Infrequent winter use - tips please

[breadvan]

I am not planning to use my 981 very much over the winter but do not want to take it off the road completely. If, say I don't use car for 2-3 weeks at a time would you recommend a trickle charger? If so, can I use my motorcycle Optimate or does a modern car require something else?

The car is garaged.

Thanks, as usual

Breadvan

[BnB]

Shouldn't need any extra maintenance, though I would try to use more often. Just avoid snowy days or get winter tyres.

[Trev450]

Definately recommend using a battery conditioner as the combination of alarms, immobilsers and the cold weather tends to drain batteries quite quickly.

Not sure if a bike one will suffice - probably best to check with the manufacturer.

[Pickled Piper]

Did you mean trickle charger or battery conditioner?

A conditioner is designed to be connected to teh battery long term. It detects the state of the battery and then charges accordingly. Also, gives it a "tickle" now and then. Get one of these, leave it connected to the battery when you are not using the car and all will be fine.

pp

[EvoSlayer]

breadvan said:

I am not planning to use my 981 very much over the winter but do not want to take it off the road completely. If, say I don't use car for 2-3 weeks at a time would you recommend a trickle charger? If so, can I use my motorcycle Optimate or does a modern car require something else?

The car is garaged.

Thanks, as usual

Breadvan

I've used an Accumate on the turbo for a few years now over Winter and never had any problems, in fact I have a few of them plugged in to various things. Since using them I've never suffered any battery problems and the conditioner unit has been thoroughly reliable. It has the convenience of being supplied with a fly lead that can be permenantly attached to battery so it's just a case of plugging it in and out, lead can be easily routed through top edge of bonnet. Car generally comes of the road when weather gets stty and they start salting the road, goes through it's annual Winter maintenance regime and is ready to go when things brighten up again.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Aldi's got their chargers in stock again this week, mine must be 3 winters old at least & still going strong

[tjlees]

breadvan said:

I am not planning to use my 981 very much over the winter but do not want to take it off the road completely. If, say I don't use car for 2-3 weeks at a time would you recommend a trickle charger? If so, can I use my motorcycle Optimate or does a modern car require something else?

The car is garaged.

Thanks, as usual

Breadvan

If you leave it for three weeks you really need to put it on a trickle charger, since the battery sulphates and gradually goes - or at least thats what mine does and with a optimate 6 it takes 72 hours of cycling to get it back from yellow green to green.

The optimate motorcycle charger may not be man enough for the job - check the long term maintenance charge figure. You need a optimate 2 as a minimum, really a optimate 5 which allows for a full recharge if required. C-tek also do a good range, which is the Porsche rebadged one.

[Homer J]

EvoSlayer said:

I've used an Accumate on the turbo for a few years now over Winter and never had any problems, in fact I have a few of them plugged in to various things. Since using them I've never suffered any battery problems and the conditioner unit has been thoroughly reliable. It has the convenience of being supplied with a fly lead that can be permenantly attached to battery so it's just a case of plugging it in and out, lead can be easily routed through top edge of bonnet. Car generally comes of the road when weather gets stty and they start salting the road, goes through it's annual Winter maintenance regime and is ready to go when things brighten up again.

What he said

I got an accumate about 8-9 years ago now. Use it every time the cars out of action for more than about 1 week. The accumate has been totally reliable and the 3 cars I've used it on have always come out of hibernation and fired up no probs.

Keeping the damp out of my garages that's another issue

[tjlees]

Optimate also produce accumate http://www.optimate.co.uk/

AccuMate range is aimed at higher current applications like commercial vehicles. Both are very suitable for cars

Edited by tjlees on Thursday 18th October 21:19

[nsm3]

I switch my accumate between the 911 and my Ducati about once a week - works a treat.

[keep it lit]

c-tek

[Acf69]

Any specific recommendations for a battery conditioner for my 996TT greatly received. I can see it hibernating a bit this winter

[Trev450]

I've used one of these for the last 5 years or so: http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/battery-c...

[Martian O]

Trev450 said:

I've used one of these for the last 5 years or so: http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/battery-c...

+1

Normally available on eBay for around £45 all in with delivery though.

[tjlees]

Trev450 said:

I've used one of these for the last 5 years or so: http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/battery-c...

For a 996 turbo with a 80ah battery upgrade this may not be man enough for the job, especially on full recharge.

So if you have 80ah battery you probably need the next one up http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/battery-c...

[Acf69]

Thanks for the tips, I assume I have to have a look somewhere and find the battery to determine its a 80 one (and that it says so somewhere on it inope!)

[tjlees]

Acf69 said:

Thanks for the tips, I assume I have to have a look somewhere and find the battery to determine its a 80 one (and that it says so somewhere on it inope!)

See http://www.design911.co.uk/fu/pt259_261_-cma81-cmo... and http://rb-aa.bosch.com/aa-batterien/gb/en/pkw/bat_...

If it's been upgraded to a bosch it will be a S4 for 80ah. For any other battery, the product no on the top or side can be googled

[Rockster]

breadvan said:

I am not planning to use my 981 very much over the winter but do not want to take it off the road completely. If, say I don't use car for 2-3 weeks at a time would you recommend a trickle charger? If so, can I use my motorcycle Optimate or does a modern car require something else?

The car is garaged.

Thanks, as usual

Breadvan

May not have to do anything as long as every 2 to 3 weeks you drive the car long enough to recharge the battery.

A sick family member's new car (and Infiniti something or other) has been sat mostly unused since late January and has not had any issues. I drive the car maybe once a month and the engine fires right up and runs fine. The gas got stale from Jan to the 1st week in July when I used the car for about a week but a fill up with fresh gasoline really perked up the engine.

Just be sure everything is off and lock the car and that's that. (Well, since you have the car in a garage you can leave the parking brake off -- leave the manual tranny in gear or if an auto in Park and block the wheels.)

After 5 days the alarm system shuts off and then in another 9 days you drive the car for a half an hour or so and when done park the car up again in your garage until next time.

Be sure you do not put the car away with the brakes wet from rain splash.

Also, when you first take the car out use the brakes to slow the car a couple of times but not bring the car to a stop. This couple of times slowing will scrub off any rust that may have accumulated while the car has sat in your garage.

Where you will go wrong is if you start the engine and drive the car around the block then park it up again for another 2 weeks. The engine start draws the battery down and the short drive doesn't come anywhere replenishing the battery. The battery will be fine with this treatment until one day it is not fine. It is dead or so nearly dead it might as well be dead.

Sincerely,

Rockster.

[Trev450]

DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.

Yes. Where have you been for the last 12 months?