SORNed, turn the engine over or not

[Ian and Lins]

We've SORNED the van for the first time as my business has taken off very nicely so I don't really need four wheels during the Winter. What's the thoughts on turning/starting the van every now and then until April? I did have a flat twin BMW I sorned once over Winter. Gave it a service before putting it under wraps. I didn't touch it until Spring. Then it was a bugger to start and ran rough. The carb diaphragms had tiny splits in them and there was a definite ridge in the bores where the piston rings had sat. It didn't make any difference to the compression and new diaphragms fixed the rough running.

To turn over or not to turn over?

[itchyfeet]

Don't turn it over, start it and get it hot is my opinion, 30 minuites to hot, raise revs with a brick on the accelerator to say 1500 rpm.
I'd do it every two weeks.

[itchyfeet]

Handbrake off too, best to move it on the tyres once in a while too.

[Dad]

Yep, start it get it hot, move it about, fan on, lights on use stuff.

[Ian and Lins]

Okay; that all makes sense. Ta.

[Bubble Meister]

Why not search for a spare set of wheels - they van go flat and deformed over winter. When u need the van again bang your originals and away you go!

[itchyfeet]

Why not search for a spare set of wheels - they van go flat and deformed over winter. When u need the van again bang your originals and away you go!

less effort to just roll it forward or back a bit a few times isn't it?

[Bubble Meister]

Agreed, it is but theres less chance if the original tyres deforming. Plus an ideal time to get the originals overhauled.

[mercrocker]

I store my van every winter. Pushing backwards and forwards is not always feasible (or good for your lumbar muscles). Also, chances are you might end up almost on the same spot on the tyre! So far no ill effect has been noticed with my own rubber but its only in there for the worst four months or so. I NEVER start my engine unless I intend getting it up to full temperature in normal driving (not just idling), this goes all year round - mainly because of a noisy tappet that shows up after a cold re-start but nonetheless still a good habit. Because I SORN mine and space is extremely limited where it winters I can't just drive it a few miles.

I talked with a senior mechanic at Beaulieu Motor Museum last year - he is a very strong advocate of turning engines over weekly if they are in storage. They look after stuff with starting handles which make it easier but I turn mine over on the starter (don't touch the throttle) with the coil lead off every other weekend when its in the barn. I charge the battery just once, before the spring, but at the moment its still in good condition. It gets a full engine service when it comes back out.

[nordberg]

I had flat spotted tyres earlier this year. It was a little strange that I had left the van for longer periods prior to the time they flat spotted with no ill effect. I wasn't convinced that changing the tires would resolve the issue as the garages wording of the fault was "your tires aren't round mate". If they said that were flat spotted i would have had a little more confidence that they knew what they were talking about. However, after the new rubber was applied the vibration disappeared. I think old rubber tends to harden after a few years and becomes more prone to this problem. Anyways, I don't SORN my van because i do like to use it occasionally during the winter months, but moving the van every couple of weeks so as not to suffer 'flat spots' is a priority now