Quote:
Originally Posted by jrhaus76
This person is TOTALLY wrong. If you store your car over the winter DO NOT frequently start it up. The car is totally happy just sitting and not running. Its WAY WORSE for the engine to have the many cold starts that arent needed. ALso, jsut letting it idle for 20 minutes is tortue on your battery as idle speeds drail the battery. Thirdly, moisture builds up in the system and can't burn off if you just let it idle. It is a common but going out and letting it warm up is not a good idea. Ask around...
Taking it around the block is OK but if you insist on starting it, get it out, take if for a drive and get everything warm and circulating. This will give the moisture time to work itself out.
As far as the car that was parked for 8 months and had nothing but problems after... I question the quality of the car to begin with.
To the OP: as far as the oil change, just change it when the car tells you to. It knows when it needs it. I havent changed mine since.... shoot August??? It never sat more than 6 weeks though...
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+1!
If you are unable to start the car during the winter and get it out for a long enough drive so that the car and the fluids can get up to normal operating temperature, then just leave it alone and don't start it up in order to just let it idle, for the reasons given above.
Another thing to consider (although the car's computer may not allow this to happen) is the quality of the gas in the tank and not using WOT until fresh gas is put in. I know that my marina operator tells me no WOT throttle on my boat in the spring until all the old gas is burned off. Once fresh gas is in the tank then go for it!
I'd think that today's vehicle computers can detect the octane level in the gas and compensate in someway. Cant anybody confirm?
Best regards,
Elie