Hi,
After 6 years of building and restoring, this year is the first time my 70' CS has been on the road since I've owned her. She's been doing great during summer months here in the Northeast but now that we're getting into colder weather, I wanted to solicit some advice. It's currently about 52 degrees and just past 6 o'clock pm so I started her up like I do every couple of days when I'm not actively driving her. As usual she fired right up after a pump or two of the pedal and no issues getting up to normal temp and pressure.

As far as mechanical details, it's a Olds 350 with a mild cam, forged pistons, double roller timing chain, #6 heads with valves swapped to CompCams with adjustable rockers, MSD R2R distributor w/ Blaster coil, Edelbrock intake, aluminum radiator with clutch fan and a Holley 750 DP w/ electric choke. The choke operated as normal as well as the fast idle cam. I noticed she ran a slightly higher RPM (by sound) than normal warm weather once up to around 190-200 degrees so I bumped the idle screw down just a small amount to level her out.

Are there items that I should be looking for specific to cold weather than warm weather or is it fairly the same procedures? Things like changes to my startup procedure that would be different than warm weather or settings I should be aware of? I apologize if that's an ambiguous question but this is the very first cold weather season I've ever had her running and want to avoid any problems cause by any ignorance on my part.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

Make sure your antifreeze level is good with a hydrometer. You don't need to start it periodically unless you plan to drive it, but you do need to keep the battery charged.

 

If it will sit for longer periods add fuel stabilizer. Keep the fuel tank full. If you will use it when it is really cold use a temperature appropriate oil weight, such as 10W-30 or 10W 40. Keep it off salted roads, you'll be amazed at how fast the corrosion will progress. Avoid brief start-ups that do not reach full temperature, they cause more harm than good.

Good luck!!!

 

Absolutely the worse thing you can do. If you are not going to drive it ten miles then just let it sit.. When you start it and don't drive it the engine never gets hot enough to burn off any moisture. Same with the exhaust system etc. Just keep the battery charged up and leave it alone. Start it when you want to drive it.

 

 

If the windshield washer reservoir has summer fluid in it, drain it and fill with -20 washer fluid, then run some through the pump and lines.

 

2x BillK, I have also heard that not driving a certain distance after starting does not allow the extra fumes from choke operation to burn off. Supposedly this causes the oil to thin and deteriorate. I heard this a long time ago, just kinda stuck with me. Cars do seem to perform better when driven regularly.

 

Assuming it will be stored indoors - not a bad idea to inflate the tires to their max, they'll go down a bit over the winter. Put some dryer sheets in the interior & some mouse traps in the area where it will be parked.

 

This will be my first winter with my Cutlass, so my question is about fuel. I've heard that over long term the ethanol in today's gas can gum up the fuel system. The common cure seems to be to run the tank empty and leave it. What if I put non-ethanol in it? Can I leave it set over the winter without any issues, or should I still add some sta bil? And if so, what type of sta bil?

Thanks,
Dave

 

With either fuel, its better to have a full tank. Non ethanol is more desirable. Stabil 360 would not hurt for ethanol.