[Whitesoxman]

The c7s are coming, but so is the winter. How is everyone going to store their latest prize? Maybe use a trickle charger? Maybe take the battery out completely. What about placing it on jacks? Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[elegant]

Before winter comes, I always change its oil and filter. Then, I believe that the best thing you can do to preserve a car is to, paradoxically, drive it -- weather permitting. So when the weather says no way, I leave it on a quality trickle charger (personally like C-Tek but there are others of equal quality). When, in the depth of winter, there are a couple of dry days in a row, I drive my car. My goal is to drive my car at least once a month, to drive it at least forty-five minutes when I do (to warm everything up thoroughly). If the weather has a couple of months in a row that it is so bad as to make it unsafe to drive it, it obviously stays parked. If I had enough money my garage would be heated, but it is not.

Also, I am mindful that when the days get colder, the tire temperature drops, so even if I only drive it monthly during winter, I always make sure tire pressure is per factory spec before I go for my drive.

There are many other tips/ideas? What do you think?

 

[Whitesoxman]

I learned the hard way when I had my C5 the first season. It sat all winter and as a result I ended up buying a new battery and four new tires. Now I would say the best move is to drive it on couple of clear days and either take the battery out or get a good trickle charger. Thanx.

 

[ddelfino]

How often does it need to be driven to keep it in perfect condition? once a week? once every other week?

 

[[email protected]]

I change the oil and filter on each car every February or March, and a Delray "Battery Tender" is SOP on each vehicle. I have one on my '68 Electra Glide, also. I never put more than 2500 - 3000 miles per year on either of the cars, so changing the oil once a year is sufficient. IMO, the best way is to keep a car road worthy is to drive it: not that you have to pile on the mileage, but fewer miles driven once in a while is better than one or two long runs. Besides, these cars are made to be driven- not looked at.

When I get my C7 I'll probably do the same.

 

[khoeysr]

I stored my Cadillacs from early Dec thru mid April. I would try to drive or at least start them and roll them around once a week. I was always worried about flat spots on the tires and dead batteries but never had an issue.

Never changed the oil just for storage.

 

[elegant]

If you car is in perfect condition, oil and filter changed when appropriate, etc., the running/combustion of the motor results in some acids being produced, acids which are stored in your engine oil. Hence, why I, at the end of the spring-to-fall driving season, change my oil before "storing it" for the winter -- to replace the oil/filter which has some acids in it with fresh oil.

If I do a heck of a lot of driving during the summer, this will sometimes result in two oil changes per year. Never had a single motor problem in over 40 years, way over 1,250,000 miles on all my cars -- though I have plead quilty to friends who accuse me of perhaps changing my oil/filter too frequently. In a conversation with then Chief Engineer Dave Hill about eight years ago, he too said I was changing my oil more than needed, but, as he said, "it's your money."

 

[Chip]

Don't fall into the trap of going out to run your car for 10 or 15 minutes and think you are doing your car any good. You're not. The engine will not get hot enough to burn off all the condensate and that will settle into the oil pan and exhaust system. It also will put a net drain on the electrical system. Your best bet, as mentioned above is to put a float charger on it, drive it if you can, and just sit back and enjoy the view.

 

[[email protected]]

10 - 15 minutes behind the wheel of a Vette is too much of a tease.

 

[Redc7]

I stored Corvettes for years every winter. As most said, change the oil and filter just before putting it away. Fill the fuel tank and add dry gas if you like. Over inflate the tires by 10lbs helps in flat spotting, no jacking up the car. Add the trickle charger for the battery don't remove the battery in case of say a fire and you have to move the Corvette quickly. Might want to add mothballs near and in the car like engine compartment to keep mice out. I would maybe put some mice traps down.

If you start up the car run it at least 15 minutes to make sure it reaches full operating temps.

 

[jsvette]

The c7s are coming, but so is the winter. How is everyone going to store their latest prize? Maybe use a trickle charger? Maybe take the battery out completely. What about placing it on jacks? Inquiring minds want to know!

