Winter care for my Aston

[lime1]

Now that Autumns here, I'm starting to think about what steps to take to protect my V12V over the winter months. I have a double detached garage which is drive through on one side, so double door at front and a single at one side on rear. The garage is only 7 years old, generally dry and doors are family snug but not completely weather proof. In particular if it rains really heavily, water can sometimes seep under the rear door due to a slight slope, if the ground drain gets too much muck in it. So obviously that can affect humidity inside the garage. The V12V is approaching 11 years old and in great nick so I'd like to keep it that way. I think MakoV12V who owned it previously had it stored over the winter months when he had it. I'd still like to drive it occasionally on dry salt free days to keep it running. So I was thinking about investing in one of these indoor veloce carcoons https://www.carcoon.com/carcoon-indoor-veloce to use in the garage. Has anyone else any experience of using these? Would I also need to consider a dehumidifier if I had this and if so should I put that in the main garage or just inside the carcoon (or would that be overkill?)? Perhaps a dehumidifier wouldn't be needed with the carcoon as this uses the cars heat with its active airflow system to remove moisture and is then sealed. Also what about using tyre cushions to prevent flat spots? If I manage to get the car out every few weeks are they necessary? My last few cars have been under 5 years old and I was quite happy just to have them garaged and use occasionally over winter without worrying too much but I feel differently about the V12V. I be grateful to hear peoples thoughts and experiences on protecting their cars.

Edited by lime1 on Thursday 1st October 00:15

[milu]

My garage has similar issues although more to do with it be an old building.
My non expert observation is...does any metal items ,tools and cabinets etc show signs of moisture? In my case no. I guess if it’s a bit draughty that could help too.
I go in almost daily so air gets moved and I can spot any trouble.

Interesting that you mention tyres. I have AM Pirelli zero and definitely get at least one flat spot which takes a few miles to smooth off. Even my service guy spotted it on a front tyre when spinning them up on ramp. Wonder if tyre mats would help

[BIG DUNC]

I have a dehumidifier and a carcoon.
It is overkill. I have always had a dehumidifier to keep the garage dry and it is very effective. I had always wanted a car-coon, but could never justify the price. Then a second hand one came up....

The dehumidifier is in not within the car-coon, there are several cars I want to keep damp free.

The car-coon is a bit of a faff to be honest. Probably really good if you don’t use the car at all, but if you may “pop out down the shops on a nice day” occasionally then spending the extra ten minutes unzipping and folding the car coon may sway may to take another car. On the other side, the car coon is excellent protection against accidental damage such as kids scraping their bikes past the car.

If you are using it every few weeks I really wouldn’t worry about the tyres. If you are leaving it for months at a time without using it then either put it on axle stands to take the weight off the tyres, or pump the tyres up to about 40 psi or higher. Don’t forget to return to normal pressures before driving again.

[Buster73]

milu said:

My garage has similar issues although more to do with it be an old building.
My non expert observation is...does any metal items ,tools and cabinets etc show signs of moisture? In my case no. I guess if it’s a bit draughty that could help too.
I go in almost daily so air gets moved and I can spot any trouble.

Interesting that you mention tyres. I have AM Pirelli zero and definitely get at least one flat spot which takes a few miles to smooth off. Even my service guy spotted it on a front tyre when spinning them up on ramp. Wonder if tyre mats would help

I got my hands on some rubber mats that they used in playgrounds, probably about 50mm thick , and drive onto them every time the car is garaged.

Similar to these.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Black-Rubber-Playground...


can’t remember who I bought them from but they are a good alternative to the genuine Aston efforts.

[Dewi 2]

I have stored my Vantage every winter for many years. I do the following.

Wash, then drive 20 miles so everything is hot.
Put in garage, cover with two woolly sheets.
Tyres 40 psi, standing on thick rugs.
Dehumidifier used. No cacoon.
Trickle charger on.
Every 6 or 8 weeks, push car about foot to change tyre contact points.
Occasionally turn engine, do not start (throttle down). Whether that is sensible, do not know. Some say leave engine alone.
Keep a look out for any brake disc corrosion.

That is about it. Only had one trouble, when mirrors would not adjust. That sorted itself after a few days.
Oh, and don't forget a couple of plates of naughty food for mice.

[bullet7]

For a number of years, I used an original Carcoon on a classic car that I kept in a very damp garage. I was surprised how well it did its job keeping the car free of even surface rust using the principle of just blowing air across it. It wasn't particularly convenient having to unzip the top, then pulling that off to get the car out for a drive, so the car tended to stay in the garage most winters untouched.

My current garage is not exactly draught-proof and last year I invested in a Cair-O-Port. This is similar in design to the Carcoon Veloce but the overall size suited both the V8V and my garage better than the Carcoon, plus it was a little cheaper. Both this one and the Veloce have a frame that means to get your car out, all you have to do is unzip a panel at the rear to drive it out, just like opening the door to the garage. I have no reference point to compare how the car may have fared without it, but I had no issues with the car and was able to take it out easily on odd occasions over the winter period. My previous ownership of the Carcoon seemed to show it was worth having though.

[anonymous-user]

Used to have an old concrete sectional garage that was terrible for condensation and damp.

I used an AirChamber and it worked really well for the 2 winters I had it. You can drive your car in and out easily enough and it stays in place. Was also really useful for further drying the vehicle after washing it due to the airflow. I put a small portable electric oil radiator in the chamber at a low setting to keep it warm over winter and it all worked well. Got most of my investment back when I sold it on (to a company that stores classic cars).

[laterontoday]

Id also add if storing in a garage to add a few mouse traps or bait or poison as those little furry barstools just love to eat the foam in the chassis areas. Can you tell I hate each and everyone of them.

[ReformedPistonhead]

My tyre guy says 50 psi. He sometimes has to use 120 to get tyres to pop onto the bead so should be fine.

I roll mine a foot forward every couple of weeks then back again (but I have a long space)

[cornershop]

Manual says 50psi too

[paulrog1]

I have my DB9 in a brick building garage with gas central heating, I've even got a raised concrete floor so it's not as cold.

Yeah inflate the tyres to 50psi with thick carpet underneath, roll the car a foot every few weeks, trickle charger connected all the time, good quality car cover and very importantly fill the petrol tank up and put in petrol stabiliser so the petrol doesn't get stale.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STA-BIL-Storage-Fuel-St...

Edited by paulrog1 on Thursday 1st October 18:20

[bentley01]

I use a Carcoon and it has a permanent frame and it is fantastic. Car can sit in there for months over the winter and comes out without a spec of dust on it. I would really recommend one.

[AlistairMcD]

Another vote for standing the car on the playground rubber mats - save yourself a fortune - cost about £10-15 each on Ebay.

My garage is dry but can be cold and in the winter months I put a tubular 100 watt heater under the car which is just enough to ensure warmer air rising about the car. The power socket to the heater I also place one of those ultrasonic mouse plugs.

Along with some of the other tips already given I buy large Silica gel sachets and put them about the interior of the car in plastic tubs which should help to remove any moisture that might be in the air.

[lime1]

Thanks for all the replies. Seems a variety of methods being used including nothing, heaters, dehumidifiers, carcoon and combinations of these. Oh not forgetting mouse traps and playground mats

Would be interesting to set up a poll if anyone can point me in direction of how to do that.

[pschlute]

Cup of cocoa and a bedtime story works for mine