Winter Advice

[madasafrog666]

This is my first winter with Chim onwership, I intend to use the car on dry days at the weekends if we get any!!
My question is what are the general thoughts on starting the car a couple of times a week in the garage and letting it get to operating temp. I have had mixed views from a few people, so I thought I would ask the experts.

Thanks

[Tyre Tread]

madasafrog666 said:

This is my first winter with Chim onwership, I intend to use the car on dry days at the weekends if we get any!!
My question is what are the general thoughts on starting the car a couple of times a week in the garage and letting it get to operating temp. I have had mixed views from a few people, so I thought I would ask the experts.

Thanks

Nope. No way.

IMHO better to just start it up when you intend to drive it.

[TV8]

Tyre Tread said:

madasafrog666 said:

This is my first winter with Chim onwership, I intend to use the car on dry days at the weekends if we get any!!
My question is what are the general thoughts on starting the car a couple of times a week in the garage and letting it get to operating temp. I have had mixed views from a few people, so I thought I would ask the experts.

Thanks

Nope. No way.

IMHO better to just start it up when you intend to drive it.

+1 its a lot more fun as well.
I left a bit earlier than normal today and it was dark and not too pleasant, so went in the daily runner. 20 minutes into the journey and wished I had gone for roof off. A lovely morning for the long cross-country drive in.

[madasafrog666]

Thanks for the replies, whats the general reasoning not to start the car up and let it run for 10 minutes or so?, say if the weather has been bad and I am unable to use it for a couple of weeks on the road?

[Tyre Tread]

madasafrog666 said:

Thanks for the replies, whats the general reasoning not to start the car up and let it run for 10 minutes or so?, say if the weather has been bad and I am unable to use it for a couple of weeks on the road?

Start up from cold produces more wear on an engine than at any other time. It washes the bores with fuel which then enters the oil and needs time to be evaporated off.

Running at idle for 10 mins will not get everything up to full working temp.

[Simon BB]

I was told by the Rt Hon David Batty that it knackers the cam quickly if you start up from cold and leave it to idle to warm up. The cam lobes are lubricated by splash and the revving and 'jiggling' about associated with driving are what keeps it happy!

So, fire up and go was the advice I was given.

Si

[finestjammy]

I've had so much conflicting advice on the start/don't start debate. I hadn't intended to start mine up over the winter, but I was advised to do so. I started it up for the first time in about 5 weeks the other day. It chucked out loads of white smoke, which I assume was steam, for about 10mins whilst I left it to idle. I left it another 10 mins and then revved it a bit, again there has been some debate that that this can be good as it will surge the oil, others say no. I pumped the brake, moved backwards and forwards a little using the clutch too.

So I'm still unsure if I should start the engine every couple of weeks, rev or not rev (once warm), or just leave it alone for a few months.

Perhaps a poll is in order

[dmjw01]

Speaking from general knowledge of engines, rather than TVR in particular, I would not want to leave any engine for more than a week or two without it running.

That said, as others have said simply idling it until you think it's "up to temperature" doesn't cut the mustard.

It is so important to get the oil fully and properly up to temperature for a decent amount of time, because this is the only way to boil off water (from condensation) and acids (from combustion) that otherwise accumulate in the oil. The only way to do this for a car engine is to drive it, and the only way to do this for an aircraft engine is to fly it. I would imagine boat engines need to be, er... boated.

If I were intending to lay mine up for the winter without driving it at all, I'd want to replace the oil with fresh, clean oil at the start of the lay-up period - preferably some kind of corrosion-inhibiting oil. I would then replace the oil again before bringing it out of hibernation. I would not run the engine at all.

But the very best thing you can do to any engine is use it - not just idling, but use it properly!


Edited to add: That reminds me, must change the oil in the lawnmower for the winter lay-up.

Edited by dmjw01 on Thursday 25th November 11:01

[quattrophenia]

I only start mine when I intend to use it. One thing that a lot of people (including me) found last year when we had the very cold weather was if you start your car and press the loud pedal straight away whilst the engine is using it's cold start overfuelling, it can stall and flood. It can be a pain to start if this happens. I now let it idle for say 1 maybe up to 2 minutes till the revs drop to normal and there's no problem with this issue.

