Hey, folks -
My Crossfire has been in storage since November. I have passed the winter months thus far BS'ing with you guys and checking up on it every so often to satisfy the XF addiction. with another month and a half of salt and snow to go, I am beginning to think about the day when I can drag it out and fire it up. It's got fuel stabilizer in it, the battery has been pulled, and foam rubber blocks were placed under each tire to prevent a flat spot. However, I have been thinking that four months is an awfully long time without being turned over, and I wonder what the possibility of the oil film on the cylinder walls (and on the valve guides) becoming too thin to provide adequate protection during those first few revolutions. I also worry about thin dusting of oxidation forming on the same, and resulting in a loss of compression or higher oil consumption in the future. Any thoughts on this? Should I worry, or is it just going to fire up after a cough or two, and all will be right with the world?

 

I think you may have answered your own question, Juddz. If you're going to put in storage for a long time there's going to be some "drying out", but in the long run the effect on engine life will be negligible. That being said, most manufacturers assume that the vehicle will be driven at least once a month in normal use. So what you might do is this:

• Leave the battery in the car and connected to a battery tender 24/7. It won't hurt the battery. Trust me.
• Once a month (I use the 1st Saturday), go out to the shed and fire your baby up. Let it run until it reaches normal operating temperature, meaning the cooling fan cycles on and off twice. Note: This is important because you need to get the oil hot enough to burn off any water that may have condensed in the engine!
• While the engine's warming up, cycle the steering lock to lock, pump the brakes, roll the windows up and down, open and close all the doors, raise & lower the top, and stand on each door sill and bounce up and down a few times to get some action in the shocks.

Things fall in to disrepair and fail because they don't get used. Fluids go stale, seals dry out, etc... So get out there and spend some quality time with your baby even during the winter months. Your car will love you back 10x over because when springtime comes around you'll know its ready to go. And if you find yourself with that unexpected warm, salt-free March day all you have to do is disconnect the battery tender and head out!

 

Don't forget to cycle the A/C for 10-15 minutes even if the car is being driven during the winter. It "used" to be recommend doing that for the same reasons you cited on the other systems. Haven't heard/seen anything on it for a long time, but I still do it... it can't hurt anything.

 

Excellent point. I don't know if its really necessary or not but I still do it too. In the long run it doesn't hurt anything and could potentially save you a lot of $$$ after that first hot day in May or June.

 

Just drive the car year around...if your paying for it you may as well enjoy it!!! Not to mention the excellent traction control system and nicely heated leather seats this car is made for winter in germany as long as you have some good tires on it.

 

yeah it is necessary to run A/C during winter even if the car is not in storage. this profession used to put bread on my table and i learned that seals, o-rings, hoses... condenser... need to keep lubed... and your A/C will keep cooler... COLDER... LONGER WITHOUT SERVICE.

 

So in your opinion, what is maximum length of time that can pass with NO A/C activation, but still not have any seals or o-rings dry out? In other words, what do you think the max. inactive time period should be, and still keep the A/C system healthy?

 

Once the zinc is gone from the body, it will start to rust. And, the chassis hardware will begin to rust long before that. Further, the front of the car will be pockmarked by rock chips, etc. And, the wheels will develop flaky white oxide around the center caps, etc. The potholes that open up around here in March would pummel the suspension during my commute, and would eventually lead to squeaks and rattles in the body. I have owned enough new cars in Michigan to know that this will happen in time, if the car is used year round. I have been through it before. This is not my commuter; it's my toy. Therefore, I will keep it stored away from the salt, slush, and stones for those sunny summer days. Ten years from now, I will thank myself that I did.

 

I initially put my car away around Thanksgiving and didn't expect to drive it till March or so, but with the mild winter we've had here I've actually got to drive it! I did hook up my battery manager from Griots Garage to it (it comes with terminals that go under the connection that are semi-permanent) or alligator clamps. I also inflated my tires up a bit more due to psi loss when its real cold, but when I fired it up the first time, I just let it warm up to normal operating temp and pulled it out, that was great! It looks like we're going to have a bit more winter here, but we're well into February now and its the shortest month of the year, YES!

 

Hi
The winter in Boston has not been so bad this year, Jaylow has been sleeping since Nov with monthly romps when the sun is out and the snow is gone. Igor my Honda Element has been doing daily chores and playing in the snow. Yesterday was very nice here and Jaylow wanted to play. So after a 45 min romp she came home. I tried to keep her running to help charge the battery, and wanted to lock the doors while she was idling. Was unable to lock the door, while she was idling must be a safety factor, used the key pad and tried manually. Looking forward the spring so we can play every day and Igor can have a rest.

 

Mine has been put away since thanksgiving. I have the battery tender and start it once a month. That is much better for it than sitting till spring.