First time Storing Camaro for the Winter - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

markallan · 08-31-2015, 11:37 AM

Hi Guys, I had never stored a car over the winter and this will be my first car to be stored for 6-7 months. I picked up my 2014 Yellow Camaro SS 1LE this January. The car will be stored under an underground parking lot in my apartment. The only thing i know so far is to change the oil before storage. Any advise and input will be appreciated.

Thank you,

Allan

TIREKLR · 08-31-2015, 11:44 AM

Also curious to any tips or tricks to help with winter storage. .........

Full Lock · 08-31-2015, 12:08 PM

full tank of gas along with a fuel stabilizer added. jack stands if available to do so aswell to keep weight off one spot of the tires

Cleveland1LE · 08-31-2015, 12:31 PM

I take my tires and rims off and place in my basement. If the tires get too cold, they can crack and will be ruined and are not covered by warranty. The GM bulletin says not to move car when temp is below 20 degrees on the track tires. I know a guy that had his 1LE in his pole barn last year and the tires cracked.

Cool1LE · 08-31-2015, 12:57 PM

oil
any fluids that may need changed (for instance I'm doing my rear diff before storage this year)
Full tank of gas with the stabilizer
battery tender if you have a plug close enough.. if not disconnect the battery all together
I always detail the car (makes spring that much better) then cover it
jack stands are hard on the suspension.... I just put down a tarp (unheated garage helps with the cold) and have 4 carpet squares that add a little (not much mind you) cushion for the wheels... 2 winters and no tire issues after taking it out of storage... more importantly no issues with the suspension from being "dangled" for 6 months

trashmanssd · 08-31-2015, 01:01 PM

Do you know how long you plan to own the car?
Are you leaving the stock Goodyear's on it?
How cold does the garage get (is it sealed garage semi sealed open air)?
are you going to be around or are you out town?
Will you drive it at all weather permitting or no way?

Myself mine gets semi stored for 2-4 months depending on the winter. Less now that I realize I will get a new toy car every 5 years anyways so no need treating it like a collector car. I put fuel stabilizer in and a smart trickle charger on it. I start it up every few weeks and pull it out of the garage spin it around few times to rotate the tires around to avoid bad flat spotting and I leave it out running for 15-30 minutes to get it to temperature. I prefer to take it for a quick road trip if the roads are not a winter mess, so that I can get the tranny and rear diff and engine all to temperature for a bit to burn off any condensation.

AGM 1LE · 08-31-2015, 02:42 PM

why change the oil before the storage instead of when you get it out next year?

Billy10mm · 08-31-2015, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AGM 1LE

why change the oil before the storage instead of when you get it out next year?

Gets any water/contaminants out of the fluid so it doesn't sit inside the motor for long periods of time damaging things.

Andoskyy · 08-31-2015, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cool1LE

jack stands are hard on the suspension.... I just put down a tarp (unheated garage helps with the cold) and have 4 carpet squares that add a little (not much mind you) cushion for the wheels... 2 winters and no tire issues after taking it out of storage... more importantly no issues with the suspension from being "dangled" for 6 months

If you put the jack stands under the suspension, not the body, it won't be dangling. The weight of the car is still on the suspension, just not on the tires.

Would hate to flat spot such expensive tires. It's worth $50 in jack stands to me.

nvydvr · 08-31-2015, 04:22 PM

You can also go to Home Depot/Lowe's and get a piece of insulation board to park on. A 4 X 8 sheet is around $15.00 and you can quarter it for each tire to get it off the concrete. Just a thought...

Ragnar · 08-31-2015, 05:17 PM

If it were me, I would put a non alcohol gas in the tank. I've read on the internet, that some of alcohol gas breaks down and adds water.

Dropspeed · 08-31-2015, 05:58 PM

I have been storing summer and track cars for 25 years and here is what I do:

Fresh oil
Full take of gas
Battery tender
50psi or air in the tires
Car dollies under tires. Get rounded ones that cup or suport more of the tire
If you want to go the extra step a tarp or drop cloth on the ground
Coal or some other moisture absorbtion for the interior
Moth balls which supposedly keep the mice away

Fireman124 · 08-31-2015, 07:46 PM

As others have stated fuel stabilizer, battery tender, oil change, and for the last two years I used Flat Stoppers and they have worked to avoid flat spots on the tires. They are made by the same people who make Race Ramps.

Eldnearb · 09-01-2015, 01:38 PM

I have been wintering her for 4 years and my list is like most others.

Oil change
Full tank with Stabilizer
fill the tires
park it on wood to keep it off the concrete
Battery tender
padded Winter cover
park her in the garage and don't start her up until the spring.

No issues, original tires (only have 22,000KM on her).

Don't forget to stare at her all winter, occasionally I sneak out to the garage to have a seat and prepare for the thaw.

