Location: Central Cali
Posts: 302
My VIN: 5087
So a question...is it better for the car to keep the doors open or closed most of the time? Since I keep the car in the garage I can keep the doors open or closed...but I feel like keeping them open releases stress on the torsion bars. Thoughts?
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Posts: 4,764
My VIN: Banged your VIN'S mom
Open is less stress on the bars but also very inviting to all animals and bugs with more than 2 legs.
The long and short is they are approaching 40 years old spending most of their life closed. With the exception of a few wuss bars giving up and snapping, they made it this far so I think they have earned the right to stay closed.
Posts: 218
I think it is a good idea to take the cover off and open everything up during Winter storage a couple of times, but I certainly wouldn't leave it open all the time.
Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 8,579
My VIN: 10757 1st place Concourse 1998
This is similar to the argument to jack the car up and take the weight off of the suspension and tires. It doesn't seem to matter except in the case of the tires you can get flatspots. After a little driving they come out so jacking is not any better than leaving the car on the floor. Since there doesn't appear to be any relationship between failures of torsion bars with the doors left open or closed, it is probably better to leave them shut. As for the struts, when the doors are closed they are under greater pressure so you would think they would leak faster but again, it doesn't seem to make any difference in their longevity.
David Teitelbaum
Location: Syracuse, NY area
Posts: 1,025
My VIN: 10287
Club(s): (DMA)
If you are concerned about your torsion bar longevity all I have to say is roofbox separation. Secure the roofbox before it happens to you!
If your 'box is bolted down I'd say closed or open doesn't make a difference.
Nick A.
1988 BMW 325is
1982 DeLorean DMC-12
1989 Jaguar XJ6
Location: Flushing MI
Posts: 17
My VIN: 3182
Since the bars are still "stressed" in the open condition (albeit to lower values) I don't see much advantage to leaving the doors open.
Twisted metal does not really care about this load until you exceed the stress/strain curve. The failures here are quality control and there is no fix for that.
Not so good parts will die open or closed. Actually they die on cycles so opening the door is just as bad as closing it.
This "why and how" is a rabbit hole that is best not gone down.
Airing out the car can be good if in a nice environment.
I try to open and start mine every 4 months or so and drive it at least once a year.
A very good note above by Michael about critters. Mice and squirrels can destroy a stored car.
You can buy "car bags".
You can go nuts and fill them will inert gases which preserve rubber lines but only people with silly money do such and this never made sense to me.
Bob
Last edited by carbob81; 10-13-2019 at 02:34 PM.
Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 8,579
My VIN: 10757 1st place Concourse 1998
Critters seem to be able to get into parked cars even with the doors closed. They take the materiel from the seats and make a nest in the heater box and they chew up the wiring in the fuse box. They also get into the storage area in the front of the bonnet and eat the bag for the jack. One way to prevent it (besides a plastic bag to park the car in) is to use mothballs under the car (NOT inside). You also get insects like spiders but they mainly stay underneath. I had a project car once and when I put it in my garage they all started to drop to the floor and walk around. I had to spray then and kill them before they got into the house! Another car a squirrel had stored all of his nuts in the tailpipes. When we started it up we smelled roasting nuts and when I stepped on the gas they all shot out! There are stories of snakes in warm climates living in the cars that come out and surprise owners. The worst effects are in the Southwest. There are stories of owners working on cars that had droppings from mice infected with Hanta virus. That can be deadly. When you take in a car that has been stored outside for an extended period you have to treat it like a biological hazard!
David Teitelbaum
Posts: 4,764
My VIN: Banged your VIN'S mom
Must you always find a loophole? Of course bugs and rodents can get into a car with doors closed. It's just not as likely. I swear everytime I post something on this board I need to write a legal disclaimer full of caveats and extenuating circumstances.Originally Posted by David T
Q: If I parked my DeLorean in the rain with the doors up will it get wet?
A: Yes, close the doors
DT: Actually rain can still get inside if the seals are bad(goes on to rewrite the tech manual)
It's like you are a DeLorean edition of Adam Ruins Everything.
Location: Leonardtown, MD
Posts: 9,005
My VIN: 03572
A mouse will find a way inside even with the doors shut. I do think your struts would last longer with the doors left open. There is a lot less tension on the bars with the doors open but not sure if that would extend the life of the bars.
Location: Flushing MI
Posts: 17
My VIN: 3182
A determined mouse will find it's way into anything.
No sense inviting them in and making it easy.
You think a mouse bad, wait until you get squirrels or coons.
One can not close the door on a motorcycle or snowmobile just as the engine bay is wide open on a car or truck.
Varmints...Kill them all, no mercy......
Bob
Last edited by carbob81; 10-13-2019 at 09:10 PM.
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