[Z06] Over winter Battery Care
08-23-2015, 04:41 PM
#1
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Over winter Battery Care
If there is a link to more info, please feel free to re-direct me.
This is the first car I've ever had that won't be driven all year here in NE PA! A friend/mechanic has advised me of battery tenders, shut offs that can be installed, etc.
I have a question on maintaining battery power through the winter. What of or why can't you just start the car and let it run for a short time every 1-2 weeks though the winter? How does this compare to having a tender, etc.
My baby WILL be garaged and I pray THIS damn winter will NOT be bad but who knows!
This is the first car I've ever had that won't be driven all year here in NE PA! A friend/mechanic has advised me of battery tenders, shut offs that can be installed, etc.
I have a question on maintaining battery power through the winter. What of or why can't you just start the car and let it run for a short time every 1-2 weeks though the winter? How does this compare to having a tender, etc.
My baby WILL be garaged and I pray THIS damn winter will NOT be bad but who knows!
08-23-2015, 07:04 PM
#2
Melting Slicks
Starting the car and letting it run for a short period of time is probably one of the worst things you can do. First of all, cold starts are really hard on an engine. Secondly, just letting it run for a short while won't allow the oil to get up to operating temperature (which can only be done by driving it). By not getting hot enough, moisture like condensation won't be burned off in the engine which is also very bad.
You can get a tender, but I just remove the battery when I store my Z06 and store it in the basement - no need for a tender and has worked fine for me for 10 years. The only thing I have to do when I reinstall the battery in the spring is reindex the windows. Everything else like radio presets are still preserved.
You can get a tender, but I just remove the battery when I store my Z06 and store it in the basement - no need for a tender and has worked fine for me for 10 years. The only thing I have to do when I reinstall the battery in the spring is reindex the windows. Everything else like radio presets are still preserved.
08-23-2015, 07:14 PM
#3
Safety Car
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2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I use a battery tender; been doing it for the past 15 years on all my cars that sit for long periods of time; don't ever have an issue; prolongs the life of the battery, that varies.
08-23-2015, 07:49 PM
#4
Le Mans Master
I just use a battery tender and I don't start the car at all during winter for the reasons mentioned - no problems in the last few years.
08-23-2015, 08:01 PM
#5
Racer
I bought my car in November of 2007. I have always used a battery tender when the car will be sitting for extended periods.
I still have the original battery installed, knock on wood!
I still have the original battery installed, knock on wood!
08-23-2015, 09:30 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
That's an impressive battery life for these cars! My '09 battery died last summer! Don't start it unless you intend to drive it! I keep all my cars on CTEK smart tenders all the time unless I'm driving them regularly and they're great tenders!
08-23-2015, 09:38 PM
#7
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Thank you for the tips/experience. Much appreciated. This is a whole new world to me and I'm learning. SonnyAK saw a car just like yours at a meet recently, different color but also very pretty. Very nice!
08-23-2015, 09:43 PM
#8
Burning Brakes
Battery tender, piece of cake and keeps the battery fresh and from dying! And assuming you get a nice warm day that you decide you want to take your vette out, just make the simple disconnection start the car warm it up and away you go! After your drive, plug the tender right back in and forget it!
08-24-2015, 08:26 AM
#11
Race Director
The issue with starting it every couple week sis how long you need it running to get up to operating temperature and get the whole system hot enough to dry out the condensation that occurs from combustion once you shut it off.
The easiest solution is a battery tender. They are the 21st century version of a trickle charger. The computer chip adjusts the charge rate to match the vehicles current draw, maintaining the status of the battery.
You can buy at a range of prices.
From $5 on sale at Harbor Freight ( I have used them for 10 years)
up to the CTEK for about $75 delivered http://www.streetsideauto.com/p/ctek...gers-56-158-1/'
If you have regular access to your Vette go the economical Harbor Freight route. Note: I have had 2 fail mid winter after about 5-6 years of use. But at $5 I have a couple spares. When the red lite doesn't show, I trash it and replace it.
IF it is remote and you won't see it over winter, then go the CTEK route their reliability is well known. I use those one my boat batteries which is stored miles away.
The easiest solution is a battery tender. They are the 21st century version of a trickle charger. The computer chip adjusts the charge rate to match the vehicles current draw, maintaining the status of the battery.
You can buy at a range of prices.
From $5 on sale at Harbor Freight ( I have used them for 10 years)
up to the CTEK for about $75 delivered http://www.streetsideauto.com/p/ctek...gers-56-158-1/'
If you have regular access to your Vette go the economical Harbor Freight route. Note: I have had 2 fail mid winter after about 5-6 years of use. But at $5 I have a couple spares. When the red lite doesn't show, I trash it and replace it.
IF it is remote and you won't see it over winter, then go the CTEK route their reliability is well known. I use those one my boat batteries which is stored miles away.
08-24-2015, 08:36 AM
#12
Team Owner
I use the Harbor Freight float chargers(normally on sale for around $9) on my Z06, my 56 and 64 Vettes and my riding mower. They work great. I've been using them for around 10 years and have had one fail(the wall transformer failed not the float charger's internals).
Last edited by JoesC5; 08-24-2015 at 08:38 AM.