HELP! 2011 SS IN STORAGE FOR 3 MONTHS NOW, NEED TO START? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

MattF · 01-28-2014, 10:26 AM

hello, i have a 2011 camaro ss with a 6 speed manual. it has been in storage in a non heated warehouse in detroit for about 3 months now. it is on the second floor of the building and sits on a wood floor. the building is closed off to the elements. it hasnt been started since october. i am living out of town but will be in town this weekend and have decided to go over and let it run for a while if that is a good idea. i havent put stabil in the fuel, and cant remember how much fuel was in it. the oil was just changed before storing. ive heard both sides of the story to let it sit and to not start it, and people saying to start it and let it run periodically.

meshamey · 01-28-2014, 10:36 AM

Its hard to say At -19 degrees in Detroit right this minute , I would not start it. Its been sitting for 3 months it should be fine.

MattF · 01-28-2014, 10:40 AM

i plan to keep it stored until april. how long is too long without starting?

Devryn17 · 01-28-2014, 10:45 AM

Adding some stabil may not be a bad idea. I can't imagine that cold has been good for it, especially without a block heater. I've never been anywhere that cold, but I would be super paranoid about it.

nelsont · 01-28-2014, 11:29 AM

Leave it alone. Hope you have a battery tender on it.

The moisture created from starting it is worse for it than letting it sit.

Its metal and plastic not a living thing.

Tim

EMB135Driver · 01-28-2014, 11:38 AM

Leave it alone......unless you're going to drive it and get it up to full operating temperature (not going to happen at Idle in a warehouse) its best to leave it alone.

MattF · 01-28-2014, 11:48 AM

thanks guys, the battery is disconnected currently i do not have a charger for it. also it is locked so i may have to open it with the key and climb through the back seat to release the trunk from the inside when the time comes to re connect the battery and start her up in the spring.

ZED SLED · 01-28-2014, 11:56 AM

Probably wouldn't have hurt to fill the tank and use Stabil before putting it away. Aside from that, just leave it alone. It will be just fine when you're ready to get it back out. As for it being -19 in Detroit right now, maybe with the wind chill. It was never that cold at noon in the 10 years I lived there.

Swacer · 01-28-2014, 12:21 PM

Leave it sit with the battery tender.

Now, I started my car a week ago after I was trying to determine a vacuum leak that had been bothering me since I put the car away in November.

I let it sit there idling for ~15 mins. At that point, the coolant showed normal temp and the oil showed normal temp.

Bumblebee2012 · 01-28-2014, 12:29 PM

My opinion is that with the current temps in that area, and the slow rate that oil would circulate at that temperature.... unless it was a dire emergency, I would not start it. If it needed moved a bit, I would rather push it around than start it. You'll do thousands of miles of internal wear in those few moments after starting an engine that has been setting that long (fairly dry of oil) while the parts get spun back to life and your waiting for proper oil circulation. Bottom line, do not start it unless the situation leaves you no other choice.

PalmerGA · 01-28-2014, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mclark10

As for it being -19 in Detroit right now, maybe with the wind chill. It was never that cold at noon in the 10 years I lived there.

Global warming... makes it colder.

RollaMo · 01-28-2014, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nelsont

Leave it alone. Hope you have a battery tender on it.

The moisture created from starting it is worse for it than letting it sit.

Its metal and plastic not a living thing.

Tim

Quote:

Originally Posted by EMB135Driver

Leave it alone......unless you're going to drive it and get it up to full operating temperature (not going to happen at Idle in a warehouse) its best to leave it alone.

I agree with these.
Unless you can actually drive the car and get everything up to full operating temps, then just leave it alone.

To be honest, 3 months really isn't that long to let one sit.
If you were going to store it for a year or longer, then you might want to look at it differently.

OHIOSS · 01-28-2014, 03:05 PM

There is about 100 threads about this, you may want to do a search.

I have kept mine in storage for the 4th year in an unheated building and I fill it up before I put it into storage and nothing else. The only reason I fill it up is because fuel is usually cheaper when I put it into storage than when I get it out in the spring.

The car starts like I just put it into storage the day before. I don't use a battery tender or anything else. The tires do get flat spots on them but they go away within a couple of miles.

Russ

MattF · 01-28-2014, 04:02 PM

thanks everyone. i will be sure to leave it alone for now. ill wait until the temps are higher in march or april when i pick it up and drive it back home to wisconsin where i currently work.

