Sunner car - winter tick over regime

Hi.

For those lucky enough to use their golf as a summer wkend car and garaged through the winter, what are your tick over / maintenance regimes to keep the car running well through the cold dark wet months ready to go in the first sight of sun?

Thanks

I am having to park mine up over winter. I have been trying to sell it but to no avail. I have bought a cover for it so when we get a decent spell of dry weather, I'll cover it, maybe remove the battery and start it every few weeks to hopefully keep on top of things.

I wouldn't know as I use both of mine as daily drivers rain or shine.  

I will tell you flat out that you need to top your tank off, and while you are doing it add a bottle of Stabil to it to keep the gas fresh and your fuel system lacquer free.  I would add it before the put up and drive it for a few miles prior to garaging it for the winter.  I would also add SeaFoam or Marvel Mystery Oil to both the tank and the crankcase and let it work it's way on the drive to get the Stabil in the fuel system.  

If you could Jack the frame up so the wheels are parely touching the floor it takes the weight off the wheels to prevent flat spots if they loose pressure and increase the pressure in the wheels to 37lbs.  

For overtly wet areas I would through some "DAMP-rid" in the boot and a couple in the cabin to prevent mildew moisture, and the like, I would also crack one windo opposite sides and place under a weather proof tarp.

Just my two cents.

Thanks bri some good points there.

Greavsy I see your in Yorkshire like me, did you get many sniffs or offers? Where did u advertise it?

How long will you have the car running for when you start it every few weeks? Will you move it at all?

Cheers

Hi, Yes I'm in Sheffield. And you can rely on Brian to come up with the goods !  I advertised the car on Sheffield Dubs, Dubratz and Club Gti. I had a few enquiries but only a couple of serious ones. I tried to advertise on here but couldn't get the Ad to load for some reason.?       I'll run the car up to temperature and let it run for 20 -30 minutes. I will move it but it'll be a matter of yards backwards and forwards. Then advertise the car again in spring. Hopefully I might get a better price !!

Either get a float charger of some kind or resign yourself to the fact the battery will be goosed, gradually, from non-use.

Start it and run it at least once a week, drive it forwards and backwards (try not to let it go back to the same spot - it will put cracks into the tyres from sitting so long), turn the steering a bit if possible too, let it come up to temperature. But just be prepared for niggles in spring time once its properly back on the road.

Oh and if its a convertible, don't use the hood in cold weather, it will be much more inflexible and will probably be damaged or at least its life shortened.

A dehumidifier running in the interior would be good too.

greavsy said

Hi, Yes I'm in Sheffield. And you can rely on Brian to come up with the goods !  I advertised the car on Sheffield Dubs, Dubratz and Club Gti. I had a few enquiries but only a couple of serious ones. I tried to advertise on here but couldn't get the Ad to load for some reason.?       I'll run the car up to temperature and let it run for 20 -30 minutes. I will move it but it'll be a matter of yards backwards and forwards. Then advertise the car again in spring. Hopefully I might get a better price !!

How much did you advertise it for? I found that there's plenty of interest at the right price, I was in a pretty similar situation - in the end I have decided to keep it, since in a few years time it becomes MoT exempt anyway (1981 model).

I know I didn't overprice it, and in fact I've reduced the price considerably !  I just think it's down to the time of year and people expecting a "Showroom " fresh 31 year old car !     As regards being "prepared for niggles" ?  The car had been stood for 10 years when we bought it. The only problem we had was that the Fuel pumps had seized, once they were replaced it fired up straight away ! So I don't expect any issues if it's stood for a few months.

Mine is about to stand until Spring time.
This Sunday could well be its last outing.

I was working on it almost daily last winter so it ran quite frequently.

I've got to refurb the wishbones and anti roll bar this winter as well as fit my 4 branch manifold.

It did eat a battery last year but hopefully will survive this time round

Its not nice seeing it covered up with snow on the roof but at least I know its far away from road salt

Personally, unless it leaks, I wouldn't use a cover.

