Winter Storage....
 

Hi all-

I hope those in the North East are enjoying their winter period. I'm not sure how others are making out, but I'm getting "loopy" just watching my Aston sitting there as I wait out the cold season.

I have one question, for those who store their cars over the winter, do you start occasional start the car as a precautionary measure? I haven't started mine since I put it on the trickle charger.

Regards
TAC

TAC,
Not sure how your car is stored. I am in the freezing northeast with my Aston sealed inside a car bag in my garage all winter. I do have a battery tender connected to the car battery but I wait until spring to start the car. The procedure at that time is to push the throttle fully to the floor and push the start button to crank the engine until you get oil pressure. With the throttle fully depressed, the engine will turn over but will not start. This pre-oils the engine. Once oil pressure is up, take your foot off the the throttle and then start it normally. (See the owner's manual). I think more harm can come from periodic restarting of a cold dry engine over the winter.

On my E-Type Jag, I pull the spark plugs in the spring and add oil into the spark plug holes before cranking it with the ignition disabled. Once I get oil pressure, I add ignition and start the car. Same idea.

Long term storage allows the engine to drain down the oil that would ordinarily remain on the bearings and cylinder walls. The spring startup procedure re-oils these surfaces before starting the engine.

Exactly what Jagman70 said for me

couldn't wait any longer.... i have my car hooked up to a trickle charger, and occasionally just start it in the garage (maybe drive it around the block on a good day)

took it to be detailed as soon as the weather got nice last week (before it snowed) and then got it back this weekend. took a few days but 3x ceramic coating, a full detail, and she's ready for some spring driving!

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...8ed4709265.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...976a6617a0.jpg

I have an office warehouse and the Aston's (I've had 8 over the past 30 years) sits next to my desk. Over the winters I have them under storage insurance which saves me a ton over the winters. Until recently I'd start the cars on occasion, and the rare Minnesota winter days when the roads are dry and not covered with chemicals I'd take a short drive around the block. Now I don't start till spring. Question, the hold the pedal to the floor to prime the oil - that works for the V12S?

It only works with a Ford ECU. Pretty sure V12S uses Bosch engine management.

I will defer to YVR on V12s. You certainly don't want to fully rev a cold dry engine. The procedure for my 09 V8 is in the owner's manual.

I drive it during the winter... it's not a garage queen. I just don't take it out on salty roads.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...40129f4a4b.jpg

You definitely don't have the same winter condition as me up north...


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...bc0da48610.jpg

The winters are new for me! I just moved from Seattle area to Cleveland... it is sad to see it just sitting in the garage while my other cars are covered in salt. Can't wait for spring! I did use the proceedure as stated above with pushing the throttle to the floor to get oil pressure after 30 days of sitting. I was curious about the same thing, if its better to start occassionally and take a short drive, or just let it sit on the batt tender for 5 months...

I daily drive mine... lol today was quite the adventure, roads were basically a sheet of ice...

I let mine sit after oil change and brake fluid flush for months. It is probably best to drive for 30 minutes getting to full operating temp and then put back in storage. But we're talking in a "coffee conversation" minor degrees of what's best, imo. Never start, let idle, as never get to operating temp and may cause unnecessary condensation inside the engine.