How often do you start your car???

[jandesousa]

Just wondering what everybody does over winter months regarding start ups. So my car is normally parked up over the winter anyway but probably a bit longer this year due to covid. I got a trickle charger on for battery. Don't know of there is a right or wrong but should you start the car up every so often and just bring it fully up to temp or just leave it well alone until you decide to get it out of hibernation??? Obviously it will have an oil and filter change before this. Car has been parked up since September. What's your thoughts???

 

[BRAAAP]

Remove the green relay and crank for approx 10 seconds, three times, letting the oil settle each time. Approx every 3 months.

No need to start the car

 

[a.tapos]

I can leave mine for a year with no issues,got a big bosch battery in the boot with an isoltor.I believe if you are going to start a 13b you should run it around the block.

 

[jdmr_neil]

I just park mine up in November and fire it up again in March/april. It sits with a ctek charger on it through that time.

For reference i have a pc680 tiny little battery

 

[BRAAAP]

Was advised by a rotary guru with decades of experience.
If you start the car you should drive it to operating temperature.

If you leave the car longer then approx 3 months without cranking and then decide to start the car, you run the risk of no oil in the bearings as oil settles,
increased rpm with fuel compared to cranking without fuel, bearings get scored and you may reduce engine life?

Why risk it?

 

[jandesousa]

Was advised by a rotary guru with decades of experience.
If you start the car you should drive it to operating temperature.

If you leave the car longer then approx 3 months without cranking and then decide to start the car, you run the risk of no oil in the bearings as oil settles,
increased rpm with fuel compared to cranking without fuel, bearings get scored and you may reduce engine life?

Why risk it?

Thanks for explanation.... makes perfect sense. I take it the green relay is the fuel pump relay???

 

[Spendyrx]

Mine hasn't been started since February

 

[jdmr_neil]

November shut down has worked fine for me for the last 14 years so that'll do me.

 

[rob fd]

Was advised by a rotary guru with decades of experience.
If you start the car you should drive it to operating temperature.

If you leave the car longer then approx 3 months without cranking and then decide to start the car, you run the risk of no oil in the bearings as oil settles,
increased rpm with fuel compared to cranking without fuel, bearings get scored and you may reduce engine life?

Why risk it?

The oil will of settled were its going to within a few hours probably less not 3 months lol.

Oilly rag up the tail pipe to stop moisture entering and leave it. There is a argument soide seals can stick over time so if you wanna do anything pull egi fuse and crank it a few times but ive never bothered.

 

[jack.am]

Once every three years

 

[JoeLanger]

Pour oil down the LIM into the Chambers and turn by hand

 

[Paulm]

Once every three years

Wow i think that is actually more often than me

 

[Duey]

They are meant to start?

 

[Ridiculous Red Trousers]

Remove the green relay and crank for approx 10 seconds, three times, letting the oil settle each time. Approx every 3 months.

No need to start the car

View attachment 26079

Sorry for digging up an old thread but it stops me starting a new one!

Is this different from just holding the throttle pedal all the way down and cracking for a few seconds?

Think I'll do this green relay methord anyway, just curious! I've never left my car unstarted for more than 2 weeks so I have been super concerned

 

[jack.am]

Sorry for digging up an old thread but it stops me starting a new one!

Is this different from just holding the throttle pedal all the way down and cracking for a few seconds?

Think I'll do this green relay methord anyway, just curious! I've never left my car unstarted for more than 2 weeks so I have been super concerned

If you have an aftermarket ECU this often doesn't work, I know it doesn't with the PFC. If I want to do the manual oil thing I just pop some 2T in the plug holes and crank the engine with a ratchet from the alt pulley, generally because if the car is holed up and not being driven the battery is out.

 

[initialDean]

I start mine once a month and let it get to temp in the garage... is that wrong?
Always on a trickle charger

 

[jack.am]

I wouldn't do that, you're asking for carbon build up.

 

[initialDean]

I wouldn't do that, you're asking for carbon build up.

Should I just not bother then? Its only just been rebuilt so dont want to ruin it

 

[Ridiculous Red Trousers]

Not sure about you but Starting my car up in my garage and leaving it for 20 minutes would probably result on an angry knock on the door from a neighbour! I think I'll try the "remove the green relay" mentioned earlier in this thread.

 

[jack.am]

Should I just not bother then? Its only just been rebuilt so dont want to ruin it

Who rebuilt it? I definitely would not be starting and idling a freshly rebuilt engine unless the builder specifically said to do that, normally they'd give you run-in instructions.