Start or Not

Just wondering how many of you start your car over the winter season and why.
Also who doesn't start their car and why.

I never start my car after I put it away for the winter season. I really don't have a reason for this, other than to lazy I suppose. I've also have been told that it's not good for the exhaust system, if you don't run it for at least an half hour.

I do the same as you....drive in the garage, shut it off and walk away.
Never had an issue. In the spring, I give the battery a fast charge...start...and go.
I should back off the rocker gear as I run a lot of spring pressure,
240 lbs. on the seat...550 lbs. open, but I can't be bothered.
Heck, I only check the valve lash every couple of years!

I've always done it that way, only that I do different than you, is I use a trickle charger so I don't have to charge the battery.
By the way I like the colour of your car.

It depends what i'm working on, Some times i switch the cars around to work on them my shop is small 18'x40 so body and paint get done at the back where the exhaust fan is.But i have let them sit all winter and just disconnect the batteries and never had a problem.

I fired it up the other day and let it run for a while, but it was to drive it outside and wash it. Trying to apply for collectors plates.

I used to start it up, once a month and let it run for 1/2 hour or so. Back in the '80's, before I had a Stainless exhaust system, so to be sure, I wouldn't have condensation in it.

Now, I don't run it. I park it, disconnect the battery, throw a trickle charger on it till spring...maybe turn it over, but not fire it up.

I'm thinking that running it, then shutting it off in cold weather (non heated garage), you will have condensation in the cylinders, once it cools down.

Gazoo wrote:
I'm thinking that running it, then shutting it off in cold weather (non heated garage), you will have condensation in the cylinders, once it cools down.

Not sure how true that is, but I believe your right.

I fire up my 440'' small block once a month. let it get to operating temp. it keeps everything oiled up top, and the heavy springs get worked out aswell.

Yup....I do the same...when I have a car...

Nope not unless it warms up a lot!...Beautiful sunny winter day today...and-35c.

Depends on alot of stuff.... but IMO, doesn't hurt to give it just a quick "bump" on the starter periodically when sitting for long periods, if for no other reason than to un-compress whatever Valve Spring(s) are sitting "compressed" from last shutoff ?
Not such a big deal with mushy stock Valvesprings.... but just say'in, hotrod or "Roller" type springs a guy should think about it periodically ?

If a guy IS GOING TO START IT after sitting..... again IMO, let it run and Thermally Stabilize completely(warm it right up), before shutting if off again.

I'm thinking that running it, then shutting it off in cold weather (non heated garage), you will have condensation in the cylinders, once it cools down.
Condensation forming on the cylinders, in a hot engine after shutoff ?........   would invariably assume cold moist ambient airflow in the hot cylinder ?
How would that happen unless you open ALL the Valves and Carburetor plates, and stuck a Fan down the Carb ? or UP the Exhaust pipe ?

I never gave much thought to valve springs and such. Maybe I should start it once in a while. Sure don't want to do anything to damage my engine, it's to costly to fix it.

I usually start my car 3-4 times during the winter and let it warm up except this year, for the simple reason the carb and intake are off the motor. Getting the intake sandblasted, painting it myself, replacing the carb.

I would just roll the motor over 180 just to put the valve springs in a different position. I put everything i have on a battery minder and leave it till spring, i have a heated garage so its never been an issue.

My car was in heated storage up until this season. I had a place in Fort Erie with a 6 bay heated garage but I sold it last summer, and now keep my car home in the unheated garage.

I only start it if I have to move it. look at all the cars sitting in car lots and storage yards it does not seem to hurt them to let them sit for long periods of time

i never used to start my car in winter. parked it outside until i built my garage.

one of the big reasons i start my car now instead of before is the huge $'s i have into this engine. on my stock engines, i didn't really care but once the big $ is involved, i want to make sure everything is 100%

Our cars should be in a heated or un-heated garage. If they get heat part time, this is what causes condensation and then trouble, but I am pretty sure must know all this already.

Well I started my car today. Had to turn it over quite a few times to get gas up to the carb. But she fired up, ran and sounded good. Now I have another problem. I can't wait for spring. lol.

Problems are not good, is it an easy one at least?

All you have to do is wait................like 3 months.

When the garage is not heated there should be no condensation only ice, in a heated garage that would be a different story.

Grumpy427 wrote:Problems are not good, is it an easy one at least?

Actually Sheldon, my only problem now is waiting for spring patiently.

Yeah i need to wait for my mouth to feel better so i can get back into the garage and get going on the duster. I have a heated garage so no worries there.

I have never been able to store any of my cars at home. Either I have never had a shop, or a car. For the longest time I have never had both at the same time LOL. Now I have both and Im not at home dangit.....To me it makes sense to start every once in a while.