Hi Everyone,

This may sound like a silly question, but I really do not know the answer to it and was hoping someone could help me out. For those owners in cold weather climates who do not like to take their Zs or any car for that matter out due to the snow and bad weather, how do you maintain your cars? I mean, if you do not drive it, do you (should you start it every now and then)? I only ask because I have a friend who keeps his car in his garage, which is fine, but he does not drive it in the rain nor has his car ever seen the snow. Isn't this bad for the car battery and the other fluids in the car?

Thanks

 

I try to drive it at least once a month even in the winter time... If you leave it in the garage and never drive it a battery tender would be the way to go.

Last time I stored a car for 3 months I just took the battery out.

 

I hook a battery tender up and start it up every month. Move around the block to so brakes don't stick etc

 

I put it in full storage and don't touch it it will not hurt it. You are much better off leaving it alone than starting it. You will never get the oil up to temp idling it and are just putting water and fuel in the oil and exhaust. If you are able to drive it long enough to get all fluids up to temp (30 min) and wash it after that is fine.

Change the oil before storage. (old oil will have moisture and fuel contamination)
Remove the battery or use a trickle charger.
Keep the tire pressure at max to stop or reduce flat spots. You can also roll the car every few weeks to a new spot. Putting housing foam, what they put under siding, under the tires will also help.
Put a full tank of gas in the car with stabilizer if you have to use E10.
Do not put the ebrake on so it doesn't stick
Put steel wool in the tail pipe to reduce rodents and absorb some moisture.
Clean the interior and preferably put desiccant in it 2.5-5 lbs.

A cover is a great idea. Wash and wax the car right before putting a car cover on it or before storage.
A car bag over the cover it probably the best solutions if the garage is not temperature controlled or attached to a house.

 

I fill the tanks up, put some Stabil in and hook them up on tenders. Its is better to let them sit then to start them without running them to full operating temp. I have done mine this way for over a decade never a prob come spring.

 

https://my350z.com/forum/maintenance...-winter-2.html

had this gem saved for a few years...

 

Always take it at least around the block.

The motor and fluids need to turn and mix, the bushings, axles and dif need to spin and move their fluids. Things that sit usually break down much faster.

 

Wash & wax, plug exhaust pipes, disconnect battery, battery tender once month, stay-bil & Sea Foam in tank, dryer sheets inside, small cup of moth ***** on each wheel (keeps mice out) cover.

 

Here in snowy Colorado, there are always a few days each month when it's dry and warm enough to run the Z for a few errands. If the snow sets in for a few weeks, I use my battery tender. Other than that, making sure the antifreeze gets changed out every few years and up to the freezing temps is my only other big concern.

 

if you don't plan on driving winter months then don't. Mine has summer tires and I take it out when spring hits and store it late Nov/mid-Dec.

When I store mine I don't start it up or drive it around the block or any of that sort. give it a nice wash, clay, polish wax if you want. Fill up the gas tank. Park it in neutral with Ebrake on or off (put wood blocks behind and in front of wheels) only if your car is on flat ground. I take off both terminals of the battery. put A/C on max then turn off the car to close all vents. Throw in a bunch of air fresheners of my choice, throw a few laundry dryer sheets under both seats and in the trunk and finally throw a cover on it.

You don't want to start it up and let it idle every week or so if you don't plan on driving it. if you do start it up make sure you take it on hwy and get it up nice and warm, go through all the gears and whatnot.

 

When I grow up I wanna be like chatcher

 

thanks for all the input. I have always wondered what people do in situations like this. It is good to know, but for those who feel that the car should not be driven, what about all the fluids in the car just sitting there? Shouldn't they be circulated in the car ever now and then?

 

No just leave it sit it will be fine. If you do start it get it up to full operating temp for more than a few minutes. I would say unless you plan on actually driving it there is no need to start it. Just letting it run for few minutes will be worse for it than letting it sit. You will build up condensation in the block unless you bring it to full temp. Like I said before I have stored for decades like this never an issue. My bike is an 03 I bought it brand new out of the crate. It has been stored on a battery tender for most of its life and it still starts every time (original battery still) Bike only has 5k on it so as you can see it sits way more than it runs

 

I let my car sit w/o starting it. Once it's put away, it's done for a while. Stabil in a full tank of gas is best. Like others have stated, inflate your tires to the max and hook the Z up to a battery tender. The steel wool is also a good idea, and if you're worried about pests then some people believe in using laundry dryer sheets in the engine bay and inside the car.

 

What DK said...find the days that you can get it out and run it for 20 or 30 minutes to get everything up to temp and fluids moving...other than that, it just sits...my daily is a ford f150 ... 172k on it. If you'd like to keep your z looking new dont drive it in weather...$2500 - $3500 will buy you a decent, reliable, ugly pickup that you can beat on, put miles on, and haul with...my '03 touring has 62k miles - dont know if it'll see 100k

 

My car (07 350z GT) has never been winter driven, but this year it has to sit outside on a paved driveway because my garage is tied up with me working on my 280Z. I took the rays off and put my Fusion summer wheels on the back, spare on the front.
My Z came from the factory with a block heater, and I'm wondering what the current draw of the heater is. I am thinking about starting it every so often, and plugging the heater in for a few hours before I do.
I'm thinking 1000-1500 watts draw, anyone know for sure?
Thanks

 

I think the suggestion from this forum would be to just let it sit. If all you are doing is idling or revving the engin(don't do this) you will just be adding water and fuel to the oil without out doing anything beneficial. You won't ever get the oil up to a temperature where the water and fuel can evaporate back out without out actually driving the car.

Block heater might be more like 400W but the other canadians might know better.

 

When you start up the car during storage, you're also causing condensation to occur in the lines that get exposure to the engine heat, the heated coolant, etc. I would rather let the Z stay off on a trickle charger with Stabil in the gas (full tank or close to full).

 

use a trickle charger