Should I start up a SORN’d 911 occasionally?
Discussion
Like many of us, my 911 is currently tucked up in a garage on a trickle charger as the roads are covered in salt and the Govt says I can’t drive anywhere much anyway. I have an MR2 off road as well which I start up about once every three weeks and run until the temp gauge gets to normal and no condensation comes out of the tailpipes.
What’s the consensus on a modern 911....leave alone or start up?
Thanks
What’s the consensus on a modern 911....leave alone or start up?
Thanks
I've got my GT4 on a CTek battery conditioner and have also inflated the tyres to about 45psi. It's been in the garage since last October and is on a SORN until I decide to drag it out. I do, however, roll it out now and again to give the tyres some movement. I don't start it up as do not want it just idling on tickover.
Orangecurry said:
A modern 911 gets the same advice as every other internal combustion engine.
Do not start the engine and let it idle.
So in a situation like mine where I can’t roll the car out to turn tyres etc, it’s best to leave the engine unstarted...I was always told that you should get a car up to temp and get all the bits moving occasionally (apologies for lack of mechanical terminology). To be honest it’s a pain....I have to garage the car because of insurance and therefore can only drive the car in the dry....plus the local council now spread salt at anything below 3 degrees. Do not start the engine and let it idle.
Overinflate the tyres, as above. This stops the weight of the car distorting the sidewalls of the tyres. Remember to let some air out before you get it back on the road.
Starting an engine from cold and letting it idle does two bad things, so the engineers tell us.
1) this is when the most wear occurs - suddenly very hot bits are moving cold bits against cold bits. A car/engine is designed to minimise this high-wear phase when being driven as the work the engine is doing warms everything quicker and more evenly, as does any airflow over the engine. Idling does neither of these.
2) no matter how much combustion by-products or condensation you think you've removed from the system by letting it idle, you will leave some in situ. Water vapour will corrode the exhaust system, and worse the by-products of combustion are acidic in nature. Sitting idling will not burn any of these off as effectively as driving the car and getting it properly up to temperature. We are told that the oil will be contaminated with these by-products if not properly burned-off, and will be less effective and become more acidic.
This is what I've read over the years from many different sources.
Your mileage may vary.
Starting an engine from cold and letting it idle does two bad things, so the engineers tell us.
1) this is when the most wear occurs - suddenly very hot bits are moving cold bits against cold bits. A car/engine is designed to minimise this high-wear phase when being driven as the work the engine is doing warms everything quicker and more evenly, as does any airflow over the engine. Idling does neither of these.
2) no matter how much combustion by-products or condensation you think you've removed from the system by letting it idle, you will leave some in situ. Water vapour will corrode the exhaust system, and worse the by-products of combustion are acidic in nature. Sitting idling will not burn any of these off as effectively as driving the car and getting it properly up to temperature. We are told that the oil will be contaminated with these by-products if not properly burned-off, and will be less effective and become more acidic.
This is what I've read over the years from many different sources.
Your mileage may vary.
My 911 has sat in the garage over winter for 16 years, and I see no evidence of any issues.
If we get a good bit of rain to wash away the salt, and then some dry bits I will run it around the ring road to get 40 miles in.
I would never just fire it up, it's going to take ages to get warm just sat there and everything I have read says that's not good, as above.
If we get a good bit of rain to wash away the salt, and then some dry bits I will run it around the ring road to get 40 miles in.
I would never just fire it up, it's going to take ages to get warm just sat there and everything I have read says that's not good, as above.
ked off with the current situation, i’m taking my car off SORN next week and i’m just going to start taking it out and drive it for the sake of it. Life’s too short, just get the car out and give it a blast. BertBert said:
I've been leaving cars in the garage all winter for years and years. I'm probably a bad person, but I drive it in. Put it on the battery conditioner and get it out again the following spring. Nothing has ever gone wrong and I don't get square tyres.
Hah ha, me too and I am not one of those nutters that parks it on bits of carpet or special material. Perhaps even more of a worry.... hmmmmmm?..Pip
If I am not using a car for a period of time I always take the approach of taking it for a drive when the roads are dry over the winter than letting stand idling. A bit like always take the car for a drive after washing before putting away.
I certainly wouldn’t store a car for 6 months without taking it out for a drive during that period though.
Never had to use a battery conditioner either and my P cars I have left for more than a month in the garage!
I certainly wouldn’t store a car for 6 months without taking it out for a drive during that period though.
Never had to use a battery conditioner either and my P cars I have left for more than a month in the garage!
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