Winter Care

[Ian Cooke]

Hi All

Over the winter months when the E type doesn't get out very often is it a good idea to start her up every few weeks and leave the engine running until it gets up to normal operating temperature? I'm concerned that this may do more harm than good.

Also, when leaving the battery on trickle charge should I disconnect the battery from the car or is it ok to leave connected? I have a discarnect which isolates the earth.

Ian

[cactusman]

I start mine periodically and leave as fast idle...1500 rpm till the cooling fan cuts in. There should be no problem trickle charging the battery with it connected to the car. Wise to check the electrolyte level every few months and if yours is a sealed for life battery use a charger suitable for use with a sealed battery.

NEVER run the car in a closed garage....preferably take it outside.

Ideally of course if the weather is suitable and the salt is absent take it for a run to warm the transmission and exercise the brakes I do that too

[driver]

Hi Rob Gill here,
Back in the day I was always led to believe that the battery should always be disconnected.
Any thoughts on this theory?

[mgcjag]

I always disconnect the battery when the car is left in the garage ...but i dont have a mouse free zone so always a potential for the wireing to get chewed....Steve

[JerryL770]

The old reason for disconnecting the battery during charging was, I think, because older chargers would not control the current/voltage very well and the alternator diodes could be damaged by the charging process. It was probably also prevalent in the early days of engine management systems that the process could damage the electronics.

I prefer only to put my battery on charge intermittently rather than permanent trickle charge - even though I have an appropriate charger.

[cactusman]

Also back in the day nobody had RCD's on their sockets....there was always a small possibility of the charger developing a fault causing the output terminals to be at mains potential...the car being on rubber tyres, if you touched the car...electric shock.

Modern chargers are better made and hopefully you use an RCD protected socket so the risk is essentially removed.

Mine sits on a trickle charger with no issues..

[chrisfell]

Axle stands. The Vreds on my car deform if left for too long in one spot. Plus 1 for the occasional trickle charge, but I also run the engine to full temp every few weeks or so.

In the meanwhile each corner and the underside get a deep clean, and a full inner and outer panel re-waxoyling. Winter is fluid change time, hydraulic every other year, transmission about every four years, (engine 2x a year as mileage is nearly always over 3k).

[driver]

Hi Rob Gill here,
oh I see, i'm showing my age now, my wife says im stuck in the 70s.

[Gerry]

Hi Ian,I think starting your car during the winter layup does more harm than good,cold starts cause more wear than anything else,plus all the associated condensation means you have to leave the car running for an extended period to burn off all the moisture.That being said I do live in Canada where salt is used as disposable snow plow,so my car is in the garage for the duration!
Regards Gerry 62 Ots
Ontario Canada.

[Ian Cooke]

Thanks All for the feedback.

The concensus seems to be that its ok to leave the battery connected when on trickle charge however, it's not so clear as to whether it's a good or bad thing to occasionally run the engine if unable to go for a drive. I guess that its one of those things that is a matter of opinion so I'll have to make up my own mind!

[cactusman]

As you say there are differing opinions re starting....I would just add that if you do plan to start then run for at least 15 mins to get the engine oil, water and exhaust system genuinely hot....make the radiator fan cut in at least once.

If you plan to leave it till spring then it is unlikely that any damp will seep into the bores if garaged. in the old days people put redex cylinder lube in the plug holes before laying up...gives huge amounts of smoke when you do start!!!! I don't do this! However after four months ALL the oil will have drained to the sump....in this case I would remove the plugs and an LT lead to the coil and and crank for 30 secs or until the oil pressure gauge moves just to get oil around the engine before replacing the plugs and coil connection and starting....They say that most wear happens on start up and certainly an engine that has not run for months will be under lubricated at the head in my view....just my take....there is no right or wrong answer

[dal2.0litrefrogeye]

I always disconnect battery when the car is laid up for a while 1. for just that very rare chance something electrical shorts and starts a dreaded fire , and 2 . Im sure i read many moons ago ( before fake opinion www) that a car left with an electical circuit connected , can help any oxidisation
( rust ) on its way , and finally C In the long run it's also better for the battery

[Simonpfhc]

I’ve got my E put away for the winter stored in an air-tight bag. Battery completely removed, tyres sitting on tyre-savers, fuel stabiliser added to tank, two large dehumidifier packs and a generous amount of wax over the bodywork.




The bag comes with a humidity and temperature display so I can check the humidity is around 50%



Looking forward to next March

Cheers

Simon

[Charles Atha]

Blimey.!
I just drive mine. It’s a car.
Happy New Year to all.
Charles.