Time to Store the car!
Originally Posted by Ouchburns
Please post your winter car storing techniques!
1 full tank of fuel, plus fuel stabilizer (no room for condensation)
2 fresh oil change
3 thick ergonomic floor mats for the tires (helps stop flat spot of tires)
4 tire pressure to 40psi for the same as above
5 disconnect battery after a trickle charge
6 start the car once a month and idle for 15 minutes
7 repeat step 5.
8 fresh coat of wax and cover with flannel sheets
I think that is about it. I may have forgot a few off the top of my head.
Rampant
I refuse to help you..........yet. Car storage season for me is December. The top stays down as long as it is +10 or warmer. The car is off the road when the snow flies.
When I do store it, I park it, put in some fuel stabilizer. I run it once a month. I am back on the road in April, sometimes March. Its only idled for about 4 months. This process has worked for 15 years on 3 different cars.
When I do store it, I park it, put in some fuel stabilizer. I run it once a month. I am back on the road in April, sometimes March. Its only idled for about 4 months. This process has worked for 15 years on 3 different cars.
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 213
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From: Burlington ON Canada
I fill up the gas tank and park it in the garage. It gets new oil before or after the winter depending on if I get caught off guard or not. I've had my car back for 8 days now so it'll be a couple of months before I think about parking it.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,234
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From: Mississauga, Ontario
Store it? No way, I drive mine! I just make sure to get it fully washed by a detail shop every Saturday, and visit the coin wash a few times through the week to keep the salt off the paint as much as I can. My car still looks like new.
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Originally Posted by Patman
Store it? No way, I drive mine! I just make sure to get it fully washed by a detail shop every Saturday, and visit the coin wash a few times through the week to keep the salt off the paint as much as I can. My car still looks like new.
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Originally Posted by Patman
Store it? No way, I drive mine! I just make sure to get it fully washed by a detail shop every Saturday, and visit the coin wash a few times through the week to keep the salt off the paint as much as I can. My car still looks like new.
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Originally Posted by Patman
Nope. When the snow is too deep I borrow a car or rent one. But in light snow the stock tires work just fine.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,234
Likes: 1
From: Mississauga, Ontario
Originally Posted by Hooper
I never understood that logic. To me, it's no big deal to put the car away for 4-5 months. The chassis is not exposed to rust-inducing salt, slippery roads and fender benders are avoided, the peace of mind knowing your car is tucked away safe and last but not least, you have something to look forward to in the spring. Let's face it, Camaros, TAs and Corvettes are summer cars IMO. I don't like driving mine if it's dirty and in the winter that's every day.
I don't like seeing mine dirty either, but I sure would rather drive it dirty than not drive it at all. JMHO.
Originally Posted by Patman
To me I don't understand why I should be making car payments on something that's sitting in a garage not being enjoyed. When you look at the wintertime as a whole, there are way more days when the roads are dry than there are with wet or snow covered roads. And as long as you fully wash the car at least once a week, you won't see much rust on the undercarriage, perhaps if you drove it for 20 years in the winter you might, but I will not own this car in 20 years, I'll own a C6 or a C7 by then.
I don't like seeing mine dirty either, but I sure would rather drive it dirty than not drive it at all. JMHO.
I don't like seeing mine dirty either, but I sure would rather drive it dirty than not drive it at all. JMHO.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,234
Likes: 1
From: Mississauga, Ontario
Originally Posted by Hooper
Yes. But if you store it you're going to be able to drive it long after the payments are done. And it will be in pristine condition.
Last time I was under there changing the oil I didn't see any hint of rust anyways. 
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Joined: Jun 2005
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Originally Posted by RAMPANT
My storage technique is to:
1 full tank of fuel, plus fuel stabilizer (no room for condensation)
2 fresh oil change
3 thick ergonomic floor mats for the tires (helps stop flat spot of tires)
4 tire pressure to 40psi for the same as above
5 disconnect battery after a trickle charge
6 start the car once a month and idle for 15 minutes
7 repeat step 5.
8 fresh coat of wax and cover with flannel sheets
I think that is about it. I may have forgot a few off the top of my head.
Rampant
1 full tank of fuel, plus fuel stabilizer (no room for condensation)
2 fresh oil change
3 thick ergonomic floor mats for the tires (helps stop flat spot of tires)
4 tire pressure to 40psi for the same as above
5 disconnect battery after a trickle charge
6 start the car once a month and idle for 15 minutes
7 repeat step 5.
8 fresh coat of wax and cover with flannel sheets
I think that is about it. I may have forgot a few off the top of my head.
Rampant
I wouldn't advise starting the car at all during the winter. This melts any condensation, and creates more, essentially MAKING more condensation, everytime you start it.
My advise is to not start it until spring.
Originally Posted by Ghostintheshell
I wouldn't advise starting the car at all during the winter. This melts any condensation, and creates more, essentially MAKING more condensation, everytime you start it.
My advise is to not start it until spring.
My advise is to not start it until spring.
Rampant
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: grimsby, ont. can.
I crack the windows down a bit to give the ruubbers some time to expand and air to flow through the interior. I also start it once a week to keep the engine wet and use cheap gas with stabilizer. Basically do the same as rampant except for the floor mat idea. Where do you get those floor mats?
Originally Posted by canadian z28
I crack the windows down a bit to give the ruubbers some time to expand and air to flow through the interior. I also start it once a week to keep the engine wet and use cheap gas with stabilizer. Basically do the same as rampant except for the floor mat idea. Where do you get those floor mats?
I bought 1 from Costco and cut it into 4. It is about 3/4" thick and very soft, so it will create a curve for the tire to sit in not a flat concrete surface which can distort the cords in the belt.
Rampant
I have a number of cars that I store in the winter and I have been doing basically what Rampant said for the last 20 years with no problems, except for putting mats underneath the tires. I just pump them up to at least 40 psi and have never had any problems with flat spotting. I would also just wipe down the door and trunk seals with some silicone just to keep them pliable and prevent them from drying and hardening out in the closed position.
Will your storage space be heated? What about humidity? What is the floor surface like?
Will your storage space be heated? What about humidity? What is the floor surface like?
