How long does your 911 sit? ...and how bad is sitting?

TedSlick · TedSlick's Garage

For various reasons, my car often goes undriven for days and sometimes weeks at a time (like when I go out of town). Not really clear on how harmful (or not) that can be.
Please offer insight/your experiences on this. Any technical information would also be helpful.

Mainly I'm referring to cars that have NOT been prepped for long-term storage.

JDaniel · JDaniel's Garage

My car is stored from Nov 1st to April 1st. During the spring/summer/fall I drive as often as possible. It's rare that the car sits more than 3 days.

makaio · 11-17-2002, 07:59 PM

I try to drive both of them at least once a week, since I rarely drive one to work. When I do drive them, I try to make sure and keep them running for an hour or so, to burn off any condensation in the oil.

Bill Douglas · 11-17-2002, 08:14 PM

I drive my usually everyday. Sometimes I drive the Toyota, I don't think it's ever seen 7 days in a row without being driven since I bought it seven years ago. If I'm out of town I get a "car sitter" to drive it.

I like to keep the oil over the moving parts in the engine. I cringe when I think of what must be happening to a cars engine after it has been stored for months then fired up.

sweater914 · 11-17-2002, 08:49 PM

i don't know if there's a huge difference between aircooled aircraft engines and porsche's variety, but in the aircraft world the plane has to be flown at least a week to keep internal rust at bay and everything lubricated, planes that sit for extented periods of time usually need some sort of engine work

Tim Walsh · Tim Walsh's Garage

mine's kaput right now.. it'll be up in a few weeks.. I hope

DonDavis · DonDavis's Garage

I try to get mine out at minimum once a week. Sadly, that does'nt always happen and when I go longer between drives, I feel a difference in how it runs and idles. I have an ROW 3.0 w/CIS and it'll let me know when I slack on the PDA duties (Public Display of Affection). The more regular I drive it, the better/smoother it runs.

But to address what I think is your concern..... I don't know of any steps to ensure nothing goes haywire during extended periods of slumber. If you know it could be weeks, maybe disconnect the battery? And be sure to check tire pressure before you jump in and take off. I have recently restored wheels and new tires but still need to check pressure. Also look at your brake reservior for possible level change.

When it's been a long time between drives, I take 30-45 minutes and just give it a good look over. Besides, I NEVER tire of just crawling around poking and looking.

eion · 11-17-2002, 08:58 PM

Normally I get out and drive it every day... at the moment it's up on jackstands, and to be honest I wouldn't be driving it at the moment anyway, the roads are too cold.

ZAMIRZ · ZAMIRZ's Garage

I pull mine out on Thursday afternoons, wash it and put it in the garage. Take it to school/work on Fridays and drive it all the way through Sunday and then park her back in the garage.

later,

amir

CamB · CamB's Garage

HAha - I should be allowed to vote for "kaput" twice (although the '69 works, just not at night...)

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I usually only drive mine on weekends, since I drive my truck a whopping 1 mile each way to the Metro to commute into town. But Friday, after I get home from work and out of the gym, I run like Fred Flintstone, yell "yabbadabbadoo" and get in my 911 for a drive. I drive her all weekend long and park her Sunday night before "The Sopranos" starts. So she never sits for more than 5 days. I let Doug E babysit her last year when I was in Germany for a few weeks.

Jim Richards · 11-18-2002, 09:28 AM

Richard, you wanna leave it with me next time you're out of town?

caliber60 · 11-18-2002, 09:39 AM

Five years without starting.

Caliber

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Jim Richards
Richard, you wanna leave it with me next time you're out of town?

Sorry Jim. My car likes to be pushed above 3000 rpms. Besides, torsion bar suspension may scare you 993 guys.

Jim Richards · 11:17 AM

ROFLOL!

marc weintraub · marc weintraub's Garage

My car was driven 6 times this past year and has been off the road since October. Living and working in New York, I really have no need to drive and mass transit and walking to work are my primary means of transportation.

My car has covered less than 10k miles in 12 years and I hate it, but you need time to drive and that is something I have very little of. In all, the thought of not dirving it really upsets me and is nto terribly good for the car. When I go to put it back on the road, I am sure I will have to change out numerous gaskets and certainly change the oil immediately.

These cars were meant to be driven and I keep apologizing to my car for not taking her out.

Marc

Jim T · 03:07 PM

My current SC routinely sits in the garage for 2-3 weeks at at time. (I haven't driven it in at least 2 weeks right now). Sometime (occasionally) it sits up to a month. Been doing that for 10 years now.

I have a quick disconnect on the battery, and I occasionally hook up a trickle charger.

I know this is contrary to conventional wisdom, but I've never had a problem with seals going dry, etc. etc. etc. I have no leaks, and it starts up and drives on the first try, no smoking, etc. and no running problems.

Edit: Oh, yeah, if I know I am going to be particularly busy and have a full tank of gas, I sometimes add fuel stabilizer. During really busy stretches, its taken me 6+ months to go through a tank of gas. I also add a little extra air to the tires if I know its going to be sitting. That's about it, though.

poorb0yw · 11-18-2002, 05:41 PM

Hmmm, hows nearly 4 thousand miles in 2 months? Perhaps I drive it too much. To think its not really the daily driver either......

TedSlick · TedSlick's Garage

Thanks for your comments, guys. Interesting to see I'm not the only one watching my car sit too much. I was getting pretty guilty about that.
I do use a trickle charger and garage the car. Typically, I maintain oil and tire pressure level each trip.

One lame excuse I have for not driving it more is my long driveway is usually stacked with other cars in tandem, behind the Porsche, which is in the garage. After some mods to the driveway, I'll soon be able to pull the Porsche out without having to do the dreaded inventory shuffle

Burning off condensation in the oil is something I hadn't thought about. Think I'll look into fuel stabilizer also.

JDaniel, any special prep when you do the hibernation thing? Or just park her?

Caliber, what's the story with 5 years, no drive?

autobonrun · autobonrun's Garage

I try to drive at least once a week. During salt season, I may go four or five weeks. I always wait until after a good rain before I drive it during the winter. Sometimes this takes a while.

Which brings up a rumor I heard. I know sitting can flat spot a tire, but I was told extended storage without rotating the engine can cause bearings to flat spot slightly. Any truth to this or just bad info?