Laying up the car ready for winter

[Ivor Hawkins]

I was wondering how a tall fella like that would be able to open the door and get out, once he’d driven the car in!

[Reckless Rat]

Perhaps the garage lost some weight due to wartime rationing...

[Ivor Hawkins]

Keep taking the tablets Bruce!

[Reckless Rat]

I apologise. It has rained so much down here over the last week that my brain has turned to sponge.

[Denis Sweeney]

Great photos but modern garages are not much better, my garage is less than 20 years old and I have to reverse in and then climb across and get out the passenger door. I’d never get my modern in there let alone get out!

[Dave Mann]

After 40 months I've terminated the one litre E10 test on scrap parts in a 2.5 litre paint can, in that time a cereal spoon full of water has accumulated, where from I don't know the can has been sealed all the time. The mazak Chinese fuel tap, mazak part of a Zenith 22FZB and the mazak fuel pump body all have extensive corrosion. The brass 22FZB float, copper pipe and mazak Ruby bonnet vent handle are slightly discoloured but have no corrosion. I occasionally peer into the fuel tanks of our cars which are regularly used and check the fuel filters for signs of water with non being found. Two of the cars are laid up over winter and have their fuel tanks drained followed by pouring a cup full of new engine oil into the tank with the fuel tap shut which stops the corks from drying out shrivelling up and subsequently leaking. If your car is laid up for more than a few months I'd drain the fuel system which is what the maker of my lawnmower recommends.
I'm not in favour of draining the cooling system as it will be left wet a breeding ground for corrosion.
As others have said lack of use of our cars can cause problems even brass electrical contacts can tarnish. Like the local Ruby I was asked to check over after a 3 year lay up, the engine was seized up solid, a pity because the car was in good condition. Going out to the garage and running your Seven engine till the radiator header tank is hot causes all sorts of problems, the highly corrosive products of combustion will condense on the cold crankcase components. Much better to pick a nice dry salt free day and take it for at least a 10 mile run to get the crankcase hot which will drive off most of the corrosive products of combustion.
The first sign of salt which I see on my morning cycle ride to the Post Office and the in use Seven goes into hibernation. One million tons of salt is mined, distributed to councils and spread on our roads annually, that's some carbon footprint. It doesn't end there with the thaw all the salt gets washed into the fresh water water courses turning them into salt water courses killing wild life and the environmentalists don't say anything.

[andrew34ruby]

I think many of us use the oil pressure gauge to judge when the engine is properly warmed up. When the gauge drops from off the scale high pressure down to just a few psi then I feel the engine is hot and safe to switch off.