How To Winterize Your Camaro (Steps).

[Dboy23]

Steps:

1) Make sure the gas tank is at about 1/2 and put seafoam in it, drive the car for 5 miles, than put Sta-Bil in the in the tank, drive to gas station, fill it up and take it home (or to storage location).

2) If the car is close to an oil change make sure you do it before storing the car, if you have more than a couple thousand miles left there is no need for it.

3) Clean the car and put a fit car cover on it (for garage storage) unless you are using a heated garage in which case you wouldn't need this. If you are storing it outside make sure you have a weatherproof car cover.

4) Either (a) hook up a battery tender or (b) disconnect the battery.

5) Not required but is good if you remove the wheels and leave the car on 4 jack stands (for indoor storage).

6) If using a battery tender start the car once every month for 10-15 minutes.

Recommendations:

1) If your going to be storing your car either somewhere outside, or in a garage that isn't sealed well/is opened up during the winter months, than it's recommended that you use a clean rag in each tailpipe in case of rodents or something else climbing into it and stuffing it. Also if your going to do this put a sticky on the steering wheel to remind you to not start the vehicle without removing the rags.

2) Do not set the parking brake, if it's a manual leave it in neutral.

If anyone has any questions/concerns feel free to post here or PM me. Same goes for anyone that has any other information they think would be good to add to this thread. Hopefully someone can sticky this also.

[UncleBenny]

Originally Posted by Dboy23

6) If using a battery tender start the car once every month for 10-15 minutes.

I have read a couple places that it is not a good idea to just start the car once a month. Instead of one hard start at the end of winter, now you have one every month. Just wondering which advice is right? To me not starting the car at all sounds like it makes more sense.

Does waxing the car before you cover it matter at all? I was thinking wash, wax, and cover. I can't think of any negative effects of this, but maybe there's something I'm not thinking of.

[Mr. Wyndham]

One more...from experience.....

Stuff your tailpipes with a clean rag to prevent any rodents from getting in there if you have a less-than-perfectly-sealed garage...not a pretty picture if there's a mouse or two in the exhaust when you start it up....blech.

[Dboy23]

Originally Posted by UncleBenny

I have read a couple places that it is not a good idea to just start the car once a month. Instead of one hard start at the end of winter, now you have one every month. Just wondering which advice is right? To me not starting the car at all sounds like it makes more sense.

Does waxing the car before you cover it matter at all? I was thinking wash, wax, and cover. I can't think of any negative effects of this, but maybe there's something I'm not thinking of.

What your referring to is if your not using the battery tender, if you do it won't hurt the car to start it.

If anything waxing the car is probably better, I can't think of anything that would be bad about it.

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

One more...from experience.....

Stuff your tailpipes with a clean rag to prevent any rodents from getting in there if you have a less-than-perfectly-sealed garage...not a pretty picture if there's a mouse or two in the exhaust when you start it up....blech.

I'll add this as something that's recommended for not perfectly sealed or garages that you open during the winter, thanks.

[Sir Nuke]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

One more...from experience.....

Stuff your tailpipes with a clean rag to prevent any rodents from getting in there if you have a less-than-perfectly-sealed garage...not a pretty picture if there's a mouse or two in the exhaust when you start it up....blech.

and IF you do this..........put a FLAG of some sort, like maybe on the streeing wheel with a note to remind you to UN-STUFF them before you start your car.

[SlingShot]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

One more...from experience.....

Stuff your tailpipes with a clean rag to prevent any rodents from getting in there if you have a less-than-perfectly-sealed garage...not a pretty picture if there's a mouse or two in the exhaust when you start it up....blech.

But funny as hell when they come flying out, start running around going WTH !!!!!

[TJ91]

like this thread...thanks but one question, if i have my car sitting on all four wheels, how do i ensure not having my tires messed up during the winter storage. I heard something about if it sits in one posisiton, the tire gets damaged somehow.

[CloudXTC]

since i will be getting my car only for about 2 weeks... then having to store it... should i do the first oil change anyways before i store it?

[SlingShot]

Originally Posted by TJ91

like this thread...thanks but one question, if i have my car sitting on all four wheels, how do i ensure not having my tires messed up during the winter storage. I heard something about if it sits in one posisiton, the tire gets damaged somehow.

Jack stands.... Raise them off the ground .....

[Dboy23]

Originally Posted by TJ91

like this thread...thanks but one question, if i have my car sitting on all four wheels, how do i ensure not having my tires messed up during the winter storage. I heard something about if it sits in one posisiton, the tire gets damaged somehow.

One side (the one on the floor) may get flat. It's suggested you take them off or use jack stands and keep them on.

[Dboy23]

Originally Posted by CloudXTC

since i will be getting my car only for about 2 weeks... then having to store it... should i do the first oil change anyways before i store it?

Depends on the amount of miles you are going to be putting on the car, you shouldn't need to though.

[TJ91]

thanks guys, have to go buy some jack stands now lol So much to do, so little money lol

[earn88hardt]

If your going to store your car then don't start it , just leave it alone.

[len56]

1) Winter mats

2) Snow Tires

3) A pat on the hood and a "you can do it"



no garages for mine :P