winter storage- what's better

[eliouno]

Once tires are inflated and trickle charger is on battery, is it better to

start up a car every two weeks during winter storage or

whether it is better to leave it stored and not start it up until the spring.

[Professional_Slacker]

http://youtu.be/GeLtUzSjETQ

[eliouno]

very good, but we get more snow than that. I think I need to store it.....

[jeffgrice]

Hi there,

From what I have gathered from experts either store and never start OR if you do start you must fully warm the car to burn off all moisture.

Personally I take the "maintain" route: stabil in the tank, trickle charger, the gas VERY low (almost empty), inflate the tires AND put the car on mats/wood as the concrete will suck-the-moisture-out.

Jeff

[sundowner]

Up North I didn't start until I was ready to take it out of storage. However, before starting, my mechanic told me to crank it half a dozen times - each time NOT allowing it to start. He believes it's best to pump up the valves and pressure before starting after sitting all winter.

I would also fill the gas tank (to avoid moisture build-up in the tank), add fuel stabilizer, trickle charger, inflate tires to max pressure, and put the tires on a mat.

[v10]

I've always been told that you shouldn't start the car unless you can drive it to get everything up to temp.

@jeffgrice, are you talking about regular off-the-shelf stabil or the stuff you can get from Audi? I know regular stabil claims to be safe for all gasoline engines but I have my doubts... I will also check if the owner's manual mentions it.

I thought you should completely fill the gas tank to help prevent moisture from building at the top and potentially causing rust.

Mike

[thebishman]

Agree with topping off the tank before storage to prevent contamination from H2O.
Bish

[SteveR]

I also top off the tank and use regular Stabil. After I put the Stabil in I take at least one more good drive to mix the tank and get some of the treated gas through the injectors. No problems so far but this is just my second winter. Also, the car only sits for 3 months so I am not sure the fuel treatment is necessary. I split the difference and use a lower dose.

Don't start the car after a prolonged rest until you are ready to run it at least 10 miles. Starting it when it has been sitting for more than a couple days puts some wear on the engine. There is no avoiding that so you want to do it as infrequently as possible. Once a year isn't going to decrease the life of the engine sgnificantly so don't worry about it. Definitely don't try to avoid the inactivity by idling the car to warm periodically through the winter. My dealer's R8 tech told me about a customer with an R8 who's kid liked to start the car in the garage for friends and rev the engine for them. After a few weeks of that they ended up bringing the car in smoking badly. In older cars it's common practice to pull the coil wire and turn the engine over to get the oil pressure up before the first start. I don't think simulating that by tapping the starter sounds like a good idea in the R8. First, it would be hard to do because the car pops to life almost immediatly. Secondly, if you tried it sounds like you would beat up the starter more than you would save the engine.

[jeffgrice]

@v10. I have not checked with Audi on the stabil. I have, however, used it in my boats/cars for years. But I will be at my Audi dealer next week and checked.

Not to start an argument on gas tanks, full or empty, but I have done a lot a research on this topic as I have boats also. I had always kept my boats and cars tanks full (which is clearly a way to prevent water). One year in the winter the sun was blazing and warmed up the tank such that the gas expanded and overflowed!

So I began to research the this topic. The experts I talked to said either fuel or near bone dry. Both will not enable condensation. Dry, because there is little fluid to envoke condensation. Another benefit is fuel breakdown. With increased levels of ethanol fuel breaks down far faster than it use to. So even full if the fuel breaks down the risk is water separation. This can happen in a few months according to the marine experts.

In either gas stabil is a must as it helps with preventing sepearation and keeps the fuel fresh.

Agree with running the cars. Avoid despite the temptation to start any car to hear the motor!!! Either drive as suggested or let FULLY warm up and achieve operatiing tempurature for 10-15 mins to burn off moisture. Also the idea to crank is great as it lubes stuff up

Jeff

[eliouno]

@v10. I have not checked with Audi on the stabil. I have, however, used it in my boats/cars for years. But I will be at my Audi dealer next week and checked.

Not to start an argument on gas tanks, full or empty, but I have done a lot a research on this topic as I have boats also. I had always kept my boats and cars tanks full (which is clearly a way to prevent water). One year in the winter the sun was blazing and warmed up the tank such that the gas expanded and overflowed!

So I began to research the this topic. The experts I talked to said either fuel or near bone dry. Both will not enable condensation. Dry, because there is little fluid to envoke condensation. Another benefit is fuel breakdown. With increased levels of ethanol fuel breaks down far faster than it use to. So even full if the fuel breaks down the risk is water separation. This can happen in a few months according to the marine experts.

In either gas stabil is a must as it helps with preventing sepearation and keeps the fuel fresh.

Agree with running the cars. Avoid despite the temptation to start any car to hear the motor!!! Either drive as suggested or let FULLY warm up and achieve operatiing tempurature for 10-15 mins to burn off moisture. Also the idea to crank is great as it lubes stuff up

Jeff

What is the easiest way to crank without it starting up