Winter Maintenence

[Dunnik]

Hello all, a question for the forum about winter maintenance - for those, obviously, who live in an area where they actually get a winter, and do not drive their 500 year-round.

Other than the normal precautions one takes with storing a vehicle for the winter, is there anything in particular the 500 needs?

It's important to occasionally exercise a stored car, of course, so how often do you take your 500 out around the block? Once a month? Twice? More?

And if you do take it out occasionally in the winter, what about insurance? You would need to carry insurance year-round: is that cost more than offset by the cost of repairs if the vehicle is not driven (or just started up, while stationary, in a garage)?

Thanks in advance for your input. Put this post here in off-topic because no sub-forum seemed to fit, I hope I'm posting in the right place.

 

[Efraim]

Hi,
Google document "Spec_381_0.pdf" that is factory guidelines for some of your concern.

 

[JC220]

Due to the use of road salt here in Ireland my 500E and other old benzes hibernate over the winter period with zero road use. Here is what I do to each car:

• Add a couple fresh gallons of Fuel with a dose of STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer
• Air up the tyres a little more than usual. (If there happen to be slow punctures have them repaired first)
• Use an antifreeze tester to ensure the antifreeze can protect to well below what temperatures are expected during winter
• Put the battery on a trickle charger (CTEK is my preference)
• I add a tiny dab of bleach into the windscreen washer bottle to prevent mould from growing in the water
• Wash, dry, Wax and use a car cover (Indoor or outdoor cover as applicable)
• Start up and allow to idle fully up to temperature for at least 30 minutes around every 6 – 8 weeks
• Avoid repeated cold starts as they will do more harm than good IMO

The list above is not exhaustive - just some general winter storage specific tips. These tips should be applied in conjunction with other regular maintenance work throughout the year such as changing the brake fluid, Engine Oil, transmission fluid & Antifreeze at the required intervals.

 

[gsxr]

I believe there was a long thread a few years ago on this topic. JC220's thread above covers most of the basics; the critical parts are a GOOD battery maintainer (don't cheap out!), and fuel stabilizer.

The one part I feel differently about is starting up the car... IMO, if the car can not be driven for 20+ miles, don't even crank the engine. My cars get stored 4-6 months over the winter and I don't start them at all over this time period. I'd only consider firing it up if it will be stored for years at a time, and then maybe run it once per year? But again, if at all possible it should be driven to fully heat up ALL fluids. Idling in the driveway heats up coolant, and nothing else. Oil temps and ATF temps barely get above ambients with no load.