winter start up

[Kim K Kaiser]

HI all,, been away from the car a while,, back in early december, i put the car up for winter,, filled her up, put the storage fluid in, ran it for a bout 15 miles,,, covered it up, got back up here to montana, and it has been bitter cold for well over week,, some days never gets over 0.    i have been kicking around the idea of starting the car,, and doing some short driving on dry days.... we dont use salt up here so not worried about that , so 

anything i should caution against...... hoping battery will start,, but i have a booster box to hook up if not.. 

should i let it turn a few times before it fires to get oil flowing,,,?  anything,, just dont want it to lock up for something stupid...

hope you have been warmer where yall are..

[1d5kgb41rmhu4]

1. Check lubricant and fluids before starting 

2.  Cranking motor spins oil pump  if fuel system lines are good should pull gas from tank after second try 

3.  Make Sure choke is set for cold start

4. Let car warm up before driving 

5. Low tranny fluid could cause slipping out of gear when stopping. Suggest warming up and test stopping and starting a few times before venturing out on the road 

6. Bring tools fluids and supplies emergency flashlight etc  with you 

7. Check air in tires and spare 

8. Travel in fair weather daylight conditions and go early in the day  

9. Good to keep using the car even in the off season. 

[2o93f8rdftyzj]

And a good credit card too.

[1d5kgb41rmhu4]

A good point. 

Emergency towing service is another very important safety consideration when driving an old car. Most car insurance companies offer this for a modest cost.

Having been stuck several times after an engine rebuild and other poor mechanical work, the towing insurance paid for itself the first minute I used it. 

And if your tires and spare are more than 5 years old, inspect side walls and between tread ribs carefully for signs of dry rot and cracking. Replace as required. One mishap caused by tire failure will set you back more than a set of new rubber.