It is this time of the year again....Queen Lola went into her winter hibernation quarters. Dry and semi-heated. We had a dump of snow last week, just so we would not forget what is about to come. Lola is a Southern Belle, has never really been in the winter and I am not going to get her all salted up and crusty.
I used to go and start her up once in a while but an old timer truck mechanic asked my why I would do such a silly thing. He said "The cold is hard on the engine. The oil is thick and it sticks to the inside, it ain't going anywhere, everything is coated and protected because you shut her down when you parked, the engine nice and hot after a long drive. Now you come along in the freezing cold, force it to turn over,everything is stiff, you risk burning out the starter, idling is at best a haphazard warm up with tons of condensate fouling the oil - why are you doing that? Just let her sleep and wake her up when it's warm again."
I have been abiding by that and I am always amazed how, after sitting for a good 5 months she usually starts up within two or three revolutions.
Can't wait..... It makes me sad when I look at the empty spot in the yard...
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