Winter storage, to start or not - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Toolie · 02-25-2023, 04:38 PM

Wonder how many people start their car during the winter months.
Do you idle it for long? How long? Do you rev it once warmed up a bit?
What is your procedure?
Or do you not start it all winter?

BLU DUCE · 02-25-2023, 05:22 PM

I don't and never have started my vehicles I put up for the winter storage. All it does is leave moisture in and out on the motor, which is not good for it. Not all will agree.

CAMARO_HEAVEN · 02-25-2023, 05:32 PM

Never start mine either!
I put a full tank of gas in them and a battery tender on them and set it and forget it. Lol

0stones0 · 02-25-2023, 05:49 PM

If you start it, it needs/must get to operating temperature, in order for the moisture to cook out of the oil. If not…its a bad thing, YMMV.
Btw, don’t start mine ‘till the salts off the roads, in spring.

HOJO · 02-26-2023, 09:50 AM

Agree with all the comments above. I only start mine when it’s time to drive, other than that she sits covered up. No need creating extra wear on your engine components and introducing moisture to the oil and other components.

Risingson05 · 02-26-2023, 11:05 AM

What about cars that have been cammed ?

tartagliazl1 · 02-26-2023, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Risingson05

What about cars that have been cammed ?

I never start mine. It sits under the cover all winter with a tender on it.

HOJO · 02-26-2023, 12:16 PM

I’d still not start it, with a cam that is, during storage. A lot of guys who run a nice size cam will rotate the engine by hand so that the valve springs don’t have to sit in one spot and under pressure for a length of time. I’m running a stage2 BTR twin turbo cam and just let it sit until spring.
Another route to go is… hold your gas pedal to the floor, do not let off. Attempt to start the car, then turn key back to off position. The motor will continue to crank if you don’t switch the key back off while holding down the gas pedal. The motor will think it is in flood mode and trying to clear itself when you do this, it will not start though. This is an easy way to rotate the engine; and cam to another lobe and valve spring.

Z28000 · 02-26-2023, 09:44 PM

It’s my first winter with this car and I love letting it run/hearing it idle and even driving because we didn’t get any snow. Roads been perfect.

Toolie · 02-27-2023, 07:37 AM

I guess having the valve springs compressed is my concern. Partially or fully compressed for a long winter will surely reduce the springs life and pressure.

autoguy · 03-05-2023, 11:09 PM

I was told by a friend that is older and has many collector cars to not start a car during storage unless you are going to drive it or get it to full operating temperature.

He told me to put a bottle of Sta Bil on the fuel and the battery on a trickle charger.

He also told me to bump the starter once a month or so to move the crank/pistons/valves, etc., but do not start the car. This will break any oxidation, move the position of the valve springs and pistons. etc. He also said to pump the brakes a few times to move the fluid around.

Toolie · 03-06-2023, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by autoguy

I was told by a friend that is older and has many collector cars to not start a car during storage unless you are going to drive it or get it to full operating temperature.

He told me to put a bottle of Sta Bil on the fuel and the battery on a trickle charger.

He also told me to bump the starter once a month or so to move the crank/pistons/valves, etc., but do not start the car. This will break any oxidation, move the position of the valve springs and pistons. etc. He also said to pump the brakes a few times to move the fluid around.

Thanks, I always use fuel stabilizer in a full tank. Every month the battery goes on the charger, it doesn't take long even at 7amp only like 10mins. I've thought about bumping the start but I'm thinking it will just start.

4 FN 27 · 03-06-2023, 03:39 PM

I agree with the others about not starting the vehicle unless you can warm it up completely.

I wrote this post a few years back:

https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showp...6&postcount=19

In this Thread on "Winterizing":

https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showt...hlight=Storage

void_kp · 03-06-2023, 09:44 PM

the one thing that wears an engine out and reduces its lifetime is cold start.
so, unless you can start the car and MOVE IT to get to operating temperatures (not just engine, gearbox and differential too), you should not start it. full stop and works for any combustion engine.

