Winter Storage / Running the Engine etc etc...

[beaver]

I've got it tucked away, AND have dual exhaust ducts to the outside of the heated building, HOW OFTEN should I start it and let it run to full temperature, and longer ????? then, what about keeping a trickle charger on the battery....LIKE a low output solar panel that WON'T COOK the battery?

Hey! Java Junky.....the Cat got another "lesson" today.....nothing BRUTAL. more "keep off spray".. but I had tracks on the black plastic cover and he was "comfy" on the Soft Top!!!! while I was @ the Pereodontist (sp) ( such a bunch of F*%* Fun)...BUT so far no signs of mice, so he is earning his keep!!!!!and eating WELL

Hurry up "May 15th" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Java Junky]

Lemme see if I've got this straight . . . you've piped dual 'zausts to the bldg. exterior? Beave . . you're not one of those pocket protector types, r' ya? Yeah, yeah . . I know . . the 8 "P"s of life.
I jus' can't help feelin' like Cooperstown ain't gonna have some nice, S2000able days between now n' 15th May. Man . . that's an awful long time to go without, well . . lotsa "things" that r' too enjoyable to go without. My hat's off to ya Beave. I couldn't.
Now, about the cat: pink slip the overpaid dog treat. Hopefully you've got nothing that'll draw the rodents to the car (well, other than those nice, beddin' supplyin' blankets) so any rodents shouldn't be lookin' to it as home. N' jus' supply the cute li'l nose-wigglin' rodents with lotsa peanut butter . . on the trip-plates of strategically placed traps.
With no cat, you shouldn't need that 65 pounds of blankets, kevlar car cover with ceramic inserts n' the ring of garlic aroun' li'l Stewie's neck.
Besides . . coverin' it up makes for ungood surprises when the 15th May unveiling takes place.
Be well.

[Halo]

If you just run the engine but don't drive the car, what about the other moving parts like tranny and diff?

The reason I ask this is that some motorcycle folks like to just start their bikes during the winter and let them idle while others claim that if you don't actually ride them, the tranny doesn't get lubed.

[wowowox]

so in general it is probably better u just take the battery off and leave it there. if u put it on idle u will cause more problem for the engine too because it is like the engine is going to build up those "i dunno what they are called" but those stuff is bad for u r engine it will block stuff in ur engine (forgive my poor english). and this is why ppl say don't warm up u r car in the mroning just drive! or if u really want to warm the engine up, no more than 30sec.

[beaver]

Thanks..............But if the clutch is not depressed, isn't the tranny turning?
the rear end, yea, i suppose i coul put blocks under the thing and turn that also, and then what about the front end etc etc etc.............so i think just engine and tranny should be fine

as to "build up of deposits" if you run it to normal operating temp, and give it some rpm's there, whats wrong with that??? i agree, the best way to warm up a car is to drive it moderately until it is at operationg temp...just an idle warm up is a waste of gas and harmful, just think about all these folk with their remote car starters, what kind of problems will they have doing that several times per day???? in the winter

but the thought of going out on these SALT/SAND covered roads with this "toy" scares me more that once a month running the engine in the shop

oh! yes: pocket protector, slide rule on my belt, white socks, Floods, etc etc etc....what a wardrobe that would be...oh I forgot the beany hat with the propeller!!!! yadayadayada.....I enjoy the replies!!!!!

[Java Junky]

Hey Beave;
Alright . . how'd'ja find out about my slide rule n' white socks? (even as a joke I wouldn't let on about the beanie-hat with the spinner)
But I wasn't kiddin' about the blankets n' all possibly lettin' somethin' unflatterin' happen (over an extended period of time) to your finish while you looked on at the intact top layer. Those blankets themselves might be the "draw" for Mickey n' his friends to set up housekeepin'.
N' what with these mice turnin' arsonist (where was that? Arizona?) there's no tellin' what one of their little cook-fires could do to your paint.
'Slide rule slappin' my thigh, white socks gleamin' in the sun . . n' a hearty Hi-Ho Silver, away!
Be well.

