Winter car storage

[pocket-rocket]

This is from a SuperCoupe T-bird and Cougar site, but it pretty much applies to all cars that get stored in the winter:

http://www.albeedigital.com/supercoupe/storage.html

So how many people store their cars, and what do you do to prep it? Last year I didn't do any prepping on the 92 to store it, but I plan on making up for it this year.

[Cliff8928]

I do minimal prepping... just the usual make sure the gas tank is full, fill the tires up plenty, and park the car on top of a plastic tarp... I don't even think i washed it last year =) works well for all the cars in storage....

Cliff Scott
89 BerettaGT
89 Volvo740 <-soon to come out for the winter months

[Anonymous]

Theres a lots of good ideas on that site.. but I don't think I would bother doing half of them, even with a really nice car.

I think as long as you have a modern garage (not like a barn or something) that it should be fine, and body rust shouldn't be a real problem if you have good paint and take care of it anyways.

I think getting undercoating (or greasing) parts like cables and brake lines is a good idea.

Keeping the tank full and making sure the battery doesn't die is the most important thing for a regular winter storage.

I'm not sure with the oil issue- I've had my GP sitting on the driveway for several months with oil that will need to be changed.. I figure when its time to get it running again I'll just drive it till the engine gets nice and hot, let it cool down somewhat, then put in engine flush and then change the oil.

[pocket-rocket]

I kinda figured along the lines of you, Dave. But instead of using motor flush, I figuered I would change the oil in the spring when I dig it back out to get rid of all of the condensation that could have happened over winter. What really sucks is last year I didn't get to fill the tank up because the throw out bearing was shot, DOH!!!

[614streets]

I normally throw stabil in the gas tank if it is going to sit awhile.

[SappySE107]

Where should I add this on the site? I will need to ask permission from the author of the link if we do add this to the site (which is what this section of the forum is for). Anyone want to create their own list?

[pocket-rocket]

One thing I would leave out for sure would be leaving the clutch pushed in!!! I thought of spraying some WD-40 on the brakes thought, since the rotors rusted up last winter. My luck is I would forget about it and go take off in the car before using brake clean to get it off, so I'm not going to do it, lol.

[patgizz]

i cover it, thats about it. i drive it once every couple weeks if the salt gets washed off the road, just to keep it running right

[DarkKnight]

I wouldn't worry about spraing the rotors, thier gonna rust no matter what. Besides, any rust will be taken off after a few stops.

[pocket-rocket]

Yeah, that's another reason why I decided to forget about doing it.

[chevanater]

I just do the Stabil in gas tank and discconect battery

[Anonymous]

I sprayed WD-40 on my rear brakes (rotors and all) cause they were really rusty. WD-40 isn't too thick so it should come off after several stops (just don't go out in major traffic or highway or something). I can't stress enough how much I wish I would have got my car undercoated (or don't it myself). Now I gotta replace the gas tank (managed to "plug" the leak, sitting in the driveway but not dripping gas with 1/2 tank.) but the rest of the bottem of the car has its share of rust.
STUPID STUPID STUPID!!!!

[pocket-rocket]

I ended up dumping a bottle of Stabil in the tank and filled it up. The car was already undercoated when I got it, luckily. Washed it up decently, but not the way I usually do because it was really cold out when I put it up. It has been nice lately, so I will probably stretch the hose out to it and rewash it again, maybe throw some wax on it too. I left the battery connected because I don't want people messing with the car, so the alarm is on. I would like to start it every once in a while, but I don't like the idea of circulating all of the water that could have collected in the oil already into the engine, so if the battery gets low, I will stretch my extention cord over to the car and charge it. It's an Optima, so I don't think I have to worry about it for a while.

[chevanater]

I'd just put a trickle battery charger on it. You can buy them for like $20-$30 i think

[Anonymous]

Washed it up decently, but not the way I usually do because it was really cold out when I put it up.

Aren't you from Texas? How cold can it be down there?
I was patching up my gas tank with my crappy creeper slipping off my ass in 2*C.. now thats chilly!