Wondering what thoughts people have on how often is necessary to use my plus 2 through winter to keep battery and oils,brakes and other moving parts in good condition…Was thinking of laying her up but want to use her on sunny days…
cheers
Ian
If it’s of any help, my S4 rarely gets used in the Winter here; too cold & too much salt on the roads.
I move the car in the garage occasionally to prevent flats on the tyres.
Other than that I can recommend one of those battery “Jogger” devices that keeps the battery exercised.
Cheers
John
Ian,
I think there will be enough sunny days in Warwickshire this Winter to take the car out, charge your battery, keep your discs shiny, your brakes free, your internal mechanicals oiled, your petrol fresh, your clutch from sticking to the flywheel, your tyres round, keep out the damp and the mould, and all the other good things that come from using an old car regularly. 
Sean Murray
Keeping out mould in this climate is almost impossible 
But trying to do so by driving the car is very rewarding
And as Se?n says, it’s much more likely we’ll get sunny weather this winter than next summer…
Peter
I can tell you that cold is not a problem. I am constantly finding myself pushing in on the heater knob to avoid being thoroughly cooked and the fan rarely gets used at all. It’s the salt that ends my driving season and they started putting it down two days ago. Cargill is in the salt business. Unfortunately they are based here.
If your storage is dry, as during the winter months it’s likely to be, infrequent battery attention is pretty much all you need. Whatever opportunities you have will be plenty.
My car sometimes stays stuck behind the snowblower all winter, 'cause once Massachusetts lays down salt it stays there until April rains wash it away. Sometimes I start it up, mostly I just charge it a few hours every other month. She’s always happy to wake up and stretch come spring.
There are different perspectives on starting after a layup. Nobody’s ever been able to convince me with real data that cranking up oil pressure with the plugs out isn’t more damaging than getting quick oil pressure by starting it and running at high idle. In any event, over the winter the oil film will still be there. Pick one and don’t fret about it.
Another worthwhile suggestion is to pump the tyres up harder than normal (ie 40psi) helps prevent flat spots.(just make sure you let them down befor you drive it)
Also if you don’t have a dry garage think about a dehumidifyer or those trays of crystals which suck up moisture (work realy well inside a car).
Its also a good idea to take it for a long fast run before you lay it up, this gets much of the moisture out of the engine and exhaust etc
Kevin
While I used to have to look after the battery through the winter (in the ‘old’ days), I think batteries must have got a lot better, as the last 2 I’ve had, I didn’t do anything to them at all, and the car always starts perfectly, even after a few months not being used at all, (without charging them at all). The only other thing I do is push the car forwards or backwards a bit, every now and again, so that it’s not always resting on the same bits of the tyres.
Another week or so, here in Massachusetts USA, and the car will be in the garage for winter work. As previously mentioned, it’s the salt rather than the cold.
Another aspect of driving in winter is increased night driving. I have been commuting in the Elan (primarily to exercise and gain confidence in the electrical system) and I drive home in the dark. I have auxiliary lights on the rollbar, so being seen (at least from behind) isn’t a problem, but the glare from big vehicles with HID lights is horrendous - especially in the side mirror.
I feel much safer driving at night. During the day, my car seems to be invisible to other drivers. At night when the lights are on, all cars are created equal!
you really dont want to drive your lotus in this --however you may want to take the tension off of the fan belt on the water pump for storage ----ed
like frank in minnesota and others in mass, the salt is what kills winter driving in chicago. when i know the roads are pretty clean, i take the elan out whenever i can…it seems to have fewer problems when it gets regular electrical and mechanical stimulation. me too. 
Earlier on in this thread someone mentioned starting the engine occasionally.
Perhaps that should read: and run it until it gets really hot.
A quick short run will do the engine no good, permiting condensation to build up on all of the fuel washed surfaces, which among other things will result in corrosion.
John
Hell---- that weather in your picture is a mild spring here – 
-ed
Some interesting replies thanks,but what im trying to find out is how often is it needed to run the car over winter to keep it in good shape? Iv heard stories of water pumps sprouting leaks and calipers seizeing due to lack of use?
Cheers
Ian.
I wash and clean the car including the under area thoroughly -change the oil -squirt wd40 in the spark plug holes --wd40 the headers and any exposed aluminum to prevent the white powder from forming -loosen the the fan belt to take tension off the water pump -check the anti freeze is good -and close garage door ----once a month I plug in the trickle charger for an hour put some mouse and rat poison on the floor and that is it —I don’t start it until I’M ready to drive it next spring --have never had a caliper piston seize as I change the brake fluid every 2 years because it absorbs moisture ----the reason we don’t drive our cherished cars over here is the salt – tons of it on the roads daily -----it will dissolve a chassis in two or 3 years -----oh yes —fill the gas tank up to full to prevent rust -------ed
Looking at the Elan in the snow. Looks like a lot of fun
I would love to take my Elan on a skid pan.
Fortunately I have a warm and dry garage to store the Elan in over the winter all wrapped up with a saucer of milk
I take off the wheels to stop the tyres getting a flat spot. Give the metal parts a spray of WD40, put the trickle charger on and wait for the spring.
Christian,
I like the red elan in the snow picture. That’s now my (xmas) desk top.
Mike 