Wintering your V8
Discussion
Probably mention elsewhere, but the winter is upon us and made worse this year by Covid-19. So those who wish to put their Ferrari V8 on SORN, what exactly do they do? I have a heated garage and mine is on a conditioner and covered. I pump up the tires a little. My Ferrari engineer does not recommend starting the engine to warm it up or even driving a short distance. I will move the car a few feet to prevent tire/bearing flat spots.
What are your views?
What are your views?
Brim the tank to prevent condensation building in the tanks.
Your Ferrari Engineer is wrong about starting the engine - not running the engine for a prolonged period risks drying up the rear main seal to a point where it will leak when you start using the car again. I've lost count of the number of RMS jobs I've done this year due to the extended layup that lockdown brought. My advice is to run the engine until the oil is at operating temperature at least every 6 weeks (also run the HVAC so the AC compressor gets a workout).
Your Ferrari Engineer is wrong about starting the engine - not running the engine for a prolonged period risks drying up the rear main seal to a point where it will leak when you start using the car again. I've lost count of the number of RMS jobs I've done this year due to the extended layup that lockdown brought. My advice is to run the engine until the oil is at operating temperature at least every 6 weeks (also run the HVAC so the AC compressor gets a workout).
Voicey - have you done any guides (like your buying guides) re how best to store V8s and V12s as, due to the unusual circumstances a lot of us are having to deal with this. For my 458 and 599 I put the tyres up to 50 psi and run them for about half an hour once a month and operate everything (AC, windows etc) and run them round the drive a bit. Unfortunately I cannot now brim the tank as they are both SORN’d. Is there anything else you’d recommend?
voicey said:
Brim the tank to prevent condensation building in the tanks.
Your Ferrari Engineer is wrong about starting the engine - not running the engine for a prolonged period risks drying up the rear main seal to a point where it will leak when you start using the car again. I've lost count of the number of RMS jobs I've done this year due to the extended layup that lockdown brought. My advice is to run the engine until the oil is at operating temperature at least every 6 weeks (also run the HVAC so the AC compressor gets a workout).
Thanks for the advice.Your Ferrari Engineer is wrong about starting the engine - not running the engine for a prolonged period risks drying up the rear main seal to a point where it will leak when you start using the car again. I've lost count of the number of RMS jobs I've done this year due to the extended layup that lockdown brought. My advice is to run the engine until the oil is at operating temperature at least every 6 weeks (also run the HVAC so the AC compressor gets a workout).
If you are going to start the cars ( which i do every 6-8 weeks ) during their winter hibernation , then run them until the coolant temperature comes up to full operating temperature , or even better until the radiator fan(s) kick in . Best if you can manoeuvre the cars around your non-salted driveway , rather thaan just warm them up stationary in the garage .
Having the car up to temperature helps evaporate away water - both from the engine oil ( wherein it causes ''oil dilution '' and enhances oil degradation ) and from the drivetrain-exhaust system's nooks and crannies .
For every 1 Kg of petrol combusted , 1Kg of ( unwanted and potentially damaging ) water is produced !
Having the car up to temperature helps evaporate away water - both from the engine oil ( wherein it causes ''oil dilution '' and enhances oil degradation ) and from the drivetrain-exhaust system's nooks and crannies .
For every 1 Kg of petrol combusted , 1Kg of ( unwanted and potentially damaging ) water is produced !
blueg33 said:
Mine is in its carcoon with battery conditioner plugged in. Until the roads are salty I will take it for a drive every couple of weeks.
In my experience not using cars causes more problems than a bit of rain or dirt.
I am looking at an outdoor carcoon are they any good?In my experience not using cars causes more problems than a bit of rain or dirt.
Meps said:
I am looking at an outdoor carcoon are they any good?
I’ve just ordered one of these but with steel doors and watertight seals. Fitted with heater and dehumidifier > https://www.shippingcontainersuk.com/m21b0s39p2587...Meps said:
blueg33 said:
Mine is in its carcoon with battery conditioner plugged in. Until the roads are salty I will take it for a drive every couple of weeks.
In my experience not using cars causes more problems than a bit of rain or dirt.
I am looking at an outdoor carcoon are they any good?In my experience not using cars causes more problems than a bit of rain or dirt.
I use mine every week so they take a battering. Would be a faff everyday but a couple of days a week or weekends is fine. Think of them as needing replacement every 4 years and at £150 per year that's pretty good. Typically 5 minutes to extract your car and perhaps 5-10 mins to put it back. Getting it positioned on the ground sheet is the most tiresome exercise! You need to line up the groundsheet with the car and not visa versa. You will need an external power supply too or at least a long extension cable.