08-31-2015, 11:37 AM	#1
markallan Drives: Camaro SS Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Vancouver BC Posts: 24	First time Storing Camaro for the Winter Hi Guys, I had never stored a car over the winter and this will be my first car to be stored for 6-7 months. I picked up my 2014 Yellow Camaro SS 1LE this January. The car will be stored under an underground parking lot in my apartment. The only thing i know so far is to change the oil before storage. Any advise and input will be appreciated. Thank you, Allan

08-31-2015, 12:08 PM	#3
Full Lock Evasive Maneuvers Drives: SIM '15 1SS 1LE Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: PA Posts: 234	full tank of gas along with a fuel stabilizer added. jack stands if available to do so aswell to keep weight off one spot of the tires __________________ '15 Camaro 1LE 500whp/444wtq '04 Avalanche Z71 DD on 33's '90 K5 Blazer '13 Camaro 1LE AGM *SOLD*

08-31-2015, 02:42 PM	#7
AGM 1LE Drives: 14 SS/ 1LE Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: parts unknown Posts: 937	why change the oil before the storage instead of when you get it out next year? __________________ 2014 1SS/1LE AGP 57/57s, E85 + meth injection, Monster triple, ZL1 diff swap, Z28 coilovers

08-31-2015, 04:22 PM	#10
nvydvr Drives: 2015 Red Rock ZL1 Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Panama City Beach, Florida Posts: 1,097	You can also go to Home Depot/Lowe's and get a piece of insulation board to park on. A 4 X 8 sheet is around $15.00 and you can quarter it for each tire to get it off the concrete. Just a thought... __________________ Alex 2015 Red Rock ZL1 Panama City Beach, FL

08-31-2015, 05:17 PM	#11
Ragnar Destroyed by flooding Drives: Wife's car Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Louisiana Posts: 4,672	If it were me, I would put a non alcohol gas in the tank. I've read on the internet, that some of alcohol gas breaks down and adds water. __________________

08-31-2015, 11:44 AM	#2
TIREKLR Drives: 2015 zl1 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 308	Also curious to any tips or tricks to help with winter storage. .........

08-31-2015, 12:31 PM	#4
Cleveland1LE 2014 2SS, RS, 1LE Yellow Drives: 2014 2SS Camaro Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 35 View My Garage	I take my tires and rims off and place in my basement. If the tires get too cold, they can crack and will be ruined and are not covered by warranty. The GM bulletin says not to move car when temp is below 20 degrees on the track tires. I know a guy that had his 1LE in his pole barn last year and the tires cracked.

08-31-2015, 12:57 PM	#5
Cool1LE Drives: 2014 Blk 2SS/1LE Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: NJ Posts: 340	oil any fluids that may need changed (for instance I'm doing my rear diff before storage this year) Full tank of gas with the stabilizer battery tender if you have a plug close enough.. if not disconnect the battery all together I always detail the car (makes spring that much better) then cover it jack stands are hard on the suspension.... I just put down a tarp (unheated garage helps with the cold) and have 4 carpet squares that add a little (not much mind you) cushion for the wheels... 2 winters and no tire issues after taking it out of storage... more importantly no issues with the suspension from being "dangled" for 6 months

08-31-2015, 01:01 PM	#6
trashmanssd Drives: Black 14 2SS/1LE/RS 14 Tundra Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Plymouth, Ma Posts: 2,414	Do you know how long you plan to own the car? Are you leaving the stock Goodyear's on it? How cold does the garage get (is it sealed garage semi sealed open air)? are you going to be around or are you out town? Will you drive it at all weather permitting or no way? Myself mine gets semi stored for 2-4 months depending on the winter. Less now that I realize I will get a new toy car every 5 years anyways so no need treating it like a collector car. I put fuel stabilizer in and a smart trickle charger on it. I start it up every few weeks and pull it out of the garage spin it around few times to rotate the tires around to avoid bad flat spotting and I leave it out running for 15-30 minutes to get it to temperature. I prefer to take it for a quick road trip if the roads are not a winter mess, so that I can get the tranny and rear diff and engine all to temperature for a bit to burn off any condensation.

08-31-2015, 05:58 PM	#12
Dropspeed 2013 Camaro SS1LECTSVZ28 Drives: 2013 AGM 1SS/1LE Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Suburbs of Detroit, MI Posts: 2,440	I have been storing summer and track cars for 25 years and here is what I do: Fresh oil Full take of gas Battery tender 50psi or air in the tires Car dollies under tires. Get rounded ones that cup or suport more of the tire If you want to go the extra step a tarp or drop cloth on the ground Coal or some other moisture absorbtion for the interior Moth balls which supposedly keep the mice away __________________ My 1LE Build/Journal : http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=351990

08-31-2015, 07:46 PM	#13
Fireman124 Drives: 45th convertible ss Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Illinois Posts: 108	As others have stated fuel stabilizer, battery tender, oil change, and for the last two years I used Flat Stoppers and they have worked to avoid flat spots on the tires. They are made by the same people who make Race Ramps.

09-01-2015, 01:38 PM	#14
Eldnearb Chevy for life... Drives: 2011 RS/2SS Black Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Vaughan, Ontario Canada Posts: 73 View My Garage	I have been wintering her for 4 years and my list is like most others. Oil change Full tank with Stabilizer fill the tires park it on wood to keep it off the concrete Battery tender padded Winter cover park her in the garage and don't start her up until the spring. No issues, original tires (only have 22,000KM on her). Don't forget to stare at her all winter, occasionally I sneak out to the garage to have a seat and prepare for the thaw. __________________ 2011 2SS Black w/Cyber Grey Stripe Chevy for life... 1987 Chevy Celebrity, 1992 Chevy Cavalier, 1995 Chevy Camaro, 2001 Chevy Blazer, 2002 Chevy Silverado, 2011 Chevy Camaro