| Author | Message | ||
| William Badurski (Billb)
Junior Member Username: Billb Post Number: 116 Registered: 6-2001 |
For what it's worth, I start the car every couple of weeks. The garage is kept at 50 degrees, and I also use Mobil-1 so the oil issue isn't a problem. This practice alleviates the concern about timing belts deforming under the tensioners over extended periods of inactivity. After following my own advice, I found no adverse effects on the engine internals during a recent overhaul. | ||
| magoo (Magoo)
Advanced Member Username: Magoo Post Number: 3660 Registered: 2-2001 |
When I stored the car I would temporarily cap off the tail pipes. | ||
| Mitch Alsup (Mitch_alsup)
Member Username: Mitch_alsup Post Number: 255 Registered: 4-2002 |
If you are not going to get the oil up to the temperature that it expells water vapors (above 212 dF) AND give it time to expell water vapors (20 minutes above 212) then you are better off leaving the car sit rather than start it. By the time yo do this, you could have driven it enough miles to do the job properly, and lubricate the tranny, whell bearings,... Buy a batery charger and charge the batery at least once a month. | ||
| Coop (360)
New member Username: 360 Post Number: 45 Registered: 4-2002 |
ROB, Careful how you handle snakes. Look what happend to this Ferrari owner in India !!! http://socalaudi.com/forum/topic.aspx?topic_id=6815&category_id=2 | ||
| Byron (Bmyth)
New member Username: Bmyth Post Number: 43 Registered: 10-2002 |
Dave328GTB...ROFLMAO!!...that's too funny! Man, makes me feel fortunate that we only really get ants,possums,and spiders in California... but then again, we get earthquakes, too... so maybe having a hoover handy isn't that much to ask for! | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2907 Registered: 12-2000 |
Which one? There's 4 RX7's on the property. Two actually run. | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Intermediate Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 1027 Registered: 7-2001 |
Shouldn't that RX7 be up on blocks? :-) | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Junior Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 131 Registered: 10-2002 |
Rob, I take it that yellow barn hosts the F Chat server and that red vehicle acts as the backup power generator? ;-) | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2906 Registered: 12-2000 |
Not all the thumbnails are working yet, but here's pics of our property... http://www.roblay.com/southlake_home.htm | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2905 Registered: 12-2000 |
Umm Jim, no comment. I hear the F.P.S. might be around. I told you I lived next to a trailer park, I wasn't kiddin. | ||
| Bryan Phillips (Bryanp)
New member Username: Bryanp Post Number: 20 Registered: 8-2002 |
The possums in northern virginia used to relish all of the tasty fiberglass in dad's twin-cam Lotus Europa - ate right thru the firewall. I remember one February we flushed out a momma and 4 babies. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 680 Registered: 4-2002 |
Rob: They WILL crawl into tailpipes! | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 1959 Registered: 9-2001 |
we had a previous discussion where some one pointed out that just starting the car and letting it idle for a few minutes might be worse than not starting at all because moisture can built up in the exhust and rust out the pipes. I say drive the cars once a week or once every two weeks when the weather permits | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Intermediate Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 1025 Registered: 7-2001 |
Rob, is that the shed where you keep the Ferrari? | ||
| Dave328GTB (Hardtop)
Member Username: Hardtop Post Number: 315 Registered: 1-2002 |
Rodents were particularly fond of the 348 I used to own. Their favorite hideouts were in the front bonnet where nesting in the air vents was a favored activity. Once, I was getting ready to vacuum the front compartment and when I opened the hood, there were mice everywhere! I had the vacuum wand in my hand (a Hoover windtunnel) and tried to catch one with the edging tip. To my surprise, the mouse stuck to it and, after a few seconds, got sucked into the vacuum. I caught three more! Bull snakes are very common here as well and I often find them prowling the garage. I would like some more, but my wife hates them. I used to put 50 cent mouse traps in and around the 348. They were very effective. Mice like sports cars because it's easy for them to jump from the ground to the suspension and find ways inside. I have read discussions by oil and anti freeze engineers where they suggest starting a car once a month and bringing it to full operating temperature. Dave | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2900 Registered: 12-2000 |
Easy solution, Jennie and I have a 5 foot Bull Snake in the shed. I hope he doesn't take home in the exhaust. Think of the poor bastard Porsche on my tail when a 5 foot Bull Snake shoots out my tail pipe on his hood. More ironic if it was a Viper!   | ||
| john beaucher (Spider348)
New member Username: Spider348 Post Number: 7 Registered: 11-2002 |
Interesting question. In years past I always followed a regimented procedure to store my Ferrari, Porsche or whatever. Remove battery, over-inflate tires etc etc etc. Then the rodent problems started. Began with my former 308. Had to start the car. Upon starting the car billowed smoke, flames, then shot a mouse out of the tailpipe like he was shot out of a cannon. Stood with a fire extinguisher till the nest completely burned. Couple of years later they nested in my then P 930. Did approximately $1k damge. Carpet, wiring etc. Last year was the pinnacle. Nested under the engine shrouding in my wife's Lexus SC400. Repair bill came to $4k. Had to file an insurance claim. These various cars were all "protected" with moth balls etc. Nothing worked. This year I will: Start and drive the cars when the roads are not salt/ sand covered. Try the electronic pest units sold by Home Depot etc. Hopefully these will be effective. | ||
| magoo (Magoo)
Advanced Member Username: Magoo Post Number: 3644 Registered: 2-2001 |
On a day or a week of weather where there is no snow or salt on the roads it is good to drive the car during the winter. The best thing to do is prime, crank, the engine first by cutting the ignition, coils etc., until the oil guage starts to move then cut the ignition back on and fire it up. | ||
| Bruno (Originalsinner)
Member Username: Originalsinner Post Number: 768 Registered: 5-2002 |
I hear a lot of people say they go out and start their cars every week or 2 during the winter. It seems to me with the extreme cold (if garage is not heated) and oil time to refill filters and gain pressure (regardles if garage is heated or not) and thick oil in crankcase from cold 20w50 (garage not heated again) That you are better off taking the tires of the ground ,unhooking the battery and letting it sit. More wear and tear and damage possible from constant cold weather infrequent starts.I am no longer going to start cars up till spring. I might be bias as only one of my cars is injected and the rest are carbed but it still seems like a lot of wear and stress on ice cold timing belts on ice cold engine and oil. |