To start, or not to start

Hyprblu · 01-10-2021, 02:12 PM

So I've been wrestling with this thought for the last couple weeks. Probably also has to do with not having driven the car in over a month, and just wanting to hear it run. Looking for opinions on if it would be better to start the car weekly or monthly or whatever, to keep engine internals coated in oil. Or just wait till spring and fire it then. My storage is not heated so it's only slightly above outdoor temperature which gets pretty cold here in Michigan. Is there any data on losing oil coating internally and causing heavy wear on start after long-term shutdown?

HCI2000SS · 01-10-2021, 02:14 PM

Personally I'd just throw a trickle charger on it and let it be. Starting and not driving it is not best IMO

UnknownJinX · 01-10-2021, 02:18 PM

It's either start once, wear once or start multiple times, wear multiple times. Pretty simple which one you should choose.

I am just leaving mine in a garage now and take a look once in a while to just make sure everything is good.

Sent from toaster or something

Azerlazer26 · 01-10-2021, 02:35 PM

I never start the car during storage season (November-March for me). Just hook the car up to a trickle charger and toss a cover until it’s time to drive her again

Invertalon · 01-10-2021, 03:00 PM

Don't start it if you don't plan to actually drive it. Idling isn't exactly the greatest thing and can cause fuel dilution in the oil, especially if not brought up to operating temp for a bit to evaporate it off due to the rich start. The SS oil sump is huge, it takes a long time to get up to operating temp (it takes at least 15 minutes or so DRIVING it, let alone just idling in these temps...).

People have been storing cars long term for a long time with no issues with the proper precautions (trickle charger is a big one to keep the battery in good shape... Check out the MXS 5.0 by CTEK).

If you want to hear it run, plenty of videos on youtube of Camaros... Turn the volume up and let it rip!

Hyprblu · 01-10-2021, 07:35 PM

Thanks guys! Waiting it is

KenMaro · 01-10-2021, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hyprblu

Thanks guys! Waiting it is

Waiting sucks, but you aren't the only one. Even with the decent weather we have had lately I haven't started mine up either.

I have been really tempted this last week or so, but only a couple more months till I break it out again.

Z28James · 01-10-2021, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenMaro

Waiting sucks, but you aren't the only one. Even with the decent weather we have had lately I haven't started mine up either.

I have been really tempted this last week or so, but only a couple more months till I break it out again.

I feel your pain, I'm itching to start it too, but we just have to think spring.....

JSH · 01-10-2021, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hyprblu

So I've been wrestling with this thought for the last couple weeks. Probably also has to do with not having driven the car in over a month, and just wanting to hear it run. Looking for opinions on if it would be better to start the car weekly or monthly or whatever, to keep engine internals coated in oil. Or just wait till spring and fire it then. My storage is not heated so it's only slightly above outdoor temperature which gets pretty cold here in Michigan. Is there any data on losing oil coating internally and causing heavy wear on start after long-term shutdown?

Michigan? Come on man! I'm in Denver and drove mine today at 35F sunny, probably not more than 5-7 days in any month I can't drive it

Azerlazer26 · 01-10-2021, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenMaro

Waiting sucks, but you aren't the only one. Even with the decent weather we have had lately I haven't started mine up either.

I have been really tempted this last week or so, but only a couple more months till I break it out again.

Dude I feel you. It was bright, blue and 40° In Novi. I was DYING to drive the car after seeing a 69 out and about

ember1205 · 01-11-2021, 08:56 AM

You should not start a car that is "in storage" as it does far more harm than good. Unless you can get it up to full operating temperature, leave it alone. Trickle charger / maintainer until spring.

Nothing like an SS · 01-11-2021, 09:38 AM

Yup, like many of us (me too), just wait until Spring when you can drive, more harm than good otherwise. Just wait......sigh

avalonandl · 01-11-2021, 09:44 AM

Throw a trickle charger with a desulfator mode - Battery mindr 1500....

Nothing like an SS · 01-11-2021, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avalonandl

Throw a trickle charger with a desulfator mode - Battery mindr 1500....