What's winter? When I lived where that was an issue I always added Sta-Bil to the gas, which is even more important if you live where your gas contains ethanol. No problems in Vegas we have two seasons: spring and summer.

 

[zimm888]

What's winter? When I lived where that was an issue I always added Sta-Bil to the gas, which is even more important if you live where your gas contains ethanol. No problems in Vegas we have two seasons: spring and summer.

lucky bastard...

 

[jsvette]

lucky bastard...

I know

 

[Whitesoxman]

Originally Posted by jsvette
What's winter? When I lived where that was an issue I always added Sta-Bil to the gas, which is even more important if you live where your gas contains ethanol. No problems in Vegas we have two seasons: spring and summer.

I'll be in vegas next weekend... Wonder if I should rent a Vette?

 

[jsvette]

Originally Posted by jsvette
What's winter? When I lived where that was an issue I always added Sta-Bil to the gas, which is even more important if you live where your gas contains ethanol. No problems in Vegas we have two seasons: spring and summer.

I'll be in vegas next weekend... Wonder if I should rent a Vette?

Better yet see if you can get out to Spring Mountain and drive one.

 

[wareagle92]

I never even thought of storing my car for the winter. It actually can get pretty darn cold here at times in the winter, so can I not drive it in the cold? I've never owned a 'vette or a sports car of any kind, so I didn't know this was an issue. What do I need to look out for? Thanks!

 

[Whitesoxman]

Originally Posted by Whitesoxman
Originally Posted by jsvette
What's winter? When I lived where that was an issue I always added Sta-Bil to the gas, which is even more important if you live where your gas contains ethanol. No problems in Vegas we have two seasons: spring and summer.

I'll be in vegas next weekend... Wonder if I should rent a Vette?

Better yet see if you can get out to Spring Mountain and drive one.

I think I'll be too busy on the strip contributing to the Las Vegas economy.

 

[jsvette]

Short answer: Most of the concerns are from individuals living where salt is used to melt snow and ice. If that is the case you typically want to have a garage where you can thoroughly rinse the undercarriage and car to get the salt off. As others have noted, it is also particularly bad for the engine and exhaust system to just take your car out for a short trip without thoroughly getting everything up to temp. Hence if you are in a situation where you can not get your car out for a nice run frequently during the winter, many individuals opt to put it up and take the appropriate steps for storage. A general concern whether salt is applicable to where you live or not is that the Corvette is delivered new with high speed summer tires. These tires become dicey to drive when the temps are constantly mid 30s or less. They lose flexibility and traction. It is typically not recommended to drive on these tires under those circumstances. Rather, if you plan on driving under those or snow conditions, most will purchase winter wheels and tires to put on their cars.

 

[jsvette]

Originally Posted by Whitesoxman
Originally Posted by jsvette
What's winter? When I lived where that was an issue I always added Sta-Bil to the gas, which is even more important if you live where your gas contains ethanol. No problems in Vegas we have two seasons: spring and summer.

I'll be in vegas next weekend... Wonder if I should rent a Vette?

Better yet see if you can get out to Spring Mountain and drive one.

I think I'll be too busy on the strip contributing to the Las Vegas economy.

Well I certainly applaud and appreciate your contributions!

 

[Redc7]

I never even thought of storing my car for the winter. It actually can get pretty darn cold here at times in the winter, so can I not drive it in the cold? I've never owned a 'vette or a sports car of any kind, so I didn't know this was an issue. What do I need to look out for? Thanks!

So everything jsvette said. And I'll add you can drive in the cold, the C7 actually comes with heat. But for a lot of us the issue is not the cold but the snow, ice and crazy drivers that comes with it. I once drove my '93 in the winter in snow storms and did really well but as jsvette said you also have the salt to deal with. The tires will lose some traction when they get cold so you have to be more careful. In the end if the issue on your end is just the cold go ahead drive it and enjoy it.