Driving a T350T through the winter months

[AdvocatusD]

While my TVR isn't a daily driver per se, it is used very regularly and maintained as such. I know a lot of PH'ers put their cars away during the winter, but my personal philosophy has always been that using a car is really what is best for it (even through winter) as long as you take care accordingly.

TVRs can be a little more brittle than your average eurobox, so what do the "winter runners" here do to keep theirs in top notch condition? Mine has just been serviced, soon to have new shoes and the winter cover is ready too!

Apart from that:

1. Should I have the underchassis treated in any way?
2. Change the antifreeze content?
3. Do all the rubber parts along the doors, targa panels need a coating of vaseline or something to keep them soft?
4. Engine need to be warmed up for even longer? I would assume that in any event, it is certainly going to take a while to see oil at 60 degrees plus on an open road unless you're really going for it?

I don't intend driving the car in the worst of the weather, but equally I think that leaving her to sit through the months will end up in a different sort of bill with no pleasures gained for it!

[KillerJim]

I take the Sagaris out on the cold dry days during Winter, I`m of the school that beleives running a TVR every few weeks does wonders at prolonging its health...

I don`t do anything to prepare it for that except make sure she warmed up correctly (as always). Its often hard to judge oil temperature because of the cold air problem but I use engine running time and oil PSI to figure out the real temperature when I feel the sensor is lying

J

[Zippee]

AdvocatusD said:

1. Should I have the underchassis treated in any way?
2. Change the antifreeze content?
3. Do all the rubber parts along the doors, targa panels need a coating of vaseline or something to keep them soft?
4. Engine need to be warmed up for even longer? I would assume that in any event, it is certainly going to take a while to see oil at 60 degrees plus on an open road unless you're really going for it?

1/ I have mine prepped and waxoiled about this time every year, along with a full checkover to ensure all is well in that area!
2/ My service always falls around October so I just have it changed to the correct strength.
3/ Mine have been fine in all weathers both Chim & now T350.
4/ Cold air flow across the oil temp sensor affects the reading quite badly. I warm up as usual but try to stop after 20 minutes or so and let it idle for a minute to check the actual temps. Other than that just use common sense!

[geoffphead]

AdvocatusD I used mine all through winter, make sure coolant has correct antifreeze mixture.I always made sure all rubber seals had vaseoline and also used silicone spray on targa panel seals.Warming up sometimes took all of my 7mile journey to office. I let rear tyres down a little to probably around 20 psi and even drove it in snow that was fun!!
Give the underneath a good hosing down to get rid of salt on chassis and liberal spraying of WD40 on connectors and electrics.
Have fun

[bogie]

1/ if a long term owner and want to keep in good nick - yes waxoyl yearly
2/ always kept it correct strength anyway - we dont have -20 winters in this country
3/rubbers cleaned every couple of weeks with meguires stuff as part of "extra" cleaning process - weekly just light jet wash as a minimum to keep salt off
4/ just warmed up as normal, usually a couple of minutes or so on the drive sat in it demisting, then drive away ....keeping revs down until temp came up ...in fact on greasy winter roads, driving below 2-3K revs is a necessity LOL

Ours lived "outside" but under a tailored cover at night, and days when it wasnt used ..and in work garage when there 40-50 hours a week - did 6 winters in TVRs (well the girlfriend did, I used them the odd day when needed) without issue.

on the other hand, last year after my accident, neither of the family sportscars got used for a couple of months and brakes seized on, batteries went flat,lights misted up, usual stuff - ended up costing nearly £2000 in new pads and a good service on 2 cars - moral of the story -

its a car, just use it and enjoy it...but look after it as best you can too and it will look after you

[willtvr]

geoffphead said:

AdvocatusD I used mine all through winter, make sure coolant has correct antifreeze mixture.I always made sure all rubber seals had vaseoline and also used silicone spray on targa panel seals.Warming up sometimes took all of my 7mile journey to office. I let rear tyres down a little to probably around 20 psi and even drove it in snow that was fun!!
Give the underneath a good hosing down to get rid of salt on chassis and liberal spraying of WD40 on connectors and electrics.
Have fun

Wouldn't have thought petroleum jelly was a good idea on rubber seals

[Biggriff]

Agree on not using vaseline. i use either Zymol Seal or Gummi Pfledge (the latter one being cheaper and easier to apply).