The wind can rattle it against the paint and it effectively works like sand paper.

Just give it loads of coats of wax instead and then wash it every couple of weeks when it's wet from the winter rain.

Plus the air can circulate around it and dry it off whereas with a cover on you tend to get a damp spot under the car.

Keep the leaves out from under it and if you have a sloping part of the drive then park it on that bit at the top.

If you can in and waxoyl it before winter too that'd also help.

Ian

Good point. Could be a plan !

greavsy said

I know I didn't overprice it, and in fact I've reduced the price considerably !  I just think it's down to the time of year and people expecting a "Showroom " fresh 31 year old car !     As regards being "prepared for niggles" ?  The car had been stood for 10 years when we bought it. The only problem we had was that the Fuel pumps had seized, once they were replaced it fired up straight away ! So I don't expect any issues if it's stood for a few months.

That's it mate I wouldn't want to let mine go for less than what I feel its worth and a buyer will always value it under what the owner does id rather keep it than let it go cheap, unless I was desperate to sell. I always keep an eye on the rivage market so i roughly know whats an acceptable price for mine.
The missis would love the garage back and I do struggle for time to work on it and use it, never mind the running costs of what is essentially a summer wkend toy. I also could not be bothered with tyre kickers, these are niche vehicles to sell I feel.

Thanks for the advice lads

Yeah, I agree with you. Mine's not perfect though certainly no basket case either !  The main reason I was selling is because I don't have the funds to do what I feel the car needs to make it better. I did consider breaking it but it really is too good for that. Tax and Insurance are due tomorrow so it's coming off the road.

Wow greavsy id rather divorce the wife than break the golf….
Do you tax and insure for the year? £265 tax for me for the year. Bloody steep.

I know it sounds a ridiculous platform to sell on but in spring eBay comes alive with golfs and they all seem to sell. You get a wide audience and can advertise for a set price and just pay an advertisement fee. I don't like the sound of buying a car off eBay personally but with that kind of footfall audience they do seem to sell.

I'm sure they would want to test drive though and I don't think I'd be comfortable with that. Never sold a car and what if they curb it…would you allow them a test drive?

Haha. Been there, done that !!  yeah, it's a dear hobby !  I'm not keen on Ebay, too many crooks . To be honest, I never bought a car without a test drive…… until the Golf. It had been parked up 10 years and wouldn't start. But we took the plunge (my son and I) and bought it. I got a load of grief from the wife but fortunately it all came good.  Breaking would have been a last resort. I didn't think I'd recoup enough money from it.  I suppose people would want to drive it, as long as they have Insurance in place it should be ok.

I think "no test drive" is fair enough on a car up to about £1500 - the buyer can take the chance on it and its not a massive amount. Over that amount, I'd personally (as a buyer) want a test drive or a significant reflection on the price if none were possible. I understand about the no tax/insurance thing but there's ways round that and at some point, the advantage of being able to give a proper test drive vs the likely price adjustment without, just makes sense as a seller, to sort the facility out.

And if it has no Mot……well you can do your own price adjustment here!

I too bought this golf without a test drive but I went out in it with him. I was pretty young and naive and he was alot older but I just loved it and wanted it so bad would have bought it if it sounded like a bag of spanners.
What are the ways around the insurance thing Paul? The car is taxed Mot'd and the buyer would be driving 3rd party wudnt they? If they curb it they all of a sudden don't want it and ur left with a damaged motor.

Massively gone off topic from winter tick over regime to spring time clear out techniques haha

Good points there Paul. I hadn't really thought about it that much, before I've just let people have a drive. I'd be more cautious with the Golf though ! I would think it'd only be 3rd party cover. It's a risk you'd have to take I suppose. I think I'm a pretty good judge of people and if I thought they were iffy it wouldn't happen ! Ok you may lose the sale but your car is intact !

Well , the Golf is now on a SORN. Insurance told to put it on hold until next year. Seems sad seeing it stood in the corner !