Another "winter" usage post

Apologies guys - another "winter" usage post -
just wanted to share what I do with my manual 360 over the winter months in UK, both to help others (poss) and to have people comment if they don't agree with what I do and / or add anything they do..........

Primarily I try to use car like I do in summer every two weeks min.

If not possible every 3rd week I:

Run engine at varying throttles for approx 20 mins (in garage)
Change gear (carefully in garage !!)
Turn st. wheel from side to side (appreciate front tyre wear issues, but aim is to keep PAS components moving)
Turn on A/C and heating modes (to enusre A/C compressor seals don't dry up etc)
Turn on and off Sport mode to keep suspension reactions active
Press brake pedal on/off softly (do not why )
Operate all lights / check brake lights etc
If its not raining / snowing, I leave garage and turn in road and park up to even up tyre "sitting" issues
Keep battery Tender (Ctek) on throughout winter

Thanks for reading.........

Cheers
Ian

 

I suppose its fine since you run it that long, but I was always told unless you can drive it and get every component hot, leave it alone.

Luckily, I can drive all year long here, although its supposed to rain later today so I guess my 360 will finally get washed !

 

Ian- I am a run her in the winter kind of guy, too, and what you are doing sounds perfectly reasonable to me. Many here are of the put her away and do not touch her until spring, and both methods seem to work. I drove my 308 GTS 12 months a year for three years in the UK since the weather is pretty mild, salt was not used in Suffolk, and snow is rare. When it snowed, I took my wife's VW. Worked for me.

 

Thanks Mike and Taz,
do sometimes wonder if I might be doing "overkill"
+ I know that running an engine stationery isn't accepted by all, but at least it gets upto temperature to reduce "petrol washing" of the cylinder bores if its only run for short periods and cold....

cheers
Ian

 

I would also open the hood and trunk to make sure the actuation solenoids don't freeze up,...and air up the tire with nitrogen at their max pressure. You might want to consider a heat source in the engine bay before starting the car so components are not too cold (and even an accusump). Finally for good measure, turn on the stereo and cycle the CD player

 

Oh to live in the Northern Hemisphere!

 

Graham- Why would you want to do that? You have great trout fishing and scenery and the toilets flush the other way around. Girls are pretty, too. What more could you ask for?

Plus the odds of someone declaring war on NZ are pretty slim.

 

This always reminds me why I moved to the SW.

When I did live in 'Those' places, had I had enough money to actually have something worth storing, this procedure sounds reasonably neurotic for a Ferrari owner. I would have done something similar.

 

Just drive it! It wont break !!