How to Prep Your Car for Winter Storage...

[serows1]

Thanks for the advise. My main concern is flat spotting on the tires, I used nitrogen and ran them at 37 psi last year but before I stored it this winter I pumped them up to 48 psi using regular air. I also parked each tire on berber carpet squares on top of vinyl sheets to help prevent moisture loss and flat spotting. My fear is driving it this summer and having to deal with a vibration from the flat spotting. What is everyone else's past experience in regards to flat spotting?

Paul

[Green Machine]

I know some people on here don't worry to much about flat spotting. I bought flatspotters from raceramps and the cars been on those since September

Sent from somewhere on the road.

[serows1]

Well, after driving it for a couple of days there are no vibrations at all so I guess inflating the tires 48 psi and parking on thick berber carpet squares did the trick.

Paul

[bluels3]

Does anyone know the best indoor car cover? I want a custom fit with Camaro on it. Do they have covers with a soft inner side? It will only be used in the winter for storage.

[Les7311]

Will lifting the tires off the ground create any upsetting to the struts / shocks after 6 months? This would be from Thanksgiving through Spring...

[aurora]

Originally Posted by INTIMIDAT3R

Things to do to prepare your car correctly for winter storage so you can just turn the key in the spring...

1. Change the oil(last year's oil has been contaminated by the normal combustion process of the engine and this contamination can cause acidic erosion of seals and gaskets).
2. Sea Foam(fuel stabilizer) or other brand of fuel stabilizer in the fuel tank, then fill up(having a full tank prevents rust and condensation inside the fuel tank), and drive for a few miles to ensure stabilizer circulates throughout the fuel system.
3. Detail car inside and out.
4. Pump the tires up to 45 psi to avoid flatspotting if you don't have "FlatSpotters" to prevent it.
5. DO NOT put your car on jack stands or blocks under the frame. This lets the suspension droop and puts the springs and bushings in an unnatural state.
6. In an unheated garage, cover garage floor with a waterproof tarp as moisture barrier. Heated garage, you're good.
7. Cardboard or carpeting under tires to add another layer of protection between floor and tires. Concrete draws moisture out of the rubber, shortening tire life and speeding up dry-rot.
8. Moth balls by the tires and/or dryer sheets in the interior/trunk to keep critters away.
9. PLAIN/UNTREATED charcoal briquettes in the passenger cabin and trunk to absorb odors.
10. Steel wool in exhaust pipes to keep critters out(leave note on stearing wheel or taped to car cover as a reminder).
11. Then hook up battery tender and plug in or you can remove the battery or you can just disconnect the ground cable from the battery.
12. Cover car with a NOAH or similar breathable car cover.
13. Then walk away till spring. :(
14. DO NOT start until ready to drive it again in the spring. Letting car sit and idle for any amount of time DOES NOT get rid of the condensation that is created in the exhaust system and engine.
15. Check with your finance company to see if you can drop full coverage and just keep comprehensive since the car will be in storage. Some will allow it, some won't.

Does anyone know if #5 Applies to Goodyear Eagle F1 tires?? its not only flatspots but cracking to worry about. My dealership recommended jacking car up....I don't really want to do that.

[JCunningham]

now that im camed i think i will crank the engine over but not start it for the springs. I now have a very well insulated garage. With a concrete floor do you still have to put a tarp under it? i will put carpet under the tires and pump them up to 45.

[Bretts]

Originally Posted by bluels3

Does anyone know the best indoor car cover? I want a custom fit with Camaro on it. Do they have covers with a soft inner side? It will only be used in the winter for storage.

I have the Camaro indoor black breathable cover from the build site its got a nice soft feel, it fits and its heated (sounds familiar ) in my small garage space

[Bretts]

the "mistress in black "also has zero gravity tires

[Green Machine]

Originally Posted by aurora

Does anyone know if #5 Applies to Goodyear Eagle F1 tires?? its not only flatspots but cracking to worry about. My dealership recommended jacking car up....I don't really want to do that.

For summer tires as long as you don't drive the car you shouldn't have to worry about tires cracking.

[aurora]

Originally Posted by Green Machine

For summer tires as long as you don't drive the car you shouldn't have to worry about tires cracking.

Thanks for input, Green Machine.

[Les7311]

Thanks Aurora....and the crew...

[aurora]

Originally Posted by Les7311

Thanks Aurora....and the crew...

No prob! You don't want to jack it up either, hey? I can't stand the thought of my car on blocks.

[Les7311]

Gotcha. I heard mixed responses for jacking up, but I will stick to keeping tires intact...

Originally Posted by aurora

No prob! You don't want to jack it up either, hey? I can't stand the thought of my car on blocks.