Storing for the winter?

[blkdymd]

I have never stored a car in the winter. Can anyone offer advice to a novice? I have a garage and a car cover. Is there any prep work for the engine or body?

[cwalms]

When I store my Harley I always do the following and I am planning on doing the same with my SS once I get it.

- Wash and dry thoroughly
- Change the oil
- remove sparkplugs and add a couple tablespoons of oil/fogger to help keep cylinder walls coated)
- Inflate tires to correct pressure
- Put a foam mat or piece of cardboard under the tires to help prevent flat spots
- Add fuel stabilizer to full tank of gas (add at gas station so it mixes properly and is distributed throughout entire fuel system)
- Use breathable cover
- Connect battery to a battery tender.

If anybody else has more suggestions I'd be interested to hear them as well.

Chris

[Kinetic Kev HWSE 2013]

I was told by someone to get some fabric softener sheets and place them in any opening of the car or any place you may think a mouse might be able to get in,The scent in the sheets will deter the mice from entering the vehicle. Stuff a sheet in each exhaust pipe them use an elastic to hold one around the opening.

[Slowhawk]

Best thing is to run the car every few weeks OR unbolt the rocker arms,pull the battery and store inside.Followed by doing what you can to keep animals from nesting in the car.

The #1 thing I see up here in the NE is broken valve springs from people that store there cars for long periods.That and collapsed lifters.

[blkdymd]

I'll be storing it inside my garage. I thought of starting it once a week just cause.... I only have 108 miles on it. I don't expect to have much more this year. Should I still change the oil? And what is a battery tender? Would it be better to start once a week or fully store it until spring? I just don't want to do anything stupid and hurt it.

[dannkimmel]

starting once a week is a lot of cold starts&unless you run it for a pretty long time it will not help the battery.
Cwalms...has got it right only thing better i think would be to put it on jack stands at frame points.
a battery tender is like a trickle charger only better as it wont over charge the battery.im a harley davidson technichan we sell hundreds of battery tenders.go to a bike shop or look up deltran super smart battery tender...
ive heard the dryer sheets work good also

[600hp-lpe]

Originally Posted by blkdymd

I'll be storing it inside my garage. I thought of starting it once a week just cause.... I only have 108 miles on it. I don't expect to have much more this year. Should I still change the oil? And what is a battery tender? Would it be better to start once a week or fully store it until spring? I just don't want to do anything stupid and hurt it.

you want to change the oil in the spring when you take it out of storage.

Changing before you put it away is the wrong time to change it.. you want to change the oil when it comes out of storage.

If the garage is heated, you don't need to change it unless it makes you feel good, or you are at the recommended interval.

If the garage is not heated, you change the oil to remove any condensation that put water into the oil.. The oil pan, for example, would have frost or water droplets at certian times from the temp changes (when you go below the dew point).

All I do is a good washjob, coat of wax and remove,cover with a car cover, and remove battery cable. My Garage is heated.

[1998 Brickyard]

Definitely a battery tender.
I have one that stays on board the convertible. It is permanently mounted beside the battery.
The parasitic milli-amp drainage from radio memory, ECU, etc. will drain a battery enough not to start the car within a couple of weeks.
I change the oil in the spring due to possible condensation in the motor.
I add Sta-Bil to the fuel tank when I put a half tank at the end of the season.
I also go for a drive for about 1/2 hour or longer 3 or 4 times when the roads are really dry. I think that minimizes the flat spots on the tires.
I cover it up with a good cover.

I like the idea of dryer sheets; I'll try that this year.
Last winter and 3 winters ago I had tenants in the blower motor.

[blkdymd]

Thank you all for your suggestions. It's been really helpful.

[tones2SS]

Originally Posted by blkdymd

I'll be storing it inside my garage. I thought of starting it once a week just cause.... I only have 108 miles on it. I don't expect to have much more this year. Should I still change the oil? And what is a battery tender? Would it be better to start once a week or fully store it until spring? I just don't want to do anything stupid and hurt it.

This is exactly what I do.
I start the car every once a week and leave the battery disconnected. By doing this, I keep the tires from getting flat spots and all moving componets moving.
My car does not get driven at all anyways, so this is what I do year round.

[Kell]

I'm glad someone posted this question. I've been wondering how to store my 'maro and my boyfriend and my father keep telling me different things. This has been very helpful. Thanks everyone.

[coolman]

I've been storing this 87 gta a every winter for 20 years (only 39,000miles) and all I due is service it and put a battery maintainer on it. I also try to run it couple of times on nice days. Never had any problems. I'll be doing the same with my wifes camaro.

[rho370]

Here is web site from GM that talks about storing a car

http://wiki.gmnext.com/wiki/index.ph...ehicle_Storage

[N.H.SS]

My motor guy (machine shop owner) says to change the oil before storage. The old oil contains strong contaminants from unburnt fuel and heat damage. This will eat the soft metal bearings without even running. I also use a Car Jacket.