02-25-2023, 04:38 PM	#1
Toolie Drives: Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Ontario Posts: 26	Winter storage, to start or not Wonder how many people start their car during the winter months. Do you idle it for long? How long? Do you rev it once warmed up a bit? What is your procedure? Or do you not start it all winter? __________________ 2015 Z28 SIM AC/Speakers #1228 2011 RAM 2500 6.7 diesel 2018 Husqvarna TE300 1985 Yamaha RZ500

02-25-2023, 05:22 PM	#2
BLU DUCE Drives: 2011 1SS/RS IBM Camaro Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chittenango, NY, USA Posts: 7,219 View My Garage	I don't and never have started my vehicles I put up for the winter storage. All it does is leave moisture in and out on the motor, which is not good for it. Not all will agree. __________________

02-25-2023, 05:49 PM	#4
0stones0 It don’t come easy. Drives: 2010 2SS RS M6 Join Date: May 2014 Location: WI Posts: 2,206 View My Garage	If you start it, it needs/must get to operating temperature, in order for the moisture to cook out of the oil. If not…its a bad thing, YMMV. Btw, don’t start mine ‘till the salts off the roads, in spring. __________________

02-26-2023, 11:05 AM	#6
Risingson05 Drives: 2015 zl1 m6 Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Alaska Posts: 702	What about cars that have been cammed ? __________________ 791whp 699 ft lbs torque on E30 - ported sc /heads by boost mode racing - PAT G cam /Tune PB:10.7 @133.9

02-26-2023, 09:44 PM	#9
Z28000 Drives: 2015 Chevy Z28 Join Date: Dec 2022 Location: Washington Posts: 30 View My Garage	It’s my first winter with this car and I love letting it run/hearing it idle and even driving because we didn’t get any snow. Roads been perfect. __________________ 2015 Z28 #572 BLACK NO AC

02-25-2023, 05:32 PM	#3
CAMARO_HEAVEN Big John Drives: Wife 2013 Camaro 2SSRS / ME? Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 337	Never start mine either! I put a full tank of gas in them and a battery tender on them and set it and forget it. Lol

02-26-2023, 09:50 AM	#5
HOJO Drives: 2014 Camaro SS/RS 1LE 1967 Camaro Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 874	Agree with all the comments above. I only start mine when it’s time to drive, other than that she sits covered up. No need creating extra wear on your engine components and introducing moisture to the oil and other components.

02-26-2023, 12:16 PM	#8
HOJO Drives: 2014 Camaro SS/RS 1LE 1967 Camaro Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 874	I’d still not start it, with a cam that is, during storage. A lot of guys who run a nice size cam will rotate the engine by hand so that the valve springs don’t have to sit in one spot and under pressure for a length of time. I’m running a stage2 BTR twin turbo cam and just let it sit until spring. Another route to go is… hold your gas pedal to the floor, do not let off. Attempt to start the car, then turn key back to off position. The motor will continue to crank if you don’t switch the key back off while holding down the gas pedal. The motor will think it is in flood mode and trying to clear itself when you do this, it will not start though. This is an easy way to rotate the engine; and cam to another lobe and valve spring.

02-27-2023, 07:37 AM	#10
Toolie Drives: Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Ontario Posts: 26	I guess having the valve springs compressed is my concern. Partially or fully compressed for a long winter will surely reduce the springs life and pressure. __________________ 2015 Z28 SIM AC/Speakers #1228 2011 RAM 2500 6.7 diesel 2018 Husqvarna TE300 1985 Yamaha RZ500

03-05-2023, 11:09 PM	#11
autoguy Drives: 10 SS,11 SS Pace, 13 ZL1 IOM Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,733 View My Garage	I was told by a friend that is older and has many collector cars to not start a car during storage unless you are going to drive it or get it to full operating temperature. He told me to put a bottle of Sta Bil on the fuel and the battery on a trickle charger. He also told me to bump the starter once a month or so to move the crank/pistons/valves, etc., but do not start the car. This will break any oxidation, move the position of the valve springs and pistons. etc. He also said to pump the brakes a few times to move the fluid around.

03-06-2023, 03:39 PM	#13
4 FN 27 Drives: 2015 Z28 Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Grant Minnesnota Posts: 310	I agree with the others about not starting the vehicle unless you can warm it up completely. I wrote this post a few years back: https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showp...6&postcount=19 In this Thread on "Winterizing": https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showt...hlight=Storage __________________ "Resale value is my beneficiaries problem...unless they can bury my in my Z...problem solved."

03-06-2023, 09:44 PM	#14
void_kp Drives: Chevrolet Camaro Z28 (2015) Join Date: Feb 2023 Location: Washington state Posts: 79 View My Garage	the one thing that wears an engine out and reduces its lifetime is cold start. so, unless you can start the car and MOVE IT to get to operating temperatures (not just engine, gearbox and differential too), you should not start it. full stop and works for any combustion engine.