Gyro

There is a poll in the Canada forum asking who is storing the 8 for the winter.

While New England can't match a Canadian winter. It gets pretty nasty around here ( see pic).

I for one am not going to subject my new RX8 to tons of sand and salt gummed up in the suspention and undercarriage. The spring thaw will reveal about 150 nice little rock chips on the nose from driving behind other vehicles on a sand/salt covered street.

I will be keeping it in a garage. The garage is not heated. For anyone with experience with this, what are some winterizing tips?

Basically is it better to shut the car down and not start it again until spring -OR- every week or so start it up and keep the battery charged etc.

If it is better left untouched for the three month period I expect to have it in storage, Then I will pull the battery. What effect will no battery for three months have on the ECU?

up on blocks ...or not?

Ive read about the "fogout method" which is basically spaying oil into the intake until the engine stalls. I understand the theory behind it......but for the RX8?

I know....... lots of questions, but I do have about 2 months (tops) before it will go for a long nap, and I want to do whats right.

Gyro

last winter at my house.

spypondtom

gyro, i am a fellow baystater. i regularly store my miata for six months. the procedure seems to be: pull the battery(do not know bout' ecu), fill the gas tank along with some drygas, maybe throw in some mothballs in the engine compartment to keep critters from wintering there and start her up in the spring. don't know what i will do with my nordic green gt this winter, but she won't be a daily driver, that's for sure..............spy

fossil187

Yea I will be storing mine for the winter as well. I have a garage to put it up in I agree the full tank of the gas with some dry gas in it to keep any posible water in the lines or tank from freezing. I do although not agree with storing it for months on end with out it running. I have grown up around cars and I know once you have driven a car and broken it in the seals in the engine become moist from the engine fluids. If you take and then let that engine sit for months with the seals no longer gettin the engine fluids on them they will dry out and you could have a possible seal in the engine break. After a engine heats and cools down the fluids are waht keeps those seals plyable. With out the fluids they tend to become brittle. I will be starting My 8 at least once a week letting the engine warming up to running temp. To prevent any problems like that. I can fix a conventional engine I don't know how to fix the Rotary. So best bet is to prevent it. :D

highspeed8

I'm with fossil, I stored a car for winter and never started it due to lack of caring about the car. Come spring I was caring alot when the hoses needed replaced from dry rot.

My 8 will be garaged for the winter too and I will be starting it regularly

Shocka

i want to store my RX also but i dont have a garage so probably just gonna get a cover and start it once a week

Dissolved

careful how long you let it idle when you start it. Not good for engine.

The winters here (delaware) arent *too* bad. I usually drive my car year round provided all the crap is off the roads. Life is short. My car does me no good in the garage :D

RPIRX-8

Well, since I dont have the funds for a winter beater, I will be driving my 8 through the winter (good ol beantown). I am buying the Bridgestone Blizzacks for winter tires and a car cover for parking it at night. Does anyone have any other suggestions to keep the car working well and nice looking through the winter? Is a front end nose mask worth it?

fossil187

I wouldn't let it idel for more than 5-10 min just enough to get it to running temp.
a mask isn't a good idea because all the salt and dirt and stuff gets caught under it. My X had a mas on the front of her car and when she took it off it looked like it had been sittin in a junk yard for years under the mask. Water runs down behinde it dirt settles there as well.
The best way I would know how to keep it would be sure to greese it before they throw salt on the road then take it to a carwash one where they use warm water and pressure wash it by hand once a week to make sure you get the salt and stuff off the wheels and rotars and stuff cuz the frame exauhst and rotars will rust like a bitch if you don't keep em clean. oh and I would if i could swing it go to pepboys or advancded auto somewhere were they sell cheap wheels(25-50dollar a wheel) and buy em and use them instead of the alloys that it comes with salt eats the **** outta aluminum. Thats me I bought it to enjoy it drive it and once the warnty and alls up modify it with a SC or Turbo and play with it. but i don't want it rusty or nasty looking by the time i ready to do that to it. I'm just lucky I still have my 4x4 to drive in the winter

goodyrx8

Gyro,

I love the picture of the snow!

I grew up in the boston area, Quincy to be exact, so I can relate. My solution was to move to a warmer climate. Not the solution you were after but thought I would say hi to a fellow Bostonian.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Well, down here is sunny DC, we never get any snow...
NOT

That's my Miata under the #1 lump on the left.

