Bad Driving Habits for Engine & Emission Control Parts

[SSTibet]

I am a weekend driver of my Corvette. I do not drive it everyday to work or in town. Sometimes I drive it to work on Fridays. And sometimes I drive it around on the weekend just for the fun of it. I prefer cruising rather than speeding. My trip distances are most often limited to 15 - 20 miles or so at a time. I also sometimes start the engine while it is in the garage just for the fun of it and turn it off after a few minutes...

I read in Haynes manual that short trip distances are bad for the engine. Reason is that the engine does not get warm enough to evaporate the water vapours and as a result acids will form inside the engine block. The acids will then attack the bearings and eventually lead to bearing failures... Damn !!!!

Can the experts verify if these are truely bad habits for the engine and what are some of the other ones that a good owner should avoid.

[74bigblock]

I do the same thing in the winter! I let mine run for about 10-15 min giving it gas here and there after she is warmed, and letting it run at different RPM's throughout that time... (1500 -2000 RPM). I feel this best simmulates driving, without getting the roadsalt all over her.

[taegdh]

There are two or three schools of thought, but definitely taking "short" runs is not good for an engine. As you pointed out, the build up of moisture and associated acids is not desireable.

Trips of 15 to 20 miles, at various speeds should be enough to get the engine and transmission and the rest of the running gear up to a temperature to cause acids and moisture to evaporate.

You should try to run it for an hour, every month, on the road. This is also better for the bearings and the tires. Dont let it sit in one place or you'll have flat spots on the belts which will take 50 to 100 miles to get them loosened up and back to round. If you have an automatic it will also keep the "bands" and clutch packs working.

Just running it for 20 minutes in the garage isn't recommended. All you do heat up the engine but not the rest of the running gear.

When it is parked, don't use the "parking brake", just leave it in PARK if it is and automatic or in Reverse if it is a manual. Extended time only causes stretch in the cable, and will make it ineffective when it is really needed.
Letting it sit that long, you ought to invest in a jar of Gas Treatment, such as Sta-Bil, to prevent the fuel from "breaking down". When that happens all you get is gel and other gooo, and headaches...

[Ken]

Special-interest vehicles like Corvettes, especially those in the northern states where they are stored during the winter months, should have the oil and filter changed before putting the car away. This ensures clean, uncontaminated oil in the crankcase.

Starting the engine every few weeks sounds like a good idea but is actually hard on the oil. If the oil rarely gets hot enough to drive off the new batch of contaminants, they'll continue to build up and at the end of the storage period the oil may be in poor condition. Instead, try removing the spark plugs, squirting oil in the cylinders, and periodically rotating the engine by hand so the valvesprings don't take a set. Make sure to stop rotating the engine at a different point each time so the valves that were open are now closed, and the valves that were closed are now open. Alternatively, you can spin the engine over with the starter but only if you are sure that raw fuel isn't getting into the engine.

[SSTibet]

Ken,

I do not park the car in storage for exteded periods of time. I drive it around at least once a week or so. But my trip distances are, almost always, 15 - 20 miles each time. What I am trying to understand is whether short trip distances are bad for the Corvette and what are some of the good / bad driving habits for this car.

Thx buddy.