Do you guys start your cars every month when winterized?
I was thinking at starting it and let it run idle for like 20-30 minutes… it’s in my garage at about 50F
I didn’t do the old change before winterize. (Bought the CPO car in September, put 3000 miles on it)
Should I do oil change before or after winterize?

It’s a 2006 c2s manual cab.
Thanks J

 

I never start my cars once winterized. IMO you will cause more harm if you just let it idle (you should drive it for a bit, not just let it idle) otherwise just let it be.

 

Unless driving, starting and letting it idle is probably worse.
You need the higher rpm to lube the ims bearing.
Some change the oil before (I do so it's clean oil sitting), some after and some both.
I do put in stabilizer for the last fill up and run it so it goes through the whole fuel system then cover & plug in the charger.
I put it away the 1st time the salt trucks are out and usually wake her up around mid April. Happy winter!

 

Idling helps to charge the battery ony. But as others stated comes with risk since the RPM's are held low. Either drive properly during dry winter days or put a trickle charger on the battery and wait until spring to turn it on.

 

Thank you Lord, for letting me live where I don't have to winterize anything except a boat, and thank you for sending the guy who bought my boat...

One of the worst things you can do to an engine is to start it and not let it get up to operating temps for at least 20 minutes or so. This is true year round, and it's even worse in higher humidity. As engines cool, they draw in a small amount of moisture which boils off at operating temps. If it doesn't get hot enough to boil the moisture off, more moisture just adds to it and this contaminates the oil even further. Also, every time you start a car, there are a few seconds before new oil gets to all of the friction surfaces for lubrication, so wear is theoretically higher during initial start up.

 

I try and drive mine on dry winter days too. Why not if you are worried about it sitting, especially if you believe that sitting all winter is not ideal.

 

No No No don't touch it unless you can drive it to full warm up for at least an half hour. Not idle but drive.

 

same here in mich, I didn't think Canada used salt.

 

Are you kidding? They love to use it. I think the government is on a mission to turn Lake Ontario into saltwater.
They've been brining (salt water spray) since late October in rural areas as soon as there's any hint of frost or black ice.
Then when snow flies, out come the crystals.
And you'll love this. No Lie. Way up north, you gotta watch for moose because they eat the salty snow on the side of the road.
Funny as hell but have seen it when snowmobiling.
Wonderful...just wonderful. Incoming........

 

thanks all. so I Will let it sit there and wait another 3 months.
I can't take it out during winter. (1) car license plate is in storage mode, (2) insurance are storage only (3) we have a winter tire law until march 15.

So guess who will be driving for an hour top down with a tuque on march 15????

 

Drive it, and take full advantage of all of that dense cold air - salt be damned

 

i don't see harm in running the engine but it wouldn't serve much purpose if it is hooked on a battery tender (which is necessary if the car is not driven at least 2-3 times a week).

other good practice are:
over inflat tires to avoid flat spotting, roll the car forward/back every month or so.
gas stabilizer, fill the tank
change oil before storage unless it is fairly new
clean the car and use a cover
close all windows

if the car is to be stored longer than a year, you may want to get cradles for the tires.

 

By start it, yes. I then drive it.
By winterize, I mean: put on the winter tires, and maybe wash it.

Drive the car.

 

I just got my car out of a four month storage. I had to store it while I was chasing paychecks across the states but now that I finally got a stable job I went back to MO to bring it back to my new home in AZ.

No battery tender, just disconnected the battery. It was cold so it cranked pretty slow but it did start. I pulled it out of the storage unit and let it run for a while to charge the battery while we loaded boxes into the moving truck. Drove to the local gas station to air up the tires and the next two days drove 1500 miles across 4 states. Works like a champ.

 

man, it is stored only for a month an a half and I miss that fire up sound! lol

and what about oil change?
I will be driving around 5000-7000 miles per year. so one oil change a year. should I do it before storage or after storage?

bought the CPO car in end of sept. oil change was done. did about 3000 miles on it and the store it.
maybe I should do it when I take it out and do it before storing it. and then only do it once a year when I store it.

what do you think?

thanks