Z storage and maintenance during Winter

blackcherry20

wellll. That is quite interesting.

And funny.

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Gadgetech

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MacCool

I love driving my Z. I love its acceleration, its cornering, and its braking. Those, for me, are the things that make it fun to drive and are the reason I even have that car. When there's snow and/or ice on the ground...those enjoyable driving aspects just go away, leaving me with a low ground clearance, badly balanced (for winter driving), rear wheel drive car that becomes very cramped when you try to sit in it with a Minnesota-style winter coat, and whose interior isn't even as luxurious as my GMC 4x4.

I don't love my Z. I love driving my Z.

ZeeBabar

I can understand your reasoning to some extent but storing it the entire winter? Maybe it's a pain getting in the car with a heavy coat on every day but not even now and then? There would be a few days when the roads are clear?

In any case, my point was directed more at folks in New York, Chicago and other places in the. Midwest where there are plenty of cold but clear days. There are a lot of Blizzaks being sold to Z owners because they love driving it, being seen it and feeling good in it. They do not put it in storage.

MacCool

If it's not fun to drive it, why drive it? Why spend the money on Blizzaks and wheels just to slowly grind your way down the road waiting for the tires to break loose on the faintest patch of frosty highway?

Honestly, my 4x4 pickup is a lot more fun in the winter than my Z.

b15

No, not really. Most people here have two newer/nice cars. Why do you assume the second car is a beater? Is it because you don't have two cars? I see you're also in Missouri. I don't think you have really experienced a real winter. We get can get 5-7inches of lake effect snow in a matter of hours, I don't think you're going to enjoy driving your Z very much.

mishuko

I saw a frs get snow banked turning off a semi-plowed road to residential road. let's just say the clearance is about the same, he has a lot less power, but all he did was spin his rears. I do not want to get into that position. Ever.

b15

Yeah. In the winter, it's all about safety and practicality for me, especially when there's snow and ice. Both of which my other car does better.

Back on topic, I also overinflate my tires and I change the oil. I know some like to do it in the spring, but I like leaving fresh oil in there all winter. Whatever moisture that may have aaccumulated will be burned off after a good drive in the spring. I also give it a Full tank of gas, good detail, hook it up to a battery maintainer, put it under the cover and leave it alone until spring. She fires right up. Don't over complicate it, it's only 4-5months

2011 Nismo#91

There is a lot of information on storing cars on the internet, it seems many people have been doing it for decades and have learned alot over time. Here's a checklist that took me all of 30sec to find.
http://www.rochestercorvetteclub.org...-checklist.pdf
Do as much or as little of what is listed.

INJECT OIL: This can be done for rare cars and for long term storage needs. If you really want to go to great lengths and are truly obsessed, take a lesson from motorcyclists: Remove the spark plugs and inject a little oil into the cylinders. Reinstall the spark plugs (or an old set of used plugs for storage) without torquing them completely, and crank the motor briefly with the plugs in and the positive lead to the distributor or the coil wire removed. (Don't let the engine fire.) This will coat the combustion chamber and cylinder walls with a protective layer of oil. Don't restart the car until spring. You will need to change the spark plugs back to your good ones or buy new ones in the spring because of the oil that fouled them with the protective layer.

kenchan

i hibernated my z following my own protocol yesterday.

i need to keep a eye open on the rat poison.... i think a few pellets may have moved ive not had a mouse problem that i know of. never know though

MacCool

A couple of glue traps spread around will define the extent of the problem for you. Other option is the old peanut butter/tin can/5 gallon bucket.

https://www.google.com/search?q=5+ga...x-a&channel=sb

ayrton88

I have a dilemma concerning storing my car over the winter. My doctor has a bunch of classic sports cars and from November through April he takes the insurance off them. I'm thinking about doing the same thing, except I know there will be couple nice warmer days that I will be tempted to take the Z out. I could save a couple hundred bucks, but it will bother the hell out of me if we have a decent winter and I'm stuck driving my old Avalon. I'll leave the comprehensive on, but I know what will happen if I tempt fate and actually drive the Z.

SwissCheese

I've been thinking of doing this as well. Not taking the insurance off completely, but at lowering limits.

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Gadgetech

I don't have to put mine away because it isn't that bad for that long BUT...when it's cold, the tires have very poor grip so I definitely drive it less.

Sent from my Galaxy S5 Active

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mishuko

so when you guys put your Z in storage... do you ever check the tire pressure and re-pump if it drops?