| Author |
Message |
Verell Boaen (Verell)
Intermediate Member
Username: Verell
Post Number: 1138
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2003 - 6:41 am: | |
Norm,
Just a couple of miles will also put a lot of organic acids and water into both the oil and exhaust that will continue to accumulate & eat away at things.
Better to not drive it at all! Lots posted on the web about the dangers of short cold weather drives.
If you're going to drive it, then give it a good highway speed run so it gets the engine up to full temp & keeps it there long enough to cook all the moisture from the warm-up period out of both the exhaust & the engine. Then you'll get the benefits you want. |
Norm (32storm)
New member
Username: 32storm
Post Number: 50
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2003 - 5:59 pm: | |
Over the winter, when there are warm days, and no salt or water on the roads, I'll start my car, take it for a short run. Usually just for a couple of miles. Works well, as it keeps moving parts moving, as well as coolant and lubricant flowing. I did the jacking, fogging, etc. with a variety of cars. They all seem to run like crap, initially when out of storage. With this approach, it has worked very well.with some of the winters in Upstate New York, it can be challenge finding those just right days over the winter. |
Verell Boaen (Verell)
Intermediate Member
Username: Verell
Post Number: 1136
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2003 - 3:10 pm: | |
Flat spotting used to be a major problem with the old bias ply tires. With modern radials, the difference in the ply designs pretty much eliminates it.
Very soft compound track/high perf. tires may acquire slight flat spots, but they return to normal after 5-10 miles of driving.
The above is almost a direct quote from a statement I found on a tire company web site a couple of years ago. |
Kds (Kds)
Junior Member
Username: Kds
Post Number: 203
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2003 - 2:05 pm: | |
Just an note about tire pressures/flat spots...etc.
New cars are shipped with usually 60 psi per tire in my experience as this prevents flat spotting during the often 2-3 months the car sits around at the docks, on the boat, in transit, etc.
Nothing else is required IMHO to prevent this potential problem. |
Theo Pappas (Theo)
Junior Member
Username: Theo
Post Number: 84
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2003 - 11:38 am: | |
Living in MA, I drive my 328 all year round as well. I just don't drive it when it is snowing or raining. When it gets dirty, you clean it.
Drive the car! |
Lou B (Toby91)
Member
Username: Toby91
Post Number: 321
Registered: 4-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2003 - 6:30 am: | |
I leave my 328 on Cape Cod every winter for 6 months when I go to FL and just pull the battery switch and put 40 psi in the tires and have had zero problems. Same with storing my 512TR in Florida except I load up the interior with pails of that moisture absorbing stuff to eliminate the chance of milldew forming with the high humidity. |
Morrie (Morrie)
New member
Username: Morrie
Post Number: 10
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 7:51 pm: | |
Yeah,
I plan to drive the car primarily in winter in Florida when I normally don't use air conditioning anyway.
My daily driver now is a black Miata which has barely adequate air conditioning in the Florida summers, but then I don't plan to suffer through another Florida summer anyway.
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Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Advanced Member
Username: Parkerfe
Post Number: 3005
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 12:12 pm: | |
Winter is the best time to drive a Ferrari in the South! The a/c almost works then ! ha ha |
Leonardo Soccolich (Lens)
Member
Username: Lens
Post Number: 355
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 10:49 am: | |
Augustine, I drive my 328 year-round also, provided its dry outside. |
Jeremy Condie (Jeremy)
New member
Username: Jeremy
Post Number: 15
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 10:45 am: | |
Augustine - I also live in NJ and drive my 328 throughout the winter so long as the roads are dry. I reckon it's the way Enzo wanted it. My heaters are amazing, but the aircon is crap! I'd keep well away from the snow and salt. |
Augustine J. Staino (Azzuro328)
Member
Username: Azzuro328
Post Number: 415
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 10:19 am: | |
I don't want to hijack your thread Morrie, but I have a question at the other end of the spectrum. I live in Coastal New Jersey (where the weather is crap most of the year). Assuming the normal protection anyone would want to afford their prized possession, can anyone here think of any reason why it would be a bad idea to drive the car all through the winter. I don't plan on using it on wet or icy days and I will do my best to keep road salt off of the car. I just hear about so many people storing their cars during the winter months and I really wouldn't want to do that. Again, Morrie, sorry to change the direction of the topic. |
Dave328GTB (Hardtop)
Member
Username: Hardtop
Post Number: 672
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 9:24 am: | |
Some people like to leave the doors, bonnets and targa tops ajar. Supposed to help keep the rubber seals pliable.
Dave |
Morrie (Morrie)
New member
Username: Morrie
Post Number: 9
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 9:22 am: | |
Gentlemen,
Thanks for the helpful info. I'm out of state, and will fly in to pick up the car from the dealer in the next week or two. Then will store it until I return.
I'll check into the tire cradles, but since it's due for new tires anyway, maybe I'll just leave the old ones on it till I get it out of mothballs.
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Thomas Saupe (Tom_s)
Junior Member
Username: Tom_s
Post Number: 80
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 7:57 am: | |
Morrie,
Look into those neoprene tire cradles. They really work at keeping the tires round and are less stress on the suspension than jack stands. I'm in the Northeast where the car has to be stored for much longer and also use a car bag to keep critters out. I don't know what your insect/rodent population is there but you might want to consider something like that as well.
Tom |
Bruce Wellington (Bws88tr)
Advanced Member
Username: Bws88tr
Post Number: 2964
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 6:17 am: | |
MORRIE,
IF YOU LIVE IN TAMPA, WHY DO YOU NEED TO STORE IT?? |
Paul Bianco (Paulie_b)
Member
Username: Paulie_b
Post Number: 845
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - 6:14 am: | |
what about lifting the 4 wheels off the ground to avoid flat spots on the tires? if you get flat spots, you will definitely feel it in the drive. also, instead of disconnecting the battery, have you considered using a battery tender instead? if you feel comfortable leaving it plugged in for 3 months, thats what I would do.
since you live in Florida, as I do, you may also want to keep the windows open just an inch or so even with the cover on. there is a de-humidifier product you can also use to absorb any dampness or humidity inside the car. just a little extra step. |
Morrie (Morrie)
New member
Username: Morrie
Post Number: 8
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, September 22, 2003 - 9:07 pm: | |
I'll put fuel stabilizer in and run it until it is in the injectors, over inflate the tires and disconnect the battery. It will stay in a storage room for about three months.
A car cover is ordered but I don't know if it will arrive in time.
Have I missed anything?
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