Laying up the QP for the winter...

[Mattp]

My QP doesn't really like the cold... the shifts are a bit harsh till the car is warm, then my commute isn't really long enough to properly warm the oil, not to mention the road salt and general slipperyness of the b-roads round here...
So after a lot of agonising, im going to mothball her for a few months till the weather warms up (or till I can't resist!)

The insurance has been swapped and it will SORN from Jan, I'll give it a good wash and jetwash the underside, it will be sitting on my hardstanding at the end of the garden with the C-tec hooked up... anything else I should think of?

I'll be tooling about in my Alfa GT Q2 again... so all is not lost!

 

[Scaf]

I would take it for a good run out after the wash to ensure water is not pooled anway and that brake discs are dry - leave the handbrake off

Most importantly if you get a break in the weather - take her out for a decent run !

 

[TimR]

..... anything else I should think of?

Get a garage...!

 

[Mattp]

Taking it for a run after washing and leaving the hand brake off are good suggestions...

I have a garage, but I don't trust the door enough to try and close it with the car underneath! It was a 3 man job the last time I attempted it!

 

[lifes2short]

I have a garage, but I don't trust the door enough to try and close it with the car underneath! It was a 3 man job the last time I attempted it!

at the risk of sounding dim, what do you mean?

 

[TimR]

Replace the door...!

 

[Mattp]

at the risk of sounding dim, what do you mean?

It's a big up and over wooden door, which someone cut a pedestrian door into, it's all rotted so sags at that point and has a habit of falling off the rails! The garage and adjoining workshop are being demolished and remodled when we have the extension built, we are waiting to see what brexit does to rates before we commit, so don't really want to spend any money unless we have to.

 

[lifes2short]

I see what you mean now, does sound quite dodgy and not worth the risk in damaging the motor, shame as it would of been much better in a garage than outside in the elements, I suppose just removing the door completely is not an option at this stage and at least it will be under cover albeit with no door

 

[Devonboy]

Mine is tucked up, on a trickle, epb off, having just been detailed and refurbed alloys .....shame...roll on next spring!

 

[daverichardson]

Mine is in daily use

 

[TimR]

Mine is in daily use

I actually think the car will fair better from continuous use over being stood up and left idle as described...

 

[daverichardson]

Circs have made me drop from 2 cars to one and I was concerned at having 'only' the QP
but it has worked out fine the only fly in the ointment is increased miles so I was thinking maybe get a lower mileage one and that would see my driving days through. However it is still a 10 year old car so room for concern. Hence the hesitation

 

[Devonboy]

Mine is tucked up, on a trickle, epb off, having just been detailed and refurbed alloys .....shame...roll on next spring!

She will also get a 20min drive every 2 weeks!

 

[Mattp]

Are your cars duo-select or autos? Mines a duoselect and I find the gearbox in the cold weather can be a little hesitant/jarring till warm, i also tend to get a little condensation round the top of the dipstick with these short hops, this all burns off with a run and both quirks vanish when springtime comes round.

 

[Wack61]

I read somewhere you should park up with the tank as full as possible as it slows down fuel deterioration , pouring a bottle of seafoam in stops it going off as well so they say

 

[daverichardson]

Are your cars duo-select or autos? Mines a duoselect and I find the gearbox in the cold weather can be a little hesitant/jarring till warm, i also tend to get a little condensation round the top of the dipstick with these short hops, this all burns off with a run and both quirks vanish when springtime comes round.

Mine is a full ZF Auto I use it all year now - no problems (yet)