Can I get by with simply driving it once a week, or should I completely store it for the winter? It's not my daily driver so I drive it to the gym and back once snow from storms has melted.
If I continue this once-per-week practice, should I disconnect the battery during the week?

ps-- Does anyone actually use their XF universal garage door remote? I've been meaning to program mine. Is it a pretty easy process?

Monty

 

I assume that you keep in in the garage when not driven? If so, you should be fine. During the winter months I may not drive it for weeks (depending on the snow) and it starts right up no problem.

 

If you drive the car once a week for say approx. 10 miles this should be sufficent to not require any winter storage techniques.
I would still keep the gas tank full and put in a can of dry gas or other gas treatment.
Keep on eye on your tire pressure since winter cold makes tires loose a few pounds.
Your battery should be fine driving it once a week.

Hope this helps you.

Regards,
Jake80

 

Thanks for the quick replies, gentlemen. Yes, it's in the garage, and yes, it's topped off with a full tank. Just need to add some dry gas. Happy New Year!

Monty

 

you just need to get the car up to temp, and up to speed. Just a half hour drive once a week is just as good as normal driving. The key is getting the rpms up for a short while so the alternator can charge the battery. Idling doesn't accomplish this, you need to have the engine revs up for the alternator work.

 

Excellent, excellent point, olddoc! Fortunately, there's a highway near my neighborhood, so I'll open her up there once per week!

Happy New Year!

Monty

 

Geez ... I don't know what I'd do if I lived up in snow country ... go through withdrawls I suppose
Daily Driver with 100K plus and still runs like the day I bought her !

 

I do the same thing Mr. Burns. In fact its in the garage again today and I have walked to work. I think in the last month I have only driven it about 4-5 days. There was one stretch where it sat in the garage for a week and I backed it out and let it run for about 20 minutes with no accessories on. I've had no issiues at all KOW. I will say this Snow sucks, Cold weather sucks and winter sucks! That about covers it.

 

I have both of mine programmed....it wasn't fun.



HomeLink; Home automation,Wireless control system, universal transceiver, RF control, Home security, smart home, vehicle to home, home automation, remote control lighting and home control

 

You shouldn't have to worry about water in the gas tank if your garage is somewhat insulated. There won't be moisture or condensation. The only thing I worry about is gas going bad inside the injectors. If I were to put anything in the gas I would put something like stabil. Not a fuel injection cleaner or dry gas.

If your car was sitting outside then I would worry about condensation.

 

I had no issues programming my universal remote. It took only a few minutes..

I keep mine stored in the garage all winter, and just start it once a week for about 20 minutes, apply the breaks, shift it from park to reverse, to drive, turn the wheel left and right, and put some Heet in the gas tank.

 

Garage door programming is a piece of cake. I have the XFs and Mercedes programed for both garages. May I offer a few suggestions before you begin make sure you read the instructions carefully and sit in the car and dry run it a few times. Also get you door lift manual out and read where the buttons are. Have a ladder handy in case you need to push a code button on the transceiver in the garage. MOST important have the car including the bumper out side the garage and away from the arc of the door. It helps to have two people if you have to run up the ladder to push buttons. First one took about 15 minutes and the others got progressively faster.

Funny thing about winter I love it except that I can't drive the XF. I ski, snow shoe and slay ride. Oh I forgot to mention I also shovel snow. It is great exercise. Like today, I have to do 5 inches worth. There is another draw back, I just purchased a second XF (Blaze roadster) and can't drive it up my drive way and into the garage so it sits in Phoenix at my son's house. In my experience, even with new tires XFs do not do ice and snow combined with steep hills and driveway.

Today we have superb blue skies. It is breathtakingly beautiful.

 

My garage isn't just insulated, it's toasty warm!

Monty

 

Same as me.... it is toasty warm. Then don't even worry about condensation or water in the gas. Worry more about the gas breaking down over time and mucking up the injectors. But if you drive it once a week and keep the gas flowing you will have no problems!

I tend to drive mine now once every 2 weeks and I put a 100+ miles on it each time. I keep a battery tender on it now but I probably don't need it. I never had a problem with a dead battery before.

I am not an expert... but I am **** about my car. If I thought I needed dry gas it would be in the car right now. I have a bottle of stabil but have yet to put any in my car. I am always hestinat to add chemicals. My fear is that it will do more harm than good (cause damage to something else in the process).

 

With all the rain and snow my XF sits in the garage far more than it is taken out. Boo on snow.

Had no problem programming my garage door opener, but have noticed it doesn't work as reliably as remote that came with garage opener, and don't forget that the opener only works when the ignition is on.

 

Are you sure it is SITTING at your sons house?? Phoenix is quite a ways away....

 

LOL ... I was thinkin the same thing !

" Hey son, where's the Crossfire ... Uhhhhhhhh it's sittin here in front of the house Dad ... Yeah, that's it, it's sittin in front of the house !!! " " yeah that's it, in front the house, yeah, uhhhhhhh why you askin, Dad ? "

 

I drive the SRT only when the roads are reasonably clean & it's not snowing. The '04 gets driven almost daily by the missus (or myself - otherwise we go through serious withdrawal), snow or not. The SRT hasn't been driven since last Monday & now it's just setting in the garage.
I've never had any issues just letting it R&R in the garage whether it's a few days or several weeks (like Dec. '08 when we had record-breaking snows); it starts right up & performs like normal.
The garage door opener is pretty darn easy to set-up but, as mentioned above, it only works when the car is running.

 

I too drive mine once a week to ten days. Have not had a problem.

 

Regarding "winterizing", I can't move my XF an inch! We've had 25 inches of snow this December and 3-6 more is coming in 2 days! I did not top off my tank and I don't even know what dry gas is. What do you do if you can't drive it at all? Also, any extra advice is most appreciated! (Using my 4x4 until salt is gone!)