winter storage
 

Anyone know anything about storing a rotary for the winter?

I store my RX-7 3rd gen every winter (cause it's impossible to drive it ;-). I first fill the tank to make sure I don't get any condensation in there, then put it up on jackstands to ensure the tires don't develop flat spots, change the oil, and remove the battery. I charge the battery with a high quality charger every two weeks, and keep it in the house (basement). It starts with no probems every spring. Some start it every month, but I feel that is inviting problems. I wouldn't want to try to start it at -20. Too hard on the turbos, with the oil so viscous.

Why can't I drive it? It has 3.5" ground clearance. The tires are ball bearings below -2 or so. One year we had a freak (well, somewhat unusual) snowstorm in April, and I had a service appointment the next day. I drove my SUV up and down the alley to pack the snow, backed the car out of the garage and got stuck there. The tires were only sinking 1/4" into the snow!

won't the gas go bad on you?? or am i just thinking pre-mix?? i worked in a boat garage as my first after-school little job, and when we winterized boats, we'd fog the engine to a quit... obviously you don't have to worry about gas tanks with a boat, but i'm just not sure about this...

I thought the same thing, about the gas going bad, but I've now read to fill the tank in at least three different places. At least one of them mentioned adding something that keeps the gas from seperating, but I've got that printout at work so I'm not sure what it's called.

With jackstands, how do you use them? I've been told by a couple of people to make sure that the suspension remains under pressure, since it's designed to have a load on it all the time, but I've never used jackstands so I'm not really clear on the how tos of using them.

My plan was to pick up some cheap rims and tires to have it sit on for the winter, but with it needing at least 17" rims, cheap keeps getting more expensive. Depending on how hard it is to set up jackstands to protect the suspension, it may be much easier and cheaper to go that way.

Some members of the RX-7 list figured my shock rods would rust as I put the jackstands on the body, leaving the suspension hanging. Here in Alberta (Edmonton) the 10% winter humidity is not going to rust anything! Having the suspension unloaded also will lengthen the life of the springs (they do sag as they age, but not when unloaded). As for the fuel, there is a "fuel stabliser" available to add to the gas. I've never used it, and have never had any problems. Mine sits for 6 months, and is only driven when there is "tough sledding" (mid April to mid October).

You could just drive the RX-8 all winter. It should be fine with so much ground clearance. Just get some rims and winter tires (I suggest narrower than stock). That 50/50 weight distribution helps in slippery situations too. You -could- get good at "hanging out the rear".

The main problem with winter driving out here is the salt. My black MX-3 usually looks like it is a light shade of gray all winter. I really don't want to expose the 8 to that.
Combine that with the freezing rain, slush, frost heaving that then gets mangled by the plows, and the just really, really bad Nova Scotia drivers, and I'm willing to pay to not drive my 8 for the winter.
I'd just prefer not to pay too much :)

hehehe, how I come again with more Questions about the details. :D


Can someone explain to me exactly how does our gasoline goes "bad" if we leave them sitting around for too long ?

Also, what does it mean by "bad" ? what is the side effects if you try to use it in your engine ?

Thanks a lot guys.

Ray, lil' help??
i know that if you use bad gas, it really doesn't burn well and can do serious harm to your engine (if it can run in the first place... usually not)... i'm not really informed on specifics.

anyhoo, about the jackstands: you just wanna place them under the car on the usual chassis hard points (where the owner's manual suggests you jack up the car to change a tyre). leaving the suspension under compression is not necessary at all, and if you're worried about the shock arms rusting (insert rolleyes icon here) just wipe lightly with WD-40.

Where's the Doctorr when you need him... probably on some golf course somewhere ;) And while you're at it can you explain why gas has shot up close to $0.13 yet the Loonie is as strong as ever, no embargo, no major war and the price of crude has been pretty stable.

Why does the gas go bad? From my school days (and later real world experience), gas is a mixture of many hydrocarbons along with air and water. All you need is a catylist and they will react. The metal gas tank is a bit of a catylist. The reaction is very slow, of course, but the products do not burn very well (if at all). The reaction can also lower or raise octane rating. The problem is you don't know what it will do. I haven't experienced the problem until the gas is well over a year old. You see it most often with things like lawnmowers, where the gas can was last filled - WHEN? The other thing that happens is the reaction can produce "varnish" which coats the fuel system. This is the main cause of lawnmowers not starting in the spring (well, second to lazy people ;-).

I'd leave the suspension loaded (my opinion.)

But I have a question for ya, where are you storing the 8?

If you are leaving it in a garage where other cars are pulling in and out of the same garage(with salt on them from the road) then your Rx-8 will rust out for sure. Just something to keep in mind.

I'd prefer to leave it loaded too, but getting 17s or 18s just for the car to sit on seems kind of expensive. It will really depend on what I can find, I guess.

No, it will be stored in a building with one other car, both of which are staying there all winter.

My RX-7 sits beside my SUV (the "beater" - 2001 Pathfinder). When I say "beside", I mean it. I have a small garage. There is about 1 metre space between the vehicles. All winter, as I move my Pathfinder in and out I admire the RX-7 and wish I could drive it! I do keep the floor swept clean (as much as I can). The garage is not heated, but is very well insulated. It doesn't get below freezing in there until late December (even though it often goes below -20 C in Nov. and Dec). You will not get any rust from the salt etc. dropped by the other vehicle. Please try to explain how it will get on the RX-7. Please note that I have not had any rust and I have been storing the vehicle now for over 5 years.