How often do you guys start your car during the winter (if it's in storage), and how long do you let it run?
Depends on the car, rarely will I just start it and let it run as you will build up humidity and allow contaminants in the fluids to build with heat and cold cycling like that, but if I have the opportunity to take it out for a drive and really let it heat up (everything), then I'm all for it. Otherwise for long term storage (as long as 20+ years in one case) I fog the motor, bag the carb, and leave it alone. When coming out of storage (you did fill the gas tank to the top and add a stabilizer,right?), I change the oil and filter, double check torque settings, make sure there is proper inflation of the tires. I then pull the coil wire and crank the motor over to build up oil pressure, then reconnect and fire the motor. This method works flawlessly for both long and short term storage. Hope you find this helpful. Bill S.
If you cannot take your car out and drive it, do not start it. A Shelby at idle will run the battery down. Put a battery tender on the battery. Before your first start up, put a 100 watt light bulb under the oil pan and leave it on about 4 hours, then start it up, ease it outside and let the engine warm up 10 minutes or so. Should be good to go then. Take it easy, there might be flat spots on the tires.
So you're saying it would do more harm than good to start it (2010 GT500) up once a month and let it idle for 15-20 minutes? There's no chance of taking it out for a ride around here. We've had salt on the roads (and quite a bit of snow and ice) since early December.
That is right. It will only run the battery down and create moisture in the exhaust that will not evaporate. Put a battery tender on it and wait for spring, or move in a southerly direction. I've driven my shelby every day this week.
Thanks. I do have a battery tender on it and will wait for the snow and cold to disappear. I do plan on moving south (seasonal) upon retirement in 8 years, with Shelby in tow!
