To Start or not To Start while in Winter Storage?

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by eightsandaces

I don't start mine but I do use jacks or stands to avoid flat spotting the tires.

It is a bad idea to let the suspension hang on these cars as the strut shafts can corrode, amongst other issues. And I wouldn’t worry about flat spotting the tires; all tires flat spot while sitting for even several days; if the flat spots don’t go away after a few min. driving, you need better tires………….

[Banana S]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

It is a bad idea to let the suspension hang on these cars as the strut shafts can corrode, amongst other issues.

First, aren't the strut shafts stainless steel? With a light coat of oil on them, why would they corrode after 4 or 5 months in storage?

What are the "other issues?" Please be specific. I stored my car on jackstands last winter to no ill effects. Might do differently this winter, but only if there is a good reason.

[Lil bastard]

Originally Posted by Banana S

First, aren't the strut shafts stainless steel? With a light coat of oil on them, why would they corrode after 4 or 5 months in storage?

What are the "other issues?" Please be specific. I stored my car on jackstands last winter to no ill effects. Might do differently this winter, but only if there is a good reason.

The shafts may indeed be stainless, but they'll still attract dust, possibly dirt and when compressed, will abrade the upper seal on the shock body, contributing to early failure.

Also, when fully extended, the shocks support the weight of the suspension and all the unsprung weight. This places a lot of tensile force on the shock which it was never designed to support - shocks are designed to endure compression forces, not tensile ones.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by Banana S

First, aren't the strut shafts stainless steel? With a light coat of oil on them, why would they corrode after 4 or 5 months in storage?

What are the "other issues?" Please be specific. I stored my car on jackstands last winter to no ill effects. Might do differently this winter, but only if there is a good reason.

The shafts collect dirt and they do corrode, leading to premature failures; they also were never designed to carry the weight that is on them with the suspension hanging; and with the suspension hanging, your rear axel boots will be subjected to compression and pinching, shortening their lives................ Porsche had a TSB about not doing these issues years ago, indicating they would not warranty parts damaged by “improper storage conditions”.

Let the car sit on the ground, it will be just fine............. We have a local dealer that stores cars for selected customers (GT 2’s, GT 3’s, Carrera GT’s, etc.); they are all sitting on the ground, and they do not over inflate the tires either........

[sd_boxster]

Here in San Diego, winter is when we find out if the convertible tops still go up.

Suggestion: Those of you using jack stands - why not take most of the weight off each corner without actually lifting the tire off the floor? That way you're removing _most_ of the weight, but you're not dangling the suspension from the struts, which at least some of the folks here suggest is a bad idea.

[Tomikaze]

Gotta jump in on this one. Stored my last two Boxsters for the winter over the past 3 years. When you DON"T start the car once a week and let it run for 15 - 20 minutes you go to start her up for the first time in the Spring and and get all sorts of smoke and the motor makes a god awful racket. Takes a few days of driving for the motor to completely quiet down. I don't think a rapping motor is in any way good for it. Start her up once a week and no nasty sounds or smoke. I'm going to keep starting her up unless someone can prove to me the it's bad for the motor.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Tomikaze

Gotta jump in on this one. Stored my last two Boxsters for the winter over the past 3 years. When you DON"T start the car once a week and let it run for 15 - 20 minutes you go to start her up for the first time in the Spring and and get all sorts of smoke and the motor makes a god awful racket. Takes a few days of driving for the motor to completely quiet down. I don't think a rapping motor is in any way good for it. Start her up once a week and no nasty sounds or smoke. I'm going to keep starting her up unless someone can prove to me the it's bad for the motor.

Interesting, I've been storing my Boxster for 4 years and an Rx-7 for over 15 years in the winter. Rotary engines have very sensitive tip and side seals that don't tolerate abuse.

I've never noticed any difficulty starting, smoking or strange noises bringing the car back from storage after 4.5-5 months as long as the car is stored correctly.

I can't think of a reason why it would help to run a car once a week or month instead of leaving it sit if it was stored correctly.