoors.com/Oil-breakdown.html) but echoed by many others:
"It is critical to operate an engine at normal operating temperature to prevent and burn off any water that is present by an evaporation process. The most severe type of driving an oil can be subjected to (as well as an engines internal components) is short drives and intermittent operation in which the engine and oil never have time to reach normal operating temperatures for an extended period of time."
I do.....