crazandy

It doesn't look like I'll be driving the 944 much this winter, I only put 7.5 miles on it between the beginning of October and now. I was wondering what all I should do to prevent any damage. I've got gas stabilizer I’m going to use. I plan on starting it once a week and let it warm up for 5-10 minutes then do a quick spin around the block (maybe a 1/2 mile drive total). But what other things do you all recommend? I don't have a garage so it’s going to experience the cold nights and snow. Thanks for the help.

Peckster

On mine, I just add stabilizer and make sure the oil is pretty new. I park in an unheated garage that's attached to the house, so the temp never gets much below zero.

Other than that, I park with the tires on pieces of wood, as I've heard concrete is bad for the rubber over time (?). I don't have enough room to put it on jacks, and I'm not sure it's worth the hassle anyway, I've never notice flatspotting on the tires and the springs are OK.

Then I run it for 15 minutes once a month.

I'd get a good cover if I was parking outside and put a lot of bungees on it to keep it from moving against the paint in the wind.

crazandy

I'm not worried about the paint, it was gaurds red, but the hood, light covers, and the piece that goes inbetween the light covers are all turning pink/white. Also I've got a new nose on it, and I need a new fender so when I get all that done then next spring I'll take it in for painting.

Crackhead944S

Last winter I did the following:

Changed the oil.
Changed the radiator fluid.
Filled the gas tank and added fuel stabilizer.
Washed and waxed the car.
Left it on jackstands.
Vacuumed the interior.
Put leather conditioner on the leather seats.
Stuffed the tailpipe with steel wool (keeps out small animals).
Removed the battery and stored in a warm area.
Left off the hand brake.


Things I wanted to do but didn't have time because it was stored 150 miles away:

Spray oil down the spark plug holes.
Occasionally, hand crank the motor.
Regularly discharge and charge the battery. (I did not do this but the car started right up after just reinstalling the battery)

The last thing that I noticed was that I think I should have pulled the brake pads away from the rotors. Because it sat for so long I noticed that it took some force to get the rear wheels spinning again. I think that is because the pads rusted to the rotors.

Also, many here have said that if you don't drive the car for at least 30 minutes, don't bother. Something about not getting the engine hot enough to get out all of the water in the gas.

This wasn't a problem for me since I couldn't start it because it was so far away.

Good Luck

Z-man

crazyandy:
Don't know where you live, but Nov 24th, there is a PCA tech session at Powertech in Rockaway, NJ: Winterizing your Porsche. Check <a href="http://vista.pca.org//nnj" target="_blank">http://vista.pca.org//nnj</a> for details. (Click on TECH at the top).

I plan on attending, and I can post what I learned here...

IMO, if you're going to be driving the car once a week (for 30 minutes or more, I might add), you probably don't need gas stabilizer. The gas stabilizer lessens water buildup, which is the same as driving the car around for 1/2 hour.

Since my 944 isn't my daily driver, I don't plan on running it much this winter. But I'll take it to work once every two weeks or so, depending on the weather.

IMHO: Cars don't store well: if you can drive it at least once every other week, you're better off than leaving it all winter long.

Just my $0.42
-Zoltan.

Peckster

I heard the stabilizer is to prevent the additives from separating from the gas. If you have water in your tank, a few ounces of methanol make it soluble in the gas.

993Maineiac

I think Crackhead had it right. I put my baby to sleep for the winter last Sunday. We already had our first measurable snowfall so it was time. A few other things that I have done:

Put mothballs around the car. Most vermin hate the stuff and remember they like engine compartments as well as tailpipes.

If in a secure area, mine is in a rent a storeroom, place Decon mouse and rat boxes in a few places around the storeroom.

I place my battery on a trickle charger when it starts to drain. Car started like it had never been stored last spring.

And of course visit and say nice things every so often-don't want the 944 to be mad at you when you try to wake her/him (politically correct) up after the winter nap. <img src="graemlins/sleep.gif" border="0" alt="[sleep]" />

Tom R.

Don't get so freaked about leaving the car for a few months.

Just park it with a full tank to prevent moisture from entering the tank, and disconnect the battery.

I detail my RX7 every winter. This weekend I washed, vacuumed, and treated the leather. Too damp to wax it so it is just sitting in the garage.

Next week I will wax it, disconnect the battery,put the car in gear, brake off and put the cover on.

When I start it in the spring I will let it idle for a while then drive gently for about 5-10 miles.

I like to close the doors and windows on the mazda when I store it. When I come back in the spring the car has the new car leather smell.

I keep the firebirds windows open under a cloth cover because that thing stinks like an old car, and has for the 26 years I've owned it.

Dont worry about the tires, one autocross and they'll be fine.

Crackhead944S

I also wanted to get the moisture absorbing desiccant packets for the interior, but didn't.

I thought of using moth ***** or Decon for mice, but I forgot. Luckily, for me there are a few feral cats living in my parents' barn.