Winter storage

[Lotus 50]

I have always put some oil in the spark plug holes. It’s interesting that a majority of the replies do not. Recently I have been wondering if enough oil slides down the valve stems to negate the need to add more.

The fuel tank is full of ethanol free premium with fuel stabilizer added. The battery is in my basement and will be charged monthly. My handbrake has never worked, so it is off, same as always.

The car is in semi heated storage. It won’t see less than 8-10C.

I am not too far off the mark. Thanks

[Andy8421]

I have always put some oil in the spark plug holes. It’s interesting that a majority of the replies do not. Recently I have been wondering if enough oil slides down the valve stems to negate the need to add more.

See my comments above about fogging oil.

https://www.justcarcare.co.uk/products/sta-bil-fogging-oil-354ml-12oz?variant=39974421758032&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6dT33tj5iAMVHZKDBx0Drxy0EAQYAiABEgL5VPD_BwE

[Lotus 50]

I always have fogging oil on hand for my outboard motors and I have used it in my TwinCam forever.

But is it necessary, given that oil runs down the valve stems?

Two stroke outboards of course have no valves and the cylinders are horizontal. Different situation. Other car engines would have better sealing of oil leaking past the valves.

[rgh0]

There will not be much if any oil leaking past the valve stems into the cylinders while the engine is not running.

i.e.
1. Most of the valves will be shut so the oil sits in the ports if it did leak down the stems.
2. The inlet side is well drained and the oil retained in the head in a stationary engine is below the valve guide top
3. The exhaust side is also well drained especially in the later engines with the cross drill from the exhaust to inlet side atthe rear. In the early engines without the cross drilling the exhaust guide for no3 and 4 cylinders can be below the retained oil level especially if the nose of the car is uphill. But even then oil will only drain into the cylinders if the exhaust valve is open

If worried about corrosion during storage use fogging oil or even just WD40 sprayed into the cylinders

cheers
Rohan

[The Veg]

Down here in the warm sunny southeastern USA winter is just a little chilly, nothing serious so I keep on driving. Summer is when my car sits, as it's too hot and humid to be anything but miserable in a car without aircon. But as it doesn't sit for more than three months maximum I find nothing special needs doing other than keeping the battery charged. Rodents don't get into my garage any time of year but I find that spiders will make themselves at home so a de-webbing now and then is helpful.

[USA64]

I have heard that boric acid is lethal to spiders. It sublimates so just having it nearby will keep them away.

[The Veg]

I have heard that boric acid is lethal to spiders. It sublimates so just having it nearby will keep them away.

I may try this for the garage in general as they like the corners and other out-of-the-way places there. For the car itself they mostly like to make webs underneath the car, a bit annoying when I have to get underneath for any mechanical tasks, but thankfully they don't get into the cabin much.

Also thankfully, this invasive species that my area has plenty of prefers being outdoors: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/ev ... oro-spider