I know it's tempting to sit in it and start her up in the garage, especially if it's been snowy for weeks just to remind yourself how good she sounds, but probably best not to.

[scruggs]

To re-iterate what DMJW01 says. I used to own an aircraft with a 9 cylinder, 11 litre, supercharged engine. The rules were that if you started the thing up you ran it until all the operating temperatures (Oil temp, cylinder head temps) were at normal values before shutting down. You would normally carry out a full engine performance check of both magnetos, oil pressure, oil temp, fuel pressure, air pressure (an oddity on this aircraft type) and a host of other functions. That could easily take 20 minutes or more in winter with a whole lorry load of power, usually 70% of maximum, applied to the engine once warm.

I see no difference in maintaining a 5 litre, 8 cylinder reciprocating car engine. By all means start it up in winter but, if you can, drive it to achieve normal operating criteria. Otherwise ps off the neighbours by opening it up whilst static and warmed up to boost oil flow.

[dmjw01]

Mmmmm... a Yak. Possibly the only machine with an even nicer sound than a TVR!

[scruggs]

dmjw01 said:

Mmmmm... a Yak. Possibly the only machine with an even nicer sound than a TVR!

...and a bigger thirst for fossil fuels!

[Naybr]

Received wisdom regarding leisure boat engines (which normally get laid up from about November to March either afloat of propped up in boatyard) is to change the engine oil, block up the orifices and then leave it alone.

Running at idle definately does more harm than good.

[saxmund]

Why not use it? If it is a nice morning take it to work, otherwise use the daily runner.

[HiAsAKite]

H

Simon BB said:

I was told by the Rt Hon David Batty that it knackers the cam quickly if you start up from cold and leave it to idle to warm up. The cam lobes are lubricated by splash and the revving and 'jiggling' about associated with driving are what keeps it happy!

So, fire up and go was the advice I was given.

Si

I was given exactly the same advice, I try to take it for a leisurely (20 mile min) drive once a fortnight over winter

[bsdnazz]

quattrophenia said:

I only start mine when I intend to use it. One thing that a lot of people (including me) found last year when we had the very cold weather was if you start your car and press the loud pedal straight away whilst the engine is using it's cold start overfuelling, it can stall and flood. It can be a pain to start if this happens. I now let it idle for say 1 maybe up to 2 minutes till the revs drop to normal and there's no problem with this issue.

I use my Chim as a daily driver for commuting out of town from Twickenham. On winter mornings I start the engine and then remove the cockpit cover or scrape of the frost if I've been lazy the night before. This usually gives the engine a few minutes running to take the chill off it.

I have stalled and flooded it a few times but can restart it by turning it over on full throttle for as long as it takes. Usually (with my lovely newish Optima Red Top battery) this only takes 5 seconds or so.

[Alexdaredevilz]

I think some of you need reminding it's a old rover V8 and not a f1 engine it will take st loads of abuse,

[saxmund]

HiAsAKite said:

I was given exactly the same advice, I try to take it for a leisurely (20 mile min) drive once a fortnight over winter

Leisurely? What sort of treatment is that for a TVR?

[m4rk]

madasafrog666 said:

This is my first winter with Chim ownership, I intend to use the car on dry days at the weekends if we get any!!
My question is what are the general thoughts on starting the car a couple of times a week in the garage and letting it get to operating temp. I have had mixed views from a few people, so I thought I would ask the experts.

Thanks

I have had my Chim from new for 16 years. I never drive it in the winter. Through the winter I have always started it up every few weeks and if the drive isn't full of snow I will move it around so the tyres do not get flatted. Its kept in a garage throughout the winter. The battery is kept on a conditioner through the cig lighter. Handbrake is off and wheels chocked instead. Windows slightly open.

I have not had any problems resulting from a winter layup in the last 16 years with this routine.

[madasafrog666]

Thanks for all of the advice. I will just start it up now and again and run it up and down the the drive till the white stuff has gone. Praying for a dry cold sunny day!! so I can get out with the roof off for a blast.