Storing your Camaro

[67Redux]

Well I did a search on camaro5 and found some info on storing but its spread out on numerous threads. So I thought this might help some people like me.

I did find a couple of articles on storing your car.

http://www.techguys.ca/howto/winter.html
http://news.carjunky.com/automotive/...e-cde951.shtml

Im not changing all my fluids except for the oil, and Carjunky says "Some will say to put the car on blocks, but with modern independent suspension, it's not good to leave it 'unsprung' for long periods". Just wondering what do you guys think?

[SQUALO]

Originally Posted by 67Redux

Well I did a search on camaro5 and found some info on storing but its spread out on numerous threads. So I thought this might help some people like me.

I did find a couple of articles on storing your car.

http://www.techguys.ca/howto/winter.html
http://news.carjunky.com/automotive/...e-cde951.shtml

Im not changing all my fluids except for the oil, and Carjunky says "Some will say to put the car on blocks, but with modern independent suspension, it's not good to leave it 'unsprung' for long periods". Just wondering what do you guys think?

The techguys methods are pretty much what most people do, with slight alterations, based on personal preference. Jacking a car, I to don't think it's necessary, unless you're storing for at least one year. Battery disconnect essential for life span of battery.

Now my question is, and I'm looking for feedback:
When is the best time to change the oil, before or after storage?
(would clean oil sitting over winter not breakdown, as much as used oil?), this is the only part that I still can't get a clear answer on.

I was thinking of holding off until spring, than get a nice drain of the old oil and have clean fresh oil to start, and get me through the new season. PLEASE HELP!

[67Redux]

Originally Posted by SQUALO

I was thinking of holding off until spring, than get a nice drain of the old oil and have clean fresh oil to start, and get me through the new season. PLEASE HELP!

Im going to do the same thing, I figure how much more can my old oil breakdown in 4 months? only got 3k on old oil.

[canadian ss]

I have 2200ks and stored it already with the factory oil. If its mobil1, why would I put new oil in it just so it can collect moisture and dump it in the spring? Its good for awhile still and it can collect moisture all it wants till spring. I've never put new oil in any of my camaros when i stored them. Never had a problem as long as I changed it as soon as it came out of storage. As a tech i've seen people needlessly spending money on their oil. I've almost collected some peoples oil to put in my beater cause of how clean it still is.
So i'm changing it in the spring and will not lose sleep over it. I will start it up bi-weekly as well to keep the coolant from settling to the bottom of the rad, heater core and block. People talk about moisture in the engine... B/S, the internals of an engine don't go dry in a span of 5-6 months. the oil keeps everything slick. As long as you get to operating temps, you're ok. I've rebuilt many engines and a little moisture never hurts them. I never find evidence to point to improper storing.
Save your money on the oil change. Spend it in the spring.
Do you think us at the dealer worry about the cars sitting the winter out without a buyer worry about changing its oil? Nothing bad will happen.

[Merc]

2200km time to cahnge the oil anyways!

[canadian ss]

And when it comes out of storage, it will still have 2200ks and then will change it.
This topic is like asking whats the best way to raise a child?

[BLACK67]

Change the oil before you put it away. The contaminants in the oil can eat away at bearing and crank surfaces. If you left it till spring to change, it will have all settled and attached and be more dificult to have a clean environment.
Do you brush your teeth before you go to bed?

[CloudXTC]

i asked the oil change question in the cosmetic part of the forum and the guys there said do the oil change after hibernation...

[SQUALO]

Originally Posted by canadian ss

I have 2200ks and stored it already with the factory oil. If its mobil1, why would I put new oil in it just so it can collect moisture and dump it in the spring? Its good for awhile still and it can collect moisture all it wants till spring. I've never put new oil in any of my camaros when i stored them. Never had a problem as long as I changed it as soon as it came out of storage. As a tech i've seen people needlessly spending money on their oil. I've almost collected some peoples oil to put in my beater cause of how clean it still is.
So i'm changing it in the spring and will not lose sleep over it. I will start it up bi-weekly as well to keep the coolant from settling to the bottom of the rad, heater core and block. People talk about moisture in the engine... B/S, the internals of an engine don't go dry in a span of 5-6 months. the oil keeps everything slick. As long as you get to operating temps, you're ok. I've rebuilt many engines and a little moisture never hurts them. I never find evidence to point to improper storing.
Save your money on the oil change. Spend it in the spring.
Do you think us at the dealer worry about the cars sitting the winter out without a buyer worry about changing its oil? Nothing bad will happen.

My mechanic agrees with this too.

Originally Posted by canadian ss

And when it comes out of storage, it will still have 2200ks and then will change it.
This topic is like asking whats the best way to raise a child?

Originally Posted by CloudXTC

i asked the oil change question in the cosmetic part of the forum and the guys there said do the oil change after hibernation...

Originally Posted by BLACK67

Change the oil before you put it away. The contaminants in the oil can eat away at bearing and crank surfaces. If you left it till spring to change, it will have all settled and attached and be more dificult to have a clean environment.
Do you brush your teeth before you go to bed?

Yes I do brush my teeth, do you?

[Merc]

Thanks for the back up. Storing it with fresh clean oil is better for it, then contaminated oil. Since it's due, might as well.

[Kenny]

My two cents about changing your oil before storage or not,

Oils are designed to suspend acids and other byproducts of combustion so they don't come into contact with the engine and cause damage. If you change your oil at or before recommended intervals and you are not approaching said interval then i don't think you'll do any harm by waiting until spring to change your oil. That being said however if you frequently start the engine during the winter you will degrade the oil much faster than if you hadn't started it (another debate i know), In this case then i would want to have fresh oil (or not very old) in before storage. Remember here that it's water dissolving some of the combustion bi-products that produce acids and starting the engine will contribute to more condensation.

If on the other hand you are not as diligent about changing the oil when you should then i would definitely recommend changing it before storage.

Another thing to keep in mind is if you do want to leave your car with fresh oil over the winter consider using regular oil instead of synthetic. It's a misconception that synthetic and regular oils don't mix so to save the cost of a $100 plus oil change use regular oil for storage and switch back to synthetic when you bring it back out.

I don't think there is a definitive answer here but for myself with less than 2000k on my oil i won't change it until spring. I also won't be running the engine either.

Ken

[2010victoryredss_ron]

Like Canadian SS said, he is going to start it and run it up to temp, every other week. Thats what I plan on doing aswell. So how will he contaminents have a chance to ruin any internal parts. I am with him, fresh oil upon wake up for a long summer.

[SQUALO]

thanx to everyone, for the input, on the oil change topic.

[formulahawk]

Originally Posted by SQUALO

The techguys methods are pretty much what most people do, with slight alterations, based on personal preference. Jacking a car, I to don't think it's necessary, unless you're storing for at least one year. Battery disconnect essential for life span of battery.

Now my question is, and I'm looking for feedback:
When is the best time to change the oil, before or after storage?
(would clean oil sitting over winter not breakdown, as much as used oil?), this is the only part that I still can't get a clear answer on.

I was thinking of holding off until spring, than get a nice drain of the old oil and have clean fresh oil to start, and get me through the new season. PLEASE HELP!

Frank, I have always changed the oil just before winter storage. With synthetic any damage to the oil over the winter is minimised.

No issues with my Firehawk over the seven years of storage.

Just my 2 cents.

Kelly