I used my F355 a lot, rain, shine, salted roads with no issues. I once didn't use it for 6 weeks and the grease in the accelerator cable hardened and the throttle stuck on high revs, not what you want after not using for 6 weeks! Same happened to my clutch cable too. I would never not use a car for any longer than 4 weeks. They need to be used and all the fluids need to get around and all the moving parts, windows, mirrors, ac, heating etc, need to keep working. I try to use all my cars every 2 weeks, even in winter.
https://www.carcoon.com/carcoon-double-skin-outdoo...
There is a new solution now available which I might buy, it stays blown up and you can drive in and out,
https://inthegarage.com/product/outdoor-ultimate-c...
They also do a carcoon style product for the same price but it looks like (from their video) the top cover does not detach from the ground sheet which is pretty useless with UK weather. I take my top covers into the garage to keep it clean and dry when its off my cars. So I would guess the carcoon product is better even if the lifespan, in my usage, is 4-5 years max.
Best you can do is drive it. I aim for at least every six weeks, which if you have a manual gearbox also helps keep it slick (I found my 348's improves with use). Plus you get to drive your car. Even better with panel out/roof down in cold weather!
If you're worried about salt, give the car a good hosing underneath after the drive.
If you're worried about salt, give the car a good hosing underneath after the drive.
Bispal said:
I kept my F355 in an outdoor carcoon. I have had 2 in constant use for 4 years now. They do a job and do it well but can be a pain to start with. I have got used to them now. The zips will break (teeth missing and the end stops both fell out and are not replaceable so its very hard to zip back up, 2-5 mins of a fiddle and safety pins to lock) and the fabric will also tear it seems to degrade with UV (You can tape it up) not great at £600 a pop but they are just about the only solution to outdoor storage without a frame (that can collapse on your car) offers constant humidity, secure and can use In the rain on a dirty car unlike a cover. I use the 'carcoon' branded ones.
I use mine every week so they take a battering. Would be a faff everyday but a couple of days a week or weekends is fine. Think of them as needing replacement every 4 years and at £150 per year that's pretty good. Typically 5 minutes to extract your car and perhaps 5-10 mins to put it back. Getting it positioned on the ground sheet is the most tiresome exercise! You need to line up the groundsheet with the car and not visa versa. You will need an external power supply too or at least a long extension cable.
I used my F355 a lot, rain, shine, salted roads with no issues. I once didn't use it for 6 weeks and the grease in the accelerator cable hardened and the throttle stuck on high revs, not what you want after not using for 6 weeks! Same happened to my clutch cable too. I would never not use a car for any longer than 4 weeks. They need to be used and all the fluids need to get around and all the moving parts, windows, mirrors, ac, heating etc, need to keep working. I try to use all my cars every 2 weeks, even in winter.
https://www.carcoon.com/carcoon-double-skin-outdoo...
There is a new solution now available which I might buy, it stays blown up and you can drive in and out,
https://inthegarage.com/product/outdoor-ultimate-c...
They also do a carcoon style product for the same price but it looks like (from their video) the top cover does not detach from the ground sheet which is pretty useless with UK weather. I take my top covers into the garage to keep it clean and dry when its off my cars. So I would guess the carcoon product is better even if the lifespan, in my usage, is 4-5 years max.
On that second one, the product would deflate down on to the the car, in the event of a power cut. Just a point to note, which I read in the FAQsI use mine every week so they take a battering. Would be a faff everyday but a couple of days a week or weekends is fine. Think of them as needing replacement every 4 years and at £150 per year that's pretty good. Typically 5 minutes to extract your car and perhaps 5-10 mins to put it back. Getting it positioned on the ground sheet is the most tiresome exercise! You need to line up the groundsheet with the car and not visa versa. You will need an external power supply too or at least a long extension cable.
I used my F355 a lot, rain, shine, salted roads with no issues. I once didn't use it for 6 weeks and the grease in the accelerator cable hardened and the throttle stuck on high revs, not what you want after not using for 6 weeks! Same happened to my clutch cable too. I would never not use a car for any longer than 4 weeks. They need to be used and all the fluids need to get around and all the moving parts, windows, mirrors, ac, heating etc, need to keep working. I try to use all my cars every 2 weeks, even in winter.
https://www.carcoon.com/carcoon-double-skin-outdoo...
There is a new solution now available which I might buy, it stays blown up and you can drive in and out,
https://inthegarage.com/product/outdoor-ultimate-c...
They also do a carcoon style product for the same price but it looks like (from their video) the top cover does not detach from the ground sheet which is pretty useless with UK weather. I take my top covers into the garage to keep it clean and dry when its off my cars. So I would guess the carcoon product is better even if the lifespan, in my usage, is 4-5 years max.
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