Storing for the winter

Guest · Aug 22, 2005

I'm planning to put my C2 to bed for the winter this year and wondered if anyone had prepared for storage before?

Answers/advice would be appreciated regards to raising car onto axle stands or not to release pressure on bearings/suspension etc and what (if any) caution I should be aware of re starting engine infrequently, due to oil draining causing many parts to become 'dry'. Maybe best to leave on ground and run up once a week...?? Am I the first to want to do this, surely not![

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Any help will be gratefully recieved

Cat

bones · Aug 22, 2005

In countries where it's impossible to use your flat six in winter, Finland , Canada etc. they do put them on axle stands or more usually turn the wheels every few weeks by jacking up that individual wheel and then rotating it. I don't know if people start their engines though, personally I wouldn't. Perhaps seek advice from A.G, a letter to the correct person will get you a response. If your issue is making sure you don't get salt and crap on your car do what I do, wait for a dry day, drive 20 miles at a brisk speed (assuming you don't live in the center of a city) to burn of any condensation contaminating the oil and that's the best you can do. If your car lives outside in an unheated garage the engine and exhaust is subject to continuous water ingress from damp and condensation on the bare metal surfaces, use a synthetic oil with good cold start properties, drive it once a month and all should be well. If you really have to leave it without driving at all and want to start it now and again change the oil after winter then at least you have 7/8ths new oil uncontaminated by water. Lots of folk drive their cars on frequent short journeys and as long as the oil is changed frquently they don't seem to suffer so an oil change after a few winter starts will probably be ok.

964rh · Aug 23, 2005

Cat

I kept my 964 on the drive, after a decent wash and wax, covered over with a new outside cover, for most of the winter last year. Went out for a drive every week, weather allowing, to run the suspension and brakes etc. When weather was too bad I left it.

From what I was advised don't start the engine and leave running, causes more harm than good apparently.

In all, it wasn't used very often for about two and a half months and it came out of it ok. Battery needed charging once and I got the oil changed in March as Bones mentioned. I think the general rules are to keep everything moving.
This year it will spend most of the time in a Carcoon with battery conditioner and taken out as and when.
Nothing like a spirited drive on a dry, cold, early winters day.

Regards

Rob

ps - if you do go out in the winter don't forget to give the underside a good scrub when the weather is better to get rid of the salt and grime and stuff.

Guest · Aug 23, 2005

Rob,

Cheers for the info, your advice is, I guess, what my head was saying all along. The winters drive around these parts will be (at times) too good to miss so I've decided, she'll be kept running all winter.

Thanks again for the info from yourself and bones!

Cat

tripe · Aug 23, 2005

If you don't put the car on stands it is helpful to pump the tyres right up, to say 40 psi - this helps offset any slight air leakage and tyre wall cracking during storage. I would advocate turning of the rear wheels at least on a regular basis (even if just by rolling the old girl backwards or forwards a bit each time). This avoids the grease in the drive shafts migrating downwards and starving the the top of the cv joints.

Also, disconnect the battery. Either remove the -ve terminal or fit an isolater switch. If you leave the car in even a slightly damp area the brakes and clutch can seize - for this reason I would advocate at least a monthly run rather than a complete lay up.

Hope it all helps.