Winter storage advice?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,067
Likes: 2,177
From: Schaller Iowa
Winter storage advice?
Just a matter of time before I need to park the car for a few months. Other than putting d-con around all 4 tires, a few mouse traps here and there, and some seafoam in a full tank, anybody have any other suggestions to keep the lil furries at bay? Are there any holes/access ports in the car that can use a little steel wool stuffed in them? I live on a farm so any ideas/suggestions would be helpful. I finally got the car I've dreamed of for so long...be a shame to have to replace interior pieces or wiring next spring
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,978
Likes: 244
I've had a car that I store every winter for the last 8 or so years now. The garage I keep it in is no stranger to critters.
I seal off the exhaust pipes and intake inlet with plastic bags and rubber bands to ensure that no one goes and makes a nest in there! I have heard of dead mice shooting out of the exhaust pipes on startup of other stored cars that didn't take such precautions.
I also keep a bar of Irish springs on a dinner plate in the trunk and another one in the cabin. Rumor is that mice don't like the smell of soap, plus instead of smelling musty in the spring your car smells like Irish Springs. I usually throw a bar or two under the car as well. I also park it on a tarp which acts as a moisture barrier. I use a car cover over the exterior and then wrap up and tie the tarp around the car to essentially create a car-cocoon.
Other than that I over-inflate the tires to stave off flat spots, park it with a full tank/fuel stabilizer and pull the battery and keep it off the ground in the basement on a trickle charger.
Has worked well these years for me. No critters, no rust, no damage. I haven't had my Vette during a winter yet but it will get the same treatment.
But hey, we still have at least another month or two of driving!
I seal off the exhaust pipes and intake inlet with plastic bags and rubber bands to ensure that no one goes and makes a nest in there! I have heard of dead mice shooting out of the exhaust pipes on startup of other stored cars that didn't take such precautions.
I also keep a bar of Irish springs on a dinner plate in the trunk and another one in the cabin. Rumor is that mice don't like the smell of soap, plus instead of smelling musty in the spring your car smells like Irish Springs. I usually throw a bar or two under the car as well. I also park it on a tarp which acts as a moisture barrier. I use a car cover over the exterior and then wrap up and tie the tarp around the car to essentially create a car-cocoon.
Other than that I over-inflate the tires to stave off flat spots, park it with a full tank/fuel stabilizer and pull the battery and keep it off the ground in the basement on a trickle charger.
Has worked well these years for me. No critters, no rust, no damage. I haven't had my Vette during a winter yet but it will get the same treatment.
But hey, we still have at least another month or two of driving!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 776
Likes: 3
From: Ottawa IL
I've had a car that I store every winter for the last 8 or so years now. The garage I keep it in is no stranger to critters.
I seal off the exhaust pipes and intake inlet with plastic bags and rubber bands to ensure that no one goes and makes a nest in there! I have heard of dead mice shooting out of the exhaust pipes on startup of other stored cars that didn't take such precautions.
I also keep a bar of Irish springs on a dinner plate in the trunk and another one in the cabin. Rumor is that mice don't like the smell of soap, plus instead of smelling musty in the spring your car smells like Irish Springs. I usually throw a bar or two under the car as well. I also park it on a tarp which acts as a moisture barrier. I use a car cover over the exterior and then wrap up and tie the tarp around the car to essentially create a car-cocoon.
Other than that I over-inflate the tires to stave off flat spots, park it with a full tank/fuel stabilizer and pull the battery and keep it off the ground in the basement on a trickle charger.
Has worked well these years for me. No critters, no rust, no damage. I haven't had my Vette during a winter yet but it will get the same treatment.
But hey, we still have at least another month or two of driving!
I seal off the exhaust pipes and intake inlet with plastic bags and rubber bands to ensure that no one goes and makes a nest in there! I have heard of dead mice shooting out of the exhaust pipes on startup of other stored cars that didn't take such precautions.
I also keep a bar of Irish springs on a dinner plate in the trunk and another one in the cabin. Rumor is that mice don't like the smell of soap, plus instead of smelling musty in the spring your car smells like Irish Springs. I usually throw a bar or two under the car as well. I also park it on a tarp which acts as a moisture barrier. I use a car cover over the exterior and then wrap up and tie the tarp around the car to essentially create a car-cocoon.
Other than that I over-inflate the tires to stave off flat spots, park it with a full tank/fuel stabilizer and pull the battery and keep it off the ground in the basement on a trickle charger.
Has worked well these years for me. No critters, no rust, no damage. I haven't had my Vette during a winter yet but it will get the same treatment.
But hey, we still have at least another month or two of driving!
Very good tips 
... I do many of these myself.I do a few different things for my situation.
I prefer to use Stabil in a fresh full tank of gas, give it a fresh oil change, and I use a Deltran battery tender (http://www.batterytender.com/) . A constant trickle charger can overheat the battery, and the battery tender doesn't require removing the battery or resetting the computer.
I also toss a couple of dryer fabric softner sheets inside (same principle as the soap)
This year I will be putting it on jack stands to avoid flat spots on tires.
Feels and looks like maybe we will be getting an early winter this year YUK !!!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 33,073
Likes: 6,634
From: Rochester NY
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
Steel wool in the exhaust pipes.
Instead of the soap, I put about 3 drops of peppermint oil (essence of peppermint, NOT the flavoring) on each cotton ball. A couple in the interior, a couple more under the hood. (Also use this in the house, a few cotton ***** in the basement near the dryer hose and near the foundation etc. repels mice, chipmunks, etc)
Demand charger for the battery
car cover on it.
Calendar with April 1st circled and days X-ed off as we get closer to it!
Instead of the soap, I put about 3 drops of peppermint oil (essence of peppermint, NOT the flavoring) on each cotton ball. A couple in the interior, a couple more under the hood. (Also use this in the house, a few cotton ***** in the basement near the dryer hose and near the foundation etc. repels mice, chipmunks, etc)
Demand charger for the battery
car cover on it.
Calendar with April 1st circled and days X-ed off as we get closer to it!
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,621
Likes: 207
From: Orlando FL
Don’t just let it sit and forget about it. Try to run it regular and move it some to at least different tire positions. Charge battery at least once a month even if you disconnect it. A full gas tank keeps condensation and corrosion to a minimum. If you want to pump the tank later that’s fine but a few months should not be problem.
Pray for warm weather sooner.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 190
From: Custer, WI
Stuff the car with dryer sheets. Just buy a box of the cheap ones and stick em in the car, under the hood, around the car.
Take battery out, and put it on a trickle charger.
Cover the car.
Cry until I can drive it again.
Take battery out, and put it on a trickle charger.
Cover the car.
Cry until I can drive it again.
