I am officially off the road for the winter. Any tips?

[Thankyou4calling]

Tax expires today and SORN has come through so I am putting my 360 spider in mothballs until the spring. Last year I had to replace the battery which went flat due to no use so I will be starting it weekly and running it up and down the drive. Any other tips, should roof be up or down? Tyre prissures? Fuel? Antifreeze? Brakes? nI know I will get accused of being a garage queen but I enjoy the ownership as much as the driving.

[bob1179]

Make sure all your fluids are topped up, tyre pressures are normal (check them every few weeks) and the tank is topped up.

Get an Optimate charger for the battery and keep it plugged in! It will ensure your battery is topped up and conditioned.

If you really want to push the boat out, get a Carcoon, it is a big plastic bubble thing that you drive the car into and it is dehumidified. They are fairly pricey mind!

I leave my car for months at a time and it has never let me down when restarted.

[andysv]

agreed, i have an indoor carcoon and would recommend highly, also put it on a conditioner type charger optimate or accumate are two well known types do not use a regular charger it will ruin the battery over the winter, i also stand the tyres on thick carpet helps stop flat spots(though i'm not sure if this really happens)and i pump them 20% higher than normal pressure.

[kenyon]

Should never park a ferrari up for winter, should used throughout the year. In winter pick dry days to drive....

[will_]

kenyon said:

Should never park a ferrari up for winter, should used throughout the year. In winter pick dry days to drive....

Indeed, surely a new battery was much more than a few months' tax? Just keep it taxed and use it on dry days (of which there are plenty over the winter)!

[Thankyou4calling]

Thanks for the advice. I shall definitely get an optimate charger and park on something springy. I know I should use it but I only drive it with the roof down and although it can be pretty snug don't want to look an idiot driving roof down in winter. Pathetic I know but thats me.

[bob1179]

Thankyou4calling said:

Thanks for the advice. I shall definitely get an optimate charger and park on something springy. I know I should use it but I only drive it with the roof down and although it can be pretty snug don't want to look an idiot driving roof down in winter. Pathetic I know but thats me.

Stick the heater on full, wooly hat and a scarf.

Stuff what anybody else thinks!

I'm looking forward to hooning around the Lakes with the roof down come winter, I'm really looking forward to that clear, crisp sunny winter weather!

[Harsh]

Thankyou4calling said:

Thanks for the advice. I shall definitely get an optimate charger and park on something springy. I know I should use it but I only drive it with the roof down and although it can be pretty snug don't want to look an idiot driving roof down in winter. Pathetic I know but thats me.

I drive mine with the roof down all the time (almost all the time) winter or summer, if it's not bucketing down then why now?

The car runs much better when used regularly too.

However if you do want to store it then I would still suggest taxing it as there's nothing better than a quick 60 minute blast to keep things optimum.

[ade/lou]

Harsh said:

However if you do want to store it then I would still suggest taxing it as there's nothing better than a quick 60 minute blast to keep things optimum.

I had this debate with the wife last night, to save £160 on the 911 + Lambo, then two fill ups on the lambo and a good blast would cost as much as the tax saved, she said no brainer then ! cant not drive them !

[DrYazz]

bob1179 said:

Make sure all your fluids are topped up, tyre pressures are normal (check them every few weeks) and the tank is topped up.

?
What's the theory with having the tank 'topped up'? Is NOT empty not sufficient?

[jdwcd]

I have a spare ferrari charger, a ferrari 360 cover and a spare carcoon if interested

[MO]

And put a couple of mouse traps down as well.

[andrew.]

axle stands
leave the handbrake off

[911Thrasher]

But why? Don't they run so much better all year long? I use to run my 993turboS all year long including snow...I'm intending to do the same w/ my 360 which is my daily drive - yes the FFRR supercharged stays at home each day when I go to work!

What's wrong w/ rain - free wash

[ferrari spider]

DrYazz said:

bob1179 said:

Make sure all your fluids are topped up, tyre pressures are normal (check them every few weeks) and the tank is topped up.

?
What's the theory with having the tank 'topped up'? Is NOT empty not sufficient?

If air is allowed to sit in a half full tank, the fuel can become bad/stale over time. This has a very distinktive bad smell to it by the way. There are two ways to avoid this. Fill the tank right up, or use a fuel stabilizer which is added to the tank. I use stabilizer on all my ferraris and motor bikes during winter lay ups.

[jdwcd]

jdwcd said:

I have a spare ferrari charger, a ferrari 360 cover and a spare carcoon if interested

Sorry meant air chamber. have got a carcoon too

[bmad]

911Thrasher said:

But why? Don't they run so much better all year long? I use to run my 993turboS all year long including snow...I'm intending to do the same w/ my 360 which is my daily drive - yes the FFRR supercharged stays at home each day when I go to work!

What's wrong w/ rain - free wash

Have to agree with you here. Come wind, rain or shine I drive mine. Have to draw the line for snow as it won't physically get out of the drive. Otherwise anything goes and I'm sure the car is better for it. But hey each to their own and I totally respect those who park up for the winter.

[larrylamb11]

If you are going to park up for the winter, theoretically it would be better NOT to run up the engine every week... the bulk of engine wear occurs at start up and when engines are cold. Also if you don't get the engine up to full operating temperature (water and oil temps) for a suitable period you won't burn off the condensation and evaporate the contaminants that naturally occur in an engine as they warm from cold.... you will actually do more harm than good starting the engine and letting it run for a few minutes every week, causing unnecessary wear and building up a nice corrosive brew of contaminants within. Much better to leave it hibernating and properly prepared for slumber in the garage and only run it when you come to start using it again or if you have the time to get it out and do it properly.
The need to regularly run cars in storage is a mis-conception really......

[Thankyou4calling]

larrylamb11 said:

If you are going to park up for the winter, theoretically it would be better NOT to run up the engine every week... the bulk of engine wear occurs at start up and when engines are cold. Also if you don't get the engine up to full operating temperature (water and oil temps) for a suitable period you won't burn off the condensation and evaporate the contaminants that naturally occur in an engine as they warm from cold.... you will actually do more harm than good starting the engine and letting it run for a few minutes every week, causing unnecessary wear and building up a nice corrosive brew of contaminants within. Much better to leave it hibernating and properly prepared for slumber in the garage and only run it when you come to start using it again or if you have the time to get it out and do it properly.
The need to regularly run cars in storage is a mis-conception really......

That is very interstin. Fair point well made. I am missing driving now and may reconsider.

[rubystone]

andrew. said:

axle stands
leave the handbrake off

Really? I'm sure I heard about someone who recently looked at a Ferrari 456 (IIRC) that had been stored in just that way recently. the body had sagged as a result. I'd not want to prop my Ferrari up on a bunch of axle stands. Much better to tax it and give it a run if you can find a rare dry day when there's no salt on the road or at least fire it up once every two weeks to get it warm and physically drive it even just a few feet to exercise the brakes and 'box.