To all Gen.1 & Gen.2 Solaras, winter storage questions

[mig0s]

Alright guys I hate to talk about winter and I know some of you live in the south side and don't even have winter lol but...

I am storing the Solara from November to March. The winter in Montreal is really harsh, some times it gets -20 to even -30C (around -20 F)! with A LOT of snow. And the bad news is I don't have access to the garage during the winter. I will be most likely leaving it in on my driveway.

So what is the best to store the car outside? Put a car cover and start the car 2-3 times a week?

Also, do I have to change the oil before AND after? I know the 1mz is subject to serious sludge problems. How can I prevent sludge when storing the car?

Any advice would be appreciated.

[yaddadaimsayin]

http://www.sheltersofamerica.com/produc ... =744&id=14

[kenny6683]

http://www.wikihow.com/Store-a-Car

[ToyoSolV6]

id recomend taking off your wheels and putting the stock one's back on.

[amabsolute]

http://www.wikihow.com/Store-a-Car

^This pretty much sums it up for long term storage.
Short term over winter do an oil change add a fuel stabilizer. Since your gonna start it i recommend letting it warm up and driving for at least 20 minutes once every 2 weeks should be good, it allows it to reach running temps and fluids to recirculate. I also recommend rust proofing, i do it yearly.

here's another link that might help you decide what to do http://www.dccarcare.com/tipowk/tipowk15.html

[mig0s]

Cool thanks for the links guys! Any other Solaras will be stored in the winter?

And do you guys have specific recommendations on storing OUTSIDE and also SLUDGE prevention?

Thanks

[amabsolute]

Quote-Since your gonna start it i recommend letting it warm up and driving for at least 20 minutes once every 2 weeks should be good, it allows it to reach running temps and fluids to recirculate-

"Sludge in gasoline engines is usually black emulsion of water and other combustion by-products, and oil formed primarily during low-temperature engine operation. Sludge is typically soft, but can polymerize to very hard substance. It plugs oil lines and screens, and accelerates wear of engine parts. Sludge deposits can be controlled with a dispersant additive that keeps the sludge constituents finely suspended in the oil.

"Black Sludge" is defined as thick to solid material with low water content, of dark color, light oil insolubles, and typically found in rocker cover, cylinder head, timing chain cover, oil sump, oil pump screen, and oil rings in variable quantities"


"1.) Short Trips

- Engine Coolant and Engine Oil never reach the "normal" operating temperatures
(170º F to 190º F for coolant and over 212º F for motor oil)"

Here's a link to where i got this info - http://www.synlube.com/sludge.htm

thats why i recommended driving for a minimum of twenty minutes.

[mig0s]

^^ Thanks for the link it seems informative until I read this:

"SynLube™ Lube-4-Life®

and drive sludge and worry FREE for up to 15 years or 150,000 miles or 6,000 engine hours WITHOUT oil changes ! "

really?

[amabsolute]

I dont know abou that synlube stuff. I just pasted the link because it was the first one that i read that had info on how sludge happened.
personnally i use valvoline max life semi-syn. with an engine additive(engine restorer) every 4000k's or 3 months....wichever comes first.

[FLASH]

I also "store" my car in the winter, but not much more than I do year round while I drive my Deville. Typically I just try to drive it at least 2 hours once every 2 weeks, do an oil change before the winter months, and monitor tire pressure. Not much else from normal, but I also do drive it relatively frequently and am able to store it in a garage. But those links certainly help.

[Solarasian]

thanks for this question. its really good to know this. + i would have to ask in the future

[mig0s]

Anyone knows if ever I store the car for 4-5 months, should I start the car often? (to avoid sludge?) or I shouldn't start the car? Cuz my friends tell me to not start the car at all...

[amabsolute]

If your not going to drive it for a minimum of 20 mins. its best no to start it at all.

[DSM_Lara]

Ahhhh... I love that I don't have to worry about this.

[yaddadaimsayin]

Ahhhh... I love that I don't have to worry about this.

yeah seriously, all I get here in Cali is some rain once in awhile. I don't think I'd be able to stay away from driving the solara even if we did have savage winters like all those other suckers out there though