Putting the 8 in the garage for the winter...questions.
 

I live in Buffalo, and we get some of the worst winter storms, so I'm going to be putting the RX8 away for the few winter months ahead. Any tips to keep it in shape through the winter? How often should I start it up, and how long should I let it run? Just had the oil changed a few weeks ago.

Thanks everyone.

Search. Theres another active thread on this I just posted in yesterday.

^ +1 I also just commented on an identicle thread about a day ago.

This made me lol, you aint seen nothin....

fill up the tank, put a bottle seafoam in it
disconnect the battery and take it inside put on a battery tender
leave the car as is
no need to start it up unless you gonna drive it because every time you start the engine, you dumping gas into the oil. without heat it up it will degrade the oil pretty quickly

Another thing regarding tires: Fill your tires up with as much air as the tire is rated for (e.g., 40 psi). If you are not going to put the car up on those tire supporting Race Ramp things, you might want to go out and roll it forward, then back, etc., every week or so to keep from getting flat spots on the tires. I did this last winter, and my tires were fine in March. According to the tech writer at Road & Track, tires that sit over winter may not be able to get the flat spots out just by driving for a few miles, and you could end up having to buy a new set.

ND may be colder, but thanks to lake-effect snow the Buffalo - Rochester area gets the highest volume of snowfall in the country.

There's an excellent 'winterization' thread already, borne of numerous season's experience at this point in time.

If he has extreme summer tires, that is a recipe for disaster. Dont even look at them when it is below freezing, because the compound will crack. If he cannot put the car on jack stands or other suitable tires, he should just leave the car as is. Flat spots on summer tires will even out when it is driven in suitable temps.

Edit: For the non-believers, this is coming from the Motorsports Manager straight from Kumho tires concerning my Ecsta XS tires.

Im pretty sure we get just as much snow if not more (exempting the 1-2 30 in storms you guys had last winter) It just doesnt appear that we get as much snow because we rarely make it on the news like bigger cities do...

http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/new...snow-for-c.asp

/end off topicness

A state of depression will overcome your 8.

A state of depression overcomes *me* when my RX-8 is garaged.

So, it sounds like I better plan to buy some Race Ramps Flatstoppers for next year, then, since I'll likely be replacing my OEM tires next year sometime with something wider and stickier.

<offtopic>I can live with the snow. Its the wind here in South Dakota that kills you. Windchill way below zero, like -50*F. I'm glad I am not in college any more. </offtopic>