[Bad Anvil Garage]

Originally Posted by Cmax

Snow bird....
What’s up with using plywood under the tires? Dryer sheets? I have a vert with leather interior and will store it from first frost to mid March. I am paranoid mostly about rodents getting in my attached garage, but not too worried about a dead battery...
I had a 67 Camaro that I had been storing two winters, and in both spring start ups, it fired right up.

It's "healthier" for the battery to have a tender on it. These AC Delcos are notorious for dying if unused for a long time and that is terrible for a battery.

[GroundhogSS]

For sure on the oil change, the full gas tank and the battery tender. There are rubber pads that are curved that you can put under the wheels to prevent the flat spots. Hopefully someone has a link.

[Rock-It Man]

After my first storage season, my P-zero tires exhibited some flat spotting...for the first quarter mile that I drove. After that, back to normal and they lasted over 40,000 miles. The second year, no flat spotting. The tires had age hardened a bit. My current all season tires don't exhibit any flat spotting whatsoever.

Conclusion: flat spotting is an old wives tale. It can't hurt to put a bit of extra pressure in the tires, though. Typically it's 60 in the garage when I put the car away. I inflate to 40 psi which puts the pressure at about 37 if the garage goes down to 30. (It doesn't though, only goes to 40 usually). Come Spring, I always have to let some air out.

[dpevans]

Word of advice. Don't store it, keep it in drivable condition with a battery tender and then on nice days when the roads are clear take it out and drive it.

[Frankie18SS]

I would love to but the salt on the roads is MI stays on the roads the entire winter. Even taking a car out on a nice day will leave it covered with a light coat of salt on the body and entire underside.

[Wontspeak]

*laughs* Since 2004 I’ve been driving Corvettes in Michigan, every day,
less a few really bad snow days. I’m hoping, �� the Camaro will get me around just a little bit better then the Vette did.

*And I know, hope in one hand and �� in the other.

[GrimReaperSS]

Been storing my 4th gen for the last 13 years. If I dont put it up on jack stands, I'll over pressurize the tires. Battery tender is plugged in, although it is better to remove battery and bring inside, then hook to a battery tender. I use the O.E. indoor car cover. I run to the gas station before putting it away, add the appropriate amount of Stabil and then top off the tank. I will place some dryer sheets near the cowling on the passengers side for mouse deterent and a box of Arm&Hammer in the middle of the interior to keep possible mold/mildew smells out. Some people will place plastic bags over the tailpipes and intake to help prevent moisture from getting in the engine. Just use a rubber band to hold them in place. If youre storing the car in a daily use garage, I would suggest the "car bag/bubble" as even though it wont be exposed long when the door opens/closes, the salt infested snow that is melting off your winter driver is putting moisture into the garage. Depending in which way the garage floor is pitched, that water can flow towards your stored vehicle and pool under it.

[drperry]

Buy winter tires for it, an oil pan heater, and enjoy the snow/ice mode

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[JCunningham]

the 1le tires are not supposed to be stored at temps below 20F or they can crack. One guy on here said his cracked the 2nd winter. DO not store any tires on concrete. get a battery tender and do not start it again until you can go for a 20min drive.

[Rock-It Man]

The whole point of storage in the "salt belt" is to avoid ALL exposure to salt. I would never take my Camaro out in Winter, even on a dry day. And that has paid off. The car was built in the Summer, shipped in the Summer, and is completely rust free. What a joy! It's amazing how quickly daily drivers get damaged by salt. Bodies don't rust through any more, but the brake calipers are good for just a few years and the welds on exhaust hangers get attacked, along with all the bolts on the suspension and steering. What a drag!

So if I'm going to protect my car from salt, I'm all in. There's gonna be a a salt puddle out there somewhere in February.

As for tires on concrete, I haven't seen any ill effects from parking in the garage for 6 months at a time. Can't see, hear, or feel any damage. But driving up onto plywood squares would be easy if it makes you feel better.

[Deakins]

After getting into corrosion prevention and control programs dealing with military aircraft I have little worry about driving my Camaro in the winter. With the proper care and steps the car will not rapidly rot away as some are implying. A whole lot of people need to dig into the corrosion triangle, corrosion as a whole, and why it happens. Once you dig through all of that you will look at things much differently.

[buck50]

You will like the Car Jacket bag. I have been using them for years. It will keep all the moisture and rodents away from your car. I use the optional desiccant cylinder in the bag.
A battery maintainer can also be connected to the car and the cord will fit through the end of the bag zipper. When you get it out in the spring your brake rotors will shine like you just drove the car.

[fastball]

Originally Posted by ChevyRules

If you are to drive it, how long should it be driven? Last winter I always made sure it was driven for 40 minutes constantly running and moving when I took it out.

Yeah that's the right approach. If you don't drive a car very often, when you do drive it it should be long enough to get everything up to running temp and keep it there for at least 20 minutes, and also charge the battery. The best thing you can do is take it out on the freeway and hit the cruise at 70 for 20 miles.

The worst thing you can do to a car is start it and let it idle for 5 minutes here and there without driving it. Along with what everyone else said about the condensation build up on the exhaust and other engine components, it's a surefire way to kill your battery.

[Ryanbabz71]

Originally Posted by JCunningham

the 1le tires are not supposed to be stored at temps below 20F or they can crack. One guy on here said his cracked the 2nd winter. DO not store any tires on concrete. get a battery tender and do not start it again until you can go for a 20min drive.

The cracking comes from driving when it’s below 20 deg. If the car is sitting it should be fine


Ryan B.