01-28-2014, 10:26 AM	#1
MattF MaroMan426 Drives: 2011 Camaro 1ss Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Posts: 32 View My Garage	HELP! 2011 SS IN STORAGE FOR 3 MONTHS NOW, NEED TO START? hello, i have a 2011 camaro ss with a 6 speed manual. it has been in storage in a non heated warehouse in detroit for about 3 months now. it is on the second floor of the building and sits on a wood floor. the building is closed off to the elements. it hasnt been started since october. i am living out of town but will be in town this weekend and have decided to go over and let it run for a while if that is a good idea. i havent put stabil in the fuel, and cant remember how much fuel was in it. the oil was just changed before storing. ive heard both sides of the story to let it sit and to not start it, and people saying to start it and let it run periodically.

01-28-2014, 10:45 AM	#4
Devryn17 Suffers Fools Poorly Drives: 2010 SS/RS, CGM w/ Silver Stripes. Join Date: May 2011 Location: Coolidge, AZ Posts: 1,117	Adding some stabil may not be a bad idea. I can't imagine that cold has been good for it, especially without a block heater. I've never been anywhere that cold, but I would be super paranoid about it. __________________ 2010 2SS/RS, CGM w/ silver stripes. Hurst Shifter, long tube headers, full exhaust, CAI, tune. SAE 407 RWHP/402 RWTQ Momma didn't bronze my shoes, but when I turned 16 I inherited a lead foot.

01-28-2014, 11:29 AM	#5
nelsont Drives: 2018 2SS Hot Wheels Convertible Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Badgerland Posts: 254	No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Leave it alone. Hope you have a battery tender on it. The moisture created from starting it is worse for it than letting it sit. Its metal and plastic not a living thing. Tim

01-28-2014, 11:38 AM	#6
EMB135Driver Jedi Master Drives: Boeing 757/767+2010 IBM 2SS Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bangor, ME and Palm Coast, FL Posts: 1,120	Leave it alone......unless you're going to drive it and get it up to full operating temperature (not going to happen at Idle in a warehouse) its best to leave it alone. __________________

01-28-2014, 11:56 AM	#8
ZED SLED Drives: 2017 Mosaic Bk ZL1 M6 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South of Raleigh, NC Posts: 9,622 View My Garage	Probably wouldn't have hurt to fill the tank and use Stabil before putting it away. Aside from that, just leave it alone. It will be just fine when you're ready to get it back out. As for it being -19 in Detroit right now, maybe with the wind chill. It was never that cold at noon in the 10 years I lived there. __________________

01-28-2014, 10:36 AM	#2
meshamey Meshamey Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS / 2014 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Panama City, Florida Posts: 303 View My Garage	Its hard to say At -19 degrees in Detroit right this minute , I would not start it. Its been sitting for 3 months it should be fine.

01-28-2014, 10:40 AM	#3
MattF MaroMan426 Drives: 2011 Camaro 1ss Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Posts: 32 View My Garage	i plan to keep it stored until april. how long is too long without starting?

01-28-2014, 11:48 AM	#7
MattF MaroMan426 Drives: 2011 Camaro 1ss Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Posts: 32 View My Garage	thanks guys, the battery is disconnected currently i do not have a charger for it. also it is locked so i may have to open it with the key and climb through the back seat to release the trunk from the inside when the time comes to re connect the battery and start her up in the spring.

01-28-2014, 12:21 PM	#9
Swacer Drives: 2018 GT350 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: PA Posts: 2,716	Leave it sit with the battery tender. Now, I started my car a week ago after I was trying to determine a vacuum leak that had been bothering me since I put the car away in November. I let it sit there idling for ~15 mins. At that point, the coolant showed normal temp and the oil showed normal temp. __________________ Off to the Dark Side

01-28-2014, 12:29 PM	#10
Bumblebee2012 Drives: 2012 2SS TF3, 1971 Chevelle Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 840	My opinion is that with the current temps in that area, and the slow rate that oil would circulate at that temperature.... unless it was a dire emergency, I would not start it. If it needed moved a bit, I would rather push it around than start it. You'll do thousands of miles of internal wear in those few moments after starting an engine that has been setting that long (fairly dry of oil) while the parts get spun back to life and your waiting for proper oil circulation. Bottom line, do not start it unless the situation leaves you no other choice.

01-28-2014, 03:05 PM	#13
OHIOSS Russ Drives: Yukon Denali, Charger, CamaroSS Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,811	There is about 100 threads about this, you may want to do a search. I have kept mine in storage for the 4th year in an unheated building and I fill it up before I put it into storage and nothing else. The only reason I fill it up is because fuel is usually cheaper when I put it into storage than when I get it out in the spring. The car starts like I just put it into storage the day before. I don't use a battery tender or anything else. The tires do get flat spots on them but they go away within a couple of miles. Russ

01-28-2014, 04:02 PM	#14
MattF MaroMan426 Drives: 2011 Camaro 1ss Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Posts: 32 View My Garage	thanks everyone. i will be sure to leave it alone for now. ill wait until the temps are higher in march or april when i pick it up and drive it back home to wisconsin where i currently work.