Yes, I am hooked up to Optima charger, I also put Stabil and full tank of gas, over inflate tires and wait until Spring

It's only 3 months here, mid to late November to early mid March. I can wait.....

01-10-2021, 02:12 PM	#1
Hyprblu Drives: 2018 2SS 1LE Join Date: May 2020 Location: Kalamazoo Michigan Posts: 21	To start, or not to start So I've been wrestling with this thought for the last couple weeks. Probably also has to do with not having driven the car in over a month, and just wanting to hear it run. Looking for opinions on if it would be better to start the car weekly or monthly or whatever, to keep engine internals coated in oil. Or just wait till spring and fire it then. My storage is not heated so it's only slightly above outdoor temperature which gets pretty cold here in Michigan. Is there any data on losing oil coating internally and causing heavy wear on start after long-term shutdown?

01-10-2021, 02:18 PM	#3
UnknownJinX Drives: 19 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS 1LE Shock Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 1,947	It's either start once, wear once or start multiple times, wear multiple times. Pretty simple which one you should choose. I am just leaving mine in a garage now and take a look once in a while to just make sure everything is good. Sent from toaster or something __________________ Current: 2019 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS 1LE M6 Shock GM Performance Intake and that's it, because driver mods before car mods Past: 2009 Mazda RX-8 GT M6 Velocity Red Mica (Sold) 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z51 2LT M7 Velocity Yellow Tintcoat (Flood totaled)

01-11-2021, 09:44 AM	#13
avalonandl Drives: 2019 ZL-1 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Troy, MI & Naples, FL Posts: 2,018	Throw a trickle charger with a desulfator mode - Battery mindr 1500.... __________________ 2019 ZL-1 Acquired 4/23/21 at 6300 miles. Riverside Blue, A10, PDR. Traded in 2017 2SS with 6M and 32k miles. Continental Extreme Contact Sports. Now has 10,000 miles... 2012 Yukon XL Denali w/ 6.2 AWD

01-10-2021, 02:14 PM	#2
HCI2000SS Drives: 2018 Camaro V6/RS Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: MI Posts: 1,596	Personally I'd just throw a trickle charger on it and let it be. Starting and not driving it is not best IMO

01-10-2021, 02:35 PM	#4
Azerlazer26 Drives: 2018 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Michigan Posts: 611 View My Garage	I never start the car during storage season (November-March for me). Just hook the car up to a trickle charger and toss a cover until it’s time to drive her again

01-10-2021, 03:00 PM	#5
Invertalon Drives: 2021 2SS Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Cleveland Posts: 303	Don't start it if you don't plan to actually drive it. Idling isn't exactly the greatest thing and can cause fuel dilution in the oil, especially if not brought up to operating temp for a bit to evaporate it off due to the rich start. The SS oil sump is huge, it takes a long time to get up to operating temp (it takes at least 15 minutes or so DRIVING it, let alone just idling in these temps...). People have been storing cars long term for a long time with no issues with the proper precautions (trickle charger is a big one to keep the battery in good shape... Check out the MXS 5.0 by CTEK). If you want to hear it run, plenty of videos on youtube of Camaros... Turn the volume up and let it rip!

01-10-2021, 07:35 PM	#6
Hyprblu Drives: 2018 2SS 1LE Join Date: May 2020 Location: Kalamazoo Michigan Posts: 21	Thanks guys! Waiting it is

01-11-2021, 08:56 AM	#11
ember1205 Hot Camaro Drives: '20 2SS Convertible 6MT Join Date: May 2020 Location: CT Posts: 3,647	You should not start a car that is "in storage" as it does far more harm than good. Unless you can get it up to full operating temperature, leave it alone. Trickle charger / maintainer until spring.

01-11-2021, 09:38 AM	#12
Nothing like an SS Faster!!! Drives: 2020 Camaro 1SS 1LE Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,004	Yup, like many of us (me too), just wait until Spring when you can drive, more harm than good otherwise. Just wait......sigh

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