Winter Storage

[Rock-It Man]

Originally Posted by xrayman

Is the battery tender really necessary? My plan is two start the car a couple of times a week and let it idle for 15 to 30 minutes.

No, that's a bad idea. All you will do is get moisture into the engine and exhaust.

Here's what you need to store the car:

oil change
full tank of gas with Sta-Bil
battery tender
mouse poison in the garage year-round, or hungry cat

Don't start the car until Spring. People will tell you to put the car up on jacks or over inflate the tires. I can tell you from 3 winters of experience that flat spotting does not happen.

[OHIOSS]

There are numerous threads on this topic.

I am different than everyone else, I fill up the tank and put the car in storage with the cover on it. I don't use a battery tender, I don't put it up on blocks, I don't put anything in the fuel, just shut it off and put the cover on. I have done this for 4 years and when I get the car out in the spring it starts right up and I have never had a problem.

If you think about it how long do cars sit on dealer lots and they don't do anything special to them.

Russ

[not]

You need not worry about the oil change either if it doesn't need it, wait till spring or whenever you want to change it. The whole spiel on acids in the oil eating your engine is hooey, plain and simple.

And a battery tender is not really needed, at least not all winter. Our cars have run-down protection and if you do want to do a battery tender, do it half-way through the storage period.

Throwing some extra air in the tires won't hurt and will make you feel better, that is worth a lot right there.

And if you want to throw stabil crap in the gas, that won't hurt either. These days the refineries put enough stabilizers in ethanol blends to kill a whale but it doesn't hurt so who cares...........

Can't wait for Spring!!!

[midnighter]

I just throw the GM car cover over mine, hook up the battery tender to the battery, and let the spiders live in it rent free for the winter.

[Paint It Black]

Just got the Camaro a month ago, but have had several of those non-metal, two seaters for many a winter so I'm not a novice at this. Here's my thoughts on a couple points:

Car cover - NO WAY! If I can't drive it, I at least want to SEE it, and California Duster it once a week or so.

Start/idle engine - Again, No way, enough said.

Fill gas tank - Why? Constant temperature in heated garage - no condensation in tank, IF that really even happens anyway... I leave it as close to empty as I can, and then fill it with FRESH gas the first time out.

Battery Tender - Yes, but I rotate it between the Harley and the car every 2 weeks. And FWIW, Battery Rundown Protection simply turns off anything you left on accidently, like dome/head lights. It does NOT mean the battery recharges itself! DUH.

Change Oil - Not unless OLM says it's time.

In a perfect world, we would all live where we could drive them year round, but this is not the case. I tell myself a few months abstinence increases the pleasure when it's finally time. (My wife has a similar philosophy on a different subject)

[kevinw]

paint it black . you are killin me! abstinence. lol lol

[KJS]

• Wash/polish/wax it
• Cover it if you have one
• Battery tender
• Fill the tires to 40
• Lube the hinges
• Fill the tank and add Stabil (if nothing else, you'll have a cheaper tank of gas, cause it ain't gonna be this cheap in the spring)
• if rodents are an issue, throw some dryer sheets under the hood, in the tailpipes (and remember to remove 'em in the spring)
• DON'T start it every other week!

[batman53201]

Originally Posted by angie7

Just put mine away on Sunday. Wash, clay bar, wax, full tank of gas with stabil, battery tender, carpet for her feet, and a cover. I also put dryer sheets in the trunk and engine bay. I didnt put any inside as I dont want the interior to absorb the smell but they are laid all over the floor around the car to deter mice and stuffed the tailpipes with rags. See her in March, if I can make it that long, lol!! Staying focused on saving 70 bucks a month on storage ins

dont mice chew thru rags?

i stuff steel wool in my pipes

[Fish-man]

In addition i wil put Damp Rid packs inside. THEY WORK for pulling moisture out of the air

[turboguy327]

Originally Posted by xrayman

Is the battery tender really necessary? My plan is two start the car a couple of times a week and let it idle for 15 to 30 minutes.

Worst thing you can do. Get a tender.

[Green Machine]

I still need to get some steel wool in the exhaust tips and purchase a tender sometime this winter... but its about done for the winter.

[fgg60]

simple... put winter tires on it and......drive it!!

(except for maybe when there's snow actually on the road....)

[Green Machine]

Originally Posted by fgg60

simple... put winter tires on it and......drive it!!

(except for maybe when there's snow actually on the road....)

Uhm... no

My car might (and I do mean MIGHT) get 5-7k miles a year during the summer. Why would I drive it in the winter and make more work for myself keeping it clean? Let along the cost of new wheels and tires just for winter lol.

Drive Safe and Happy Holidays!

[Neumatic]

I just disconnected the battery and put a car cover over mine.