Kinda OT: Parking my car outside to make room for my kawis!

On 2003-11-13, Phil Scott <philscott DeleteThis @philscott.net> wrote:

 > Outside in the winter moisture condenses on all the electrics, they
 > corrode... not a good deal for any of the cars parts... If you put the car
 > under a rain tight cover and put an electric heater set on low inside the
 > car, that would help a lot... your electricity bill would go up by 50
 > dollars a month or more however.

A 1,000 watt heater for a room should run you $30 a month or less.
Unless you live in California.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Kinda OT: Parking my car outside to make room for my kawis! 

"Phil Scott" <philscott.RemoveThis@philscott.net> wrote in message
news:bov6ea$53m$1@news.tdl.com...
 >
 > "George" <xx.RemoveThis@xx.com> wrote in message
 > news:BgBsb.14345$R13.694896@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
  > > Hey guys I've been lurking in here for a while and never mentioned
 > anything.
  > > I now have a problem I'm hoping someone can resolve for me. I live in
  > > Canada, and the winters are horrible here, so I'm taking out my Jimmy
for
  > > the winter. I'm going to park my car for about 6 months, away from all
 > the
  > > harmful effects of winter (salt, sliding, rust...), In order to make
room
  > > for my two ninjas (87 zx750f1 and 99 zx7r. Does anyone know if there
are
  > > any effects of leaving my car outside (in my back yard) for the winter?
  > > Should I be covering it with anything or will that just restrain the
air,
  > > dulling my paint? Or even if it will effect any mechanics of the car??
 >
 >
 > Stuff them all in the garage...you can do it... then heat the garage above
 > freezing at least. Run the vehicles so they warm up at least once every
4
 > or 5 weeks. Put the batteries on trickle chargers.
 >
 > If you have to put one of the bikes in the house and let the wife sleep in
 > the car..that will help keep the car warm and prevent freezing the motor
 > block.
 >
 > Outside in the winter moisture condenses on all the electrics, they
 > corrode... not a good deal for any of the cars parts... If you put the
car
 > under a rain tight cover and put an electric heater set on low inside the
 > car, that would help a lot... your electricity bill would go up by 50
 > dollars a month or more however.
 >

Same as with a bike, DO NOT run your car during the winter if you don't
intend to drive it somewhere. Running the engine for 5 minutes just produces
moisture, the engine and exhaust system doesn't get hot enough to burn off
this moisture in 5 minutes of idling. Also same as with a bike, put some
gasoline stabilizer in the tank so the gas doesn't turn into gunk. Also try
to park it with a full tank, this will reduce moisture from evaporation
build-up. (This is easier to do with a car than with a bike.)

Some people will also tell you that you should park it on blocks, and take
the tires off of it. That's too much work for me. I would take the car out
for a real drive at least once a month anyway. You could do the same with
the bikes outside of December and January maybe.

I agree that you should be able to squeeze it all in the garage, if you
aren't storing too much other junk in the garage like me... There should be
room to park one bike beside the car, and the other in front of the car.

If you have to park the car outside, don't park it on grass. For some reason
grass gives off moisture during the winter and will rot the underside of
your car and your exhaust. Gravel might be ok, but solid concrete or
pavement would be preferable.

Randy R<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Kinda OT: Parking my car outside to make room for my kawis!