Winter storage? :|
Definitive Guide to Winter Storage of Zed
- Thread starter inkey$
- Start date
A car can stand for a couple of weeks with no harm, even in winter surely?
In between times there will be dry, ice free days where the car can be used. I have a Freelander which is my main drive during the winter but I don't hibernate the zed. It gets used when I can use it.
I know some people like to store their zeds over winter but I like to drive mine whenever I can.
Good write up tho Inks.
In between times there will be dry, ice free days where the car can be used. I have a Freelander which is my main drive during the winter but I don't hibernate the zed. It gets used when I can use it.
I know some people like to store their zeds over winter but I like to drive mine whenever I can.
Good write up tho Inks.
First winter with our Mc.
Preparation will be:
Give it a decent wax this weekend.
Wait until OH comes in after a drive complaining dsc light flashing most of the time, as she can't concentrate overtaking 911s round the outside on roundabouts
Change to winter tyres.
Preparation will be:
Give it a decent wax this weekend.
Wait until OH comes in after a drive complaining dsc light flashing most of the time, as she can't concentrate overtaking 911s round the outside on roundabouts
Change to winter tyres.
First winter with our Mc.
Preparation will be:
Give it a decent wax this weekend.
Wait until OH comes in after a drive complaining dsc light flashing most of the time, as she can't concentrate overtaking 911s round the outside on roundabouts
Change to winter tyres.
Preparation will be:
Give it a decent wax this weekend.
Wait until OH comes in after a drive complaining dsc light flashing most of the time, as she can't concentrate overtaking 911s round the outside on roundabouts
Change to winter tyres.
Regardless of your views about storing the Z, sometimes conditions dictate that storage is the only option. I'd rather this thread becomes a decent haven for storage tips than individuals offering their 2 pence worth, where frankly it has not been asked for.
I travel a lot for work, and am looking at a 1 year placement in Asia from late next year. I'll have to store (or sell, but I don't want to) the Z over this time so find this thread very useful.
Sorry for the rant, feeling particularly grumpy this morning. :x
I travel a lot for work, and am looking at a 1 year placement in Asia from late next year. I'll have to store (or sell, but I don't want to) the Z over this time so find this thread very useful.
Sorry for the rant, feeling particularly grumpy this morning. :x
Mine tends to live in the garage with a thin cover all year round and only comes out for fun on nice days, during the winter she's used even less and kept on trickle charge.
I do, however, keep the tax & insurance going all year as the savings are minimal for the hassle involved and there are always some lovely days during the winter when you can have a hoon - last New Year's day was amazing, a lovely crisp sunny day and virtually no-one on the roads before about 2pm as they were mostly hungover or still over-the-limit after New Year's Eve
I do, however, keep the tax & insurance going all year as the savings are minimal for the hassle involved and there are always some lovely days during the winter when you can have a hoon - last New Year's day was amazing, a lovely crisp sunny day and virtually no-one on the roads before about 2pm as they were mostly hungover or still over-the-limit after New Year's Eve
Jonny essex said:
Im not sure if driving on dry days on dried out salt is any better than driving on wet days...
The dust salt particles will get to places where they wouldn't normally get and when you park the car humidity + the salt dust will do damage ...
Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you drive it wash it off with clean water ... just in case
In theory washing salt off is a good idea as it attracts moisture and accelerates rusting. Reality is you can't readily wash if off the bits where it most needs washing off, on the chassis, in panel joints, brake lines, etc..
I'm sure outside storage under cover is actually the best solution as you get regular air movement ot keep the car dry but protection from the worst of the weather. Garages can be warm and humid and really rot cars if not well ventilated.
I'm sure outside storage under cover is actually the best solution as you get regular air movement ot keep the car dry but protection from the worst of the weather. Garages can be warm and humid and really rot cars if not well ventilated.
cj10jeeper said:
Agree with this. I always leave a window open slightly in my garage (tumble dryer vent hangs out it anyway). Whenever my car is wet and I park it up the windows of the garage fog almost immediately because of how hot the car - particularly the bonnet - gets. On the plus side, the garage is a toasty place to be in the winter
I think this is worse with integral garages, mine is a detached building and has enough airflow (floor level under main doors and behind facia at roof level) that I've never had an issue with condensation in the 10+ years that we've lived here. It's not heated and, although stuff in there hasn't frozen even during the long cold snaps we've had in the last couple of years, it's certainly not warm in the winter.Bing said:cj10jeeper said:
Agree with this. I always leave a window open slightly in my garage (tumble dryer vent hangs out it anyway). Whenever my car is wet and I park it up the windows of the garage fog almost immediately because of how hot the car - particularly the bonnet - gets. On the plus side, the garage is a toasty place to be in the winter
PerryGunn said:I think this is worse with integral garages, mine is a detached building and has enough airflow (floor level under main doors and behind facia at roof level) that I've never had an issue with condensation in the 10+ years that we've lived here. It's not heated and, although stuff in there hasn't frozen even during the long cold snaps we've had in the last couple of years, it's certainly not warm in the winter.Bing said:cj10jeeper said:
Agree with this. I always leave a window open slightly in my garage (tumble dryer vent hangs out it anyway). Whenever my car is wet and I park it up the windows of the garage fog almost immediately because of how hot the car - particularly the bonnet - gets. On the plus side, the garage is a toasty place to be in the winter
I'm no builder but garages are fascinating places for condensation. I agree that integral are worse and air flow is important. I have a large 2 car integral with boiler, hot water tank and 3 freezers in it so it never freezes, but as with your - it's bloody cold...
What's suprising is as temperatures rise and fall the concrete floor is a huge cold store. As the temp rises the floor can become really wet, even though I have lots of ventilation under the doors. In fact it seems to make it worse as warm air come in and hits the floor.
Can't complain though after 10 years the Zeds still rust free
-Tom- said:
While the exhaust does get moisture due to not warming completely. It's the moisture build up inside the engine due to not fully warming up that will do a lot of damage. Also, When an engine is cold and is running on the rich start up cycle. You will get a little fuel/combustion contamination in the oil. When the fuel, water, And oil combine. It can become acidic.
If you think about it, concrete is an effective thermal store and many of the old-style night storage heaters used large concrete blocks for this reason. A large mass of concrete will warm and cool slowly and warm moist air from the house hitting a cold concrete floor will drop its water, just be careful if you ever think about tiling the garage floor (unless you have the reflexes of a circus acrobat :wink: )cj10jeeper said:
PerryGunn said:
Totally agree and in fact it's not so much moisture from the house (in our case as we have a conservatory between garage and house), but after a cold period the warmer moisture laden air ventilating the garage from outside. The rate it deposits at easily exceed the rate it evaporates off and 'airs' out at.
For Moisture Issues, a dehumidifier may be the answer.
Although you have to make sure you get one that operates at low temps, if that is necessary.
This one is just over a ton and was effective for sorting the damp out in our previous guest bedroom (No Cavity 30's flat with shot rendering on the outside)
and goes down to 5degC
Alternatively loads of them silica gel bags? about 30 quid for 10 x 500g bags
Although you have to make sure you get one that operates at low temps, if that is necessary.
This one is just over a ton and was effective for sorting the damp out in our previous guest bedroom (No Cavity 30's flat with shot rendering on the outside)
and goes down to 5degC
Alternatively loads of them silica gel bags? about 30 quid for 10 x 500g bags