I'm getting the RX-8 FOR the snow, I suppose. The Miata just isn't heavy enough for snow tires to be too effective and it is too torquey to avoid endless tire spinning.

Constant washing with clean water is the main thing for a winter-driven car. I good coat of wax on ALL painted surfaces (including the wheels) is a must, too.
If you do park it, get a trickle charger for the battery and start the car every week for 2 minutes or less.

Astor

I agree inasmuch as storing a car you do need to start it once a week. Also remember to leave the garage door open when you do. Not only do your seals and hoses dry rot, your gas gets really gummy.

Gyro

Ok.....today was the day. It was like the first day i drove my car.

It has been in storage since December 10 and today I pulled it out of mothballs. It was a nice day at about 47F and roads were dry. I have boxes of things Ive accumulated over the winter to add to my RX8 and I couldn't resist anymore.

I had it in a garage (unheated), covered and on a winter storage battery charger. It has been almost 3 months srtaight without ever starting it.

I pulled of the cover (glad it was covered because it was clean as the day i put it away) and removed the white sheet from the interior. It started right up with no problems. I let it warm up, and went for a drive.

It was great....I missed it so much. It gave no sign whatsoever that it slept for 3 months. People were gawking and pointing just like the first day i drove it home....I guess there is not too many around yet.

I installed my Rotor accents ( very easy and looks great). I have my JT-Imports clear side markers to do also. Then there goes the big project of replacing all the speakers. I have all new infinity Kappas and a Basslink. I'm putting the tweeter housings in tonight. It feels good to see the 8 again!!

7 months 4300 miles.

BTW...the Potenzas did NOT flatspot. The car never moved an inch on cold concrete. They were very smooth.

my10ae

Gyro:

Why not take the 8 out again tomorrow and join us on the run up the coast? It is supposed to be as nice tomorrow as it was today. Just a thought...

Gyro

Yes...unfortunately I'm working tomorrow.....otherwise I would love to meet you guys up in New Hampshire.

It will be a great day for sure.....take lots of pictures!!

JimJimElf

I Only drive mine when there is no snow on the ground. I don't stow it I just dont drive it but next you I will get smow tires so I can drive in the snow.

MadMacz

I've been driving my 8 all winter. OK, when the snow was really bad, I would take my wife's Mazda 6. I agree that the important thing is to keep the salt off the car, and it gets everywhere. I have a powerwasher for the undercarriage and wheels. Spring is on its way!

RPIRX-8

I drove mine all winter. The salt does get everywhere, you just have to be dilligent in washing it. I had mine at the wash at least once a week, most times twice. I had dunlop wintersport m3 snows on and they perfromed like a dream on snow, ice, and dry pavement. Wish i had cash for a winter beater tho.

NAVILESRX8

iTrader: (1)

I didn't store my car for the winter, but I never drove it unless the road was dry and free of salt. I also washed it alot..like 3 times a week. Needless to say I didn't drive it much. So far since picking it up Nov 20th, I have put on 2200 miles. And the 275 miles I put on during the NH meet was the most I ever put on in one drive....It was fun.

Oh, Justin, man I'm really really feeling that K&N intake. It sounds incredible. Thanks for getting me hooked...hahaha If I didn't need money for a spare set of drift wheels/tires, I'd get the intake....maybe later.

Kel Rx8

garaged unless sunny and dry
if snow or wet she stays in the garage and
use the s4.
the allwheel drive is great.

Schartz

iTrader: (6)

I know this thread is a little old but i got a question.... When you store the 8 i heard your brakes can become sticky or they like to grab when you drive it after it sits for awhile. What do you do about this?

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

I leave mine in gear with the emergency brake off. No problems.

pineapplesoymilk

i stored mine in my freinds garage nice and heated not free of course what ever better than snowww

RX8sd

^....lucky.....I want a heated garage.....maybe with a built in lift inside. Omg...that would be sweet. Id put a couch and a TV in there and make it my own room!

altspace

iTrader: (2)

I always say I am going to leave my car in the garage for the entire winter. I guess if I did not have snow tires I would, but damn it's just waaaaay too much fun to drive in the snow. Here's some video to prove it. http://www.altspace.com/rx8/winter/rx8_snow_fun.html