Winter hibernation - advice needed
Discussion
Due to some issues with the builders I am without a garage for the winter, I only use my DB9 on a weekend so I have decided to store it for winter. It’s only about 20 minutes drive from my house so do I pop up every 2/3 weeks and run it for 20 minutes? Or disconnect the battery and leave it well alone for 4 months? Any storage tips will be much appreciated
Edited by andykernohan on Saturday 30th November 17:54
Give it a good coat of Carnuba wax, and keep it turning over, personally I wouldn't disconnect the battery, if you don't have access to power for a battery maintainer I would at least run the motor up to full temperature on each visit and preferably go for a drive to blow all the condensation out of it if you can, also running the heating and aircon.
If you can't drive it at least roll it backwards and forwards to stop flat spots on the tyres each visit.
If you can't drive it at least roll it backwards and forwards to stop flat spots on the tyres each visit.
Shame its not in a garage but if it's outside i would-
Pump the tires upto 50psi and occasionally move the wheels to prevent flat spotting. Ideally put thick carpet under the tyres
IMPORTANT -Plug in a battery conditioner.
Put an outdoor cover on her after you have cleaned and polished it.
DO NOT start the car, that creates internal condensation that will harm the engine. If you do start her go on a 30 mile drive.
Fill the tank full of petrol that prevents the fuel tank corroding.
Hope this helps
Pump the tires upto 50psi and occasionally move the wheels to prevent flat spotting. Ideally put thick carpet under the tyres
IMPORTANT -Plug in a battery conditioner.
Put an outdoor cover on her after you have cleaned and polished it.
DO NOT start the car, that creates internal condensation that will harm the engine. If you do start her go on a 30 mile drive.
Fill the tank full of petrol that prevents the fuel tank corroding.
Hope this helps
andykernohan said:
Thanks all for the feedback, I’ll take it out for a run every few weeks then give it a wash and pop it back into storage.
I do it the other way round with a Vantage (wash before the 20 mile run), but as the DB9 has carbon ceramic brake discs, perhaps it makes no difference.
I choose a dry day.
Wash, then microfibre dry.
Drive car minimum 20 miles. Gently using handbrake and footbrake during the first quarter mile to dry discs.
Then putting back into storage, everything should by then be completely dry.
Washing a Vantage after the run, means wet brake discs, which will then corrode through non use.
My V8V battery is happy for at least a month if left unlocked, and the battery is now nearly seven years old. So I reason the current drain in this state is minimal, presumably mostly because the alarm is inactive. I put it on a c- tek every 5-6 weeks through the winter. No window dropping issues.
I agree with the don't-start-it-unless-you-can-drive-it plan. I take mine out over the winter when there is no salt on the roads. Usually, but not always, we get a good rain to wash off the salt -- when the roads dry I drive the car. It needs to be driven at least 30 minutes to get fluids properly warm, and stay long for enough time to burn off the nasty stuff. If the salt stays, the cars stay in the garage without being started (and on a charger).
If the DB9 manual is anything like the V12V manual then there is specific advice in there about laying the car up over a period of time and what AM would recommend. That includes starting the car and letting it run up to temperature once a month where the car is laid up for over 3 months.
Edited by LC23 on Monday 2nd December 21:14
LC23 said:
If the DB9 manual is anything like the V12V manual then there is specific advice in there about laying the car up over a period of time and what AM would recommend. That includes starting the car and letting it run up to temperature once a month where the car is laid up for over 3 months.
Well my V12v has bee. Sitting around since June and probably won’t see daylight until March. I’ll let you know Edited by LC23 on Monday 2nd December 21:14
... agree with not starting. However, when you do come to start it, make sure that you leave it in neutral, and bury the accelerator right into the carpet, and then press the fun button. The engine will turn over and pump oil to all the right areas but the engine will not fire with your foot buried. When the oil light goes off, start the car as normal and you should have a lovely, lubricated engine for a car that has not been started for a long time.
ilikeAstons said:
... agree with not starting. However, when you do come to start it, make sure that you leave it in neutral, and bury the accelerator right into the carpet, and then press the fun button. The engine will turn over and pump oil to all the right areas but the engine will not fire with your foot buried. When the oil light goes off, start the car as normal and you should have a lovely, lubricated engine for a car that has not been started for a long time.
Does that work with the V12? I read somewhere only works on the V8.
AstonV said:
ilikeAstons said:
... agree with not starting. However, when you do come to start it, make sure that you leave it in neutral, and bury the accelerator right into the carpet, and then press the fun button. The engine will turn over and pump oil to all the right areas but the engine will not fire with your foot buried. When the oil light goes off, start the car as normal and you should have a lovely, lubricated engine for a car that has not been started for a long time.
Does that work with the V12? I read somewhere only works on the V8.Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff