Winter Running

[Rob Sharp]

Picking up on Carol's "968 Handling" thread regarding using the car over the winter, it's tempting to minimise use over the winter what with salt, snow and ice etc. However, leaving the car in the garage for 4-5 months is probably a poorer solution still.

What's the general concensus in how to treat our cars over the winter to ensure that they're none the worse?

 

[Guest]

I will try to be more circumspect in my reply this time, but my answer is to drive it.

It is ultimately just a car, and fully galvanised to boot.

Maybe I am biased, but my porker is my only car (16 years young), so I have no choice - even so, I would still take my 2nd/3rd etc. car out during the winter, as we don't often get really bad weather, and you can always wash the salt off after.

 

[John H]

I suspect there is north/south difference here.

Whenever I am "down south" during the winter, I am aware that the roads guys are more circumspect with the salt than up here. Sadly in Scotland the roads people go absolutely ballistic with the salt from about now through till the end of February. The roads up here are literally white for about 3 months of the year, on dry winter days you can actually see a white cloud behind traffic, and taste the damned stuff on your lips, even in the car.

My motorcycles never go out in this crap, as it crucifies them, and I won't be using the 968 much either. It's not so much the bodywork that troubles me, but the brakes. Mine has avoided the dreaded "plate lift" in the calipers so far, and I am anxious to keep it that way.

John H

 

[Mr968]

just a thought,
is wet salt far worse than just water or indeed dry salt because it may set up some form of electrical/electrlytic activity between components, obviously rust and corrosion comes to mind.

 

[Melv]

See latest November 2003 'Thoroughbred and Classic Car' for more on rust/garages/salt/dehumidifcation.

Melv

 

[Guest]

Personally, I think it's better that a car is used and regularly cleaned than not used at all.

John, I think you're right about the north/south thing. I'm in Kent, but have coleagues in Glasgow who have been griping about the salt on the road for weeks already.

As for the Rust question... salt water is an even better electrolyte than pure water.

As most of the water that falls as rain / snow is slightly acidic anyway, that probably doesn't help either.

Chris