Opinions sought...

[bhippy]

OK, so this is probably a very silly question, but what the heck... if you don't ask, you never learn! :-)

Those of you out there who lay your cars up for the winter - do you just leave it with a trickle charger and forget it till summer or do you periodically start it and let the engine warm up etc?

With the recent bad weather, mine has been in the garage for a few weeks now and I'm thinking I should at least start it up and let some oil circulate etc - but then I hear that just starting a cold car, leaving it running for a while then shutting it off is bad for the engine - causing wear...

Whats the consensus amongst the experts out there?

[Jay964rs]

I'm no expert, but I roll my car back and forth once a week to stop the brakes from seizing.
Other than the charger, I try to drive it once a week for 45mins to try and keep everything working.
I'd also be interested to hear what others do.

[wongthecorrupter]

Jay964rs said:

I'm no expert, but I roll my car back and forth once a week to stop the brakes from seizing.
Other than the charger, I try to drive it once a week for 45mins to try and keep everything working.
I'd also be interested to hear what others do.

thats what i do

[Dischordant]

Try to drive it every 2 weeks max - but then again that was what led to me driving it on that stormy day. . wasn't a good idea!

[jalex59]

This is my first winter of ownership. I have yet to use my trickle charger and will look to drive it when the sun's out and the road is reasonably dry. This weekend is looking like a good opportunity!

[tvrboy55]

Hi all.I have mine layup during the winter for 6 months from Oct to April. And it's on trickle charge continuously, it's starts first time. And I have no problem with it. Every now and then I check the charger to see if it's working. I've been doing it for 5 years now. And the car is on axle stands.

[so called]

Mine is outside for the foreseeable future so I've bought a Carcoon.
Will be putting her away on Saturday.
It has the built in conditioning charger and I leave the brake off to avoid any problems.
I'm normally travelling for 4 to 5 weeks at a time and then get her back on the road. Not sure what I'll do in February, 'Out or stay in the Carcoon' ?

[blueg33]

I drove mine. Waited for days when rain would have wahed the salt away and took it for a drive. Delicate cars are so much more reliable if they are used.