How often to start in winter?

[kissvette]

Hi..sorry for dumb question....how often during the winter should I start the car? I keep it on a tender and all....anything special should do while it running or? Thanks

[BJC99Hardtop]

No need to run it over the Winter. If you do run it, just because you miss it (I do), just make sure that you let it get all the way hot to dry out the exhaust.

This usually takes 20 minutes or so at idle.

[OldVetteFan]

I try to get out and run my C4 every four weeks or so - but if I catch a warm day between times, I'll go out and start it.

I don't keep a tender on the C4, so if I don't run it, I'll be impatiently charging the battery when the warm weather comes.

I've also found that if I just let the car sit (like I did two winters ago), that the clutch plate wants to stick, so I also make sure that the transmission will go into gear while the car is running. As the previous poster suggested, let it run long enough to get hot. I run mine until the oil temp gets over 200F, but that usually involves getting it off idle to heat up faster.

Steven

[Junkman2008]

I drive mine every opportunity I get in the winter! However, there's no need whatsoever to start the car when using a battery tender.

[gmjunkie]

Originally Posted by Junkman2008

I drive mine every opportunity I get in the winter! However, there's no need whatsoever to start the car when using a battery tender.

Me too!~!!
They ain't sugar,they won't melt!

[Junkman2008]

You got me beat there Jesse. If the road ain't black, I'm too chicken to bring it out. Mine handles like CRAP in the snow!

[BJC99Hardtop]

Originally Posted by Junkman2008

You got me beat there Jesse. If the road ain't black, I'm too chicken to bring it out. Mine handles like CRAP in the snow!

That is the thing I am most concerned about. I drove my car once when it was below 50 degrees and the tires (F1's) did not perform well. It felt like I was driving on ice for the first few miles. Getting sideways on a two-lane is not fun!

I will need to replace those tires this Summer. Perhaps the Michelins will be better in the cold.

[Junkman2008]

Originally Posted by BJC99Hardtop

That is the thing I am most concerned about. I drove my car once when it was below 50 degrees and the tires (F1's) did not perform well. It felt like I was driving on ice for the first few miles. Getting sideways on a two-lane is not fun!

I will need to replace those tires this Summer. Perhaps the Michelins will be better in the cold.

The runflats won't. They handle like shit too. You need something like the non-EMT F1 All Seasons. They handle a LOT better in sub-40's weather.

[kissvette]

thanks guys!

yea i dont really drive it as i take the tank down to near empty before i put it away for the winter..Just meant if i should start it in the garage and let it run now and then just for a few minutes...heard you are suppposed to turn on ac and heater etc etc to keep it all flowing and working etc.......

[Junkman2008]

Originally Posted by kissvette

thanks guys!

yea i dont really drive it as i take the tank down to near empty before i put it away for the winter..Just meant if i should start it in the garage and let it run now and then just for a few minutes...heard you are suppposed to turn on ac and heater etc etc to keep it all flowing and working etc.......

I won't doubt that's what you heard, but did you bother to ask WHY? I would love to hear the reason someone told you that. I bet their answer would be, "Because that's what I heard?"

[BJC99Hardtop]

Originally Posted by kissvette

thanks guys!

yea i dont really drive it as i take the tank down to near empty before i put it away for the winter..Just meant if i should start it in the garage and let it run now and then just for a few minutes...heard you are suppposed to turn on ac and heater etc etc to keep it all flowing and working etc.......

Your tank should be filled all the way up and you should use fuel stabilizer.

Filling the tank all the way up prevents water from forming in the gas tank. Water is in the air. An empty tank is full of air. When the temperature rises, the temperature of the air rises faster than the temperature of the tank, causing condensation (water droplets) on the inside and outside of the tank and every other surface.

Always use fuel stabilizer in your tank when the gas will be in the car longer than 30 days. All gas, without stabilizer, begins to turn into varnish after this period of time. Make sure to run the car with the stabilizer in the tank, so that the good gas can fill up the lines and injectors. I usually put the stabilizer in at the gas station. The trip home does all the flushing.

Even a tiny amount of gas left in the car, and lines, will start to turn to varnish, causing fuel system problems: namely clogged injectors. 8 new injectors is a significant expense. The small bottle of Stabil (perfect for the Corvette tank) costs about $7 at any auto parts store.

Good luck!

[flybigrc]

I start both the 68 and 04 once a week.

Although, I do try to drive them anytime the roads are free of snow and ice and the dreaded road salt!

cold weather is no big deal as the heaters work great!

[PNHNDLE96CE]

I don't drive mine often because the parking lot at work can be brutal. Anyway I usually start it at least once a month and let it idle until the oil temp reaches 212 for a few minutes. Fuel stabilizer is good insurance too. I also cycle through the ac & heater functions to get the fluids flowing and to make sure the fans are coming on.

[DarthAWM]

Originally Posted by BJC99Hardtop

That is the thing I am most concerned about. I drove my car once when it was below 50 degrees and the tires (F1's) did not perform well. It felt like I was driving on ice for the first few miles. Getting sideways on a two-lane is not fun!

I will need to replace those tires this Summer. Perhaps the Michelins will be better in the cold.

Ditch the F1 Supercraps. They will try to kill you. I would tell you to ask my 01 roadster about that but it went to the scrapyard years ago