[wysokowski]

If you have the exhaust ran to the unheated outdoors, and the car in a heated area, you will get condensation in the exhaust system. Not a good idea. Get a Deltron "battery tender" for the battery. If you have any mice, cover the exhaust tips to keep them out.
If the car is in neutral and running with the clutch out, no the tranny is not turning.
The engine will not get fully up to "normal" operating temps with out driving it. It's not just the engine that needs to be warmed, it's the exhaust system also.

[philiam]

I highly recommend using Sta-Bil or something like it to keep the gas from turning to varnish and gunking things, like injectors, up.
Condensation from sitting in the cold can also cause problems because water doesn't compress. Alcohol in the additive absorbs the water.

There are several makes of battery tenders available that put out 2 amps or less. They are called float chargers and work only as needed by the battery.

Those 2 things will keep your stewie in good stead till spring. Make sure hinges and things are well lubed to prevent rust. Some people like to jack up the car slightly to keep the tires from developing a flat spot. I don't know if that's necessary, it's your call.

[H20]

The weather here in CT has been so nice it appears there will be no winter storage for my car. Yesterday we were off visiting friends 40 miles away, top down there in the afternoon then home around ten. Low 30's top down in the dark is no problem with a medium jacket and a medium tough wife. Long as the roads are dry and salt free I keep using the car. Stay back a ways from the cars in front of you. The summer skins are a bit greasy in the cold so be careful.
I say keep driving it.
Like the Samurai sword that she is, I will not start my car if I don't plan on using it. IE: bringing the entire car up to operating temperature. I don't like running engines under no load either. I have no facts or links to support this. I just don't like it.
But IF I DID store it. I would change the oil, top off the tank, use stabilizer as mentioned, plop her on padded blocks, plug the pipes, and bring the battery inside the house. I don't like the thought of unattended stuff plugged into my car. I once saw an overcharged battery catch fire. Of course it was a 1950 Chevy, but these things stick.
Anyway carry on!

[Neil]

This seems to be an undicided subject on what to do about periorically starting your car while in storage. My new 2007 s2000 is in storage. Reading the manual about storage on the last paragraph it says running the engine periodically, contacting my local Honda dealers theu both suggest starting the engine and leave running through two heating cycles as per manual suggestions.
When I posted this item on line almost everyone who replied says it is a bad idea for a dry start, and that it will leave condensation in the exhaust.
My question is if you do start your vehicle periodically and let run for two heating cycles then I beleive that it is not so much of a dry start ? Can anyone enighten me on this subject ?

Neil

[philiam]

I would follow Honda's plan. They built it.

[wysokowski]

Stabil it a 100% no brainer for long term storage.
If the exhaust system does not get hot enough to remove all the moisture coming out, you have condensation in the pipe. As far as water not compressing, where would the water come from in cold storage?
As for drygas,I had a car with water in the tank and added three bottles of drygas, it didn't have any effect on the water. So I then had to remove the water from the tank with a syphon tube thru the access plates. The water came from a station when she filled her car during a fuel delivery to the station. If the storage space heats up during the day, you will get condesation on anything cold, that's not good.
My stored vehicles are in a garage with a dehumidifier to keep moisture down. The other day when it hit 70 here after being around freezing for a few weeks, I opened the doors and the windows quickly fogged over with condinsation. Closed doors quickly
What does Honda consider a "heat cycle"?

[Neil]

I beleive ..................that a heat cycle is when the engine has started up and is idleing, it will go through a heat cycle, bringing the engine up to tempriture, each cycle takes about 9mins pending on tempriture.
Anytime you add heat to a cold storage area you will produce condensation on the heated areas upon cooling, ie, hood, exhaust etc.

[philiam]

Water comes from condensation in the tank, including the gas station tank. Never used Dry Gas but I use Sta-Bil in my diesel motorhome and it does the job. Combines with the water to make it burn. With diesel fuel you have to make sure there is no water, which will wreck the injectors. There is even a special filter to drain off the water.