Winter storage
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4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Winter storage
I have a C4 that I am getting ready to put away for the winter. couple of questions that I am getting mixed answers. 1. It will sit in an unheated garage. I live in the country and like it or not there are going to be some mice in the garage. I have a cover for it. Is there anything I can do keep the little critters from making nests up under the car? 2. Is it best to start the engine every week or two and bring it up to temperature? 3. I was told that by parking it with the wheels sitting on carpeting it will prevent them from getting flat spots. Thanks for any suggestions.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,725
Likes: 237
From: marietta, GA
I use the flat-stoppers for the tires, seemed to work fine last winter. My C6 was stored in a heated garage at a second home so I was only able to start it a couple of times during the winter. I let it run until it reached operating temperature. I heard you can place dryer sheets in the exhaust to keep mice away. Some camphor ***** in plastic plates around the garage help. I stored my car with ethanol free gas and stabile as well.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 911
Likes: 5
From: TN
1996 lt4
I don't drive my LT4 much and inflate the tires for parking at 45-46 lbs and down to 36 lbs when I take it out of the garage. So far has kept the tires rolling down the interstate without any adverse effects of flat spots.
I keep moth ***** in open containers at each side end of the garage door and refresh them when needed all year long. I don't even smell them in the garage. So far no mice and I live in a wooded area with my lot next door with plenty of trees and underbrush.
Keep a check on the rubber weatherstrip on the bottom of the garage door, a mouse would have to chew thru it to get in.
Don't believe in starting a Corvette just to circulate the oil. Have four in the garage and two do not get used much when they are up on the lifts.
I keep moth ***** in open containers at each side end of the garage door and refresh them when needed all year long. I don't even smell them in the garage. So far no mice and I live in a wooded area with my lot next door with plenty of trees and underbrush.
Keep a check on the rubber weatherstrip on the bottom of the garage door, a mouse would have to chew thru it to get in.
Don't believe in starting a Corvette just to circulate the oil. Have four in the garage and two do not get used much when they are up on the lifts.
Madison Wisconsin
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 504
Likes: 32
From: Madison Area WI
Ref: I heard you can place dryer sheets in the exhaust to keep mice away.
This is correct, but use the really cheap stinky ones not the higher-end ones that do not drive mice away. I have used them for years in my cars and boats, but I do not put them inside of the vette, only around the car floor in in the exhaust. Not sure it works well, but have been doing it for years without any mice in 3 cars 4 boats 4 jetskis 3 ATVs and a tractor. So I just keep doing it. Caution, they stink bad. Why anyone would use these on clothing is beyond me.
This is correct, but use the really cheap stinky ones not the higher-end ones that do not drive mice away. I have used them for years in my cars and boats, but I do not put them inside of the vette, only around the car floor in in the exhaust. Not sure it works well, but have been doing it for years without any mice in 3 cars 4 boats 4 jetskis 3 ATVs and a tractor. So I just keep doing it. Caution, they stink bad. Why anyone would use these on clothing is beyond me.
Madison Wisconsin
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 504
Likes: 32
From: Madison Area WI
Agree with the ethanol free gasoline for storage. As an old petroleum chemist and former head of one of the largest ethanol fuel development programs in the world (former job) I never store a car with ethanol fuel in it and I try to avoid it for a host of reasons. Don't want it in my boats, ATVs, jet-skis, tractor and not ever in my Vette if I can help it. I have seen way too much damage and fuel issues related to ethanol. I also store with the marine grade stabilizer (not automotive grade) and a shot of sea foam. The more you study ethanol, they more you know you never want it in your cars. The farm lobby did a great job on this fuel additive, but it provides zero value to gasoline.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,725
Likes: 237
From: marietta, GA
You can google ethanol free gas and get a listing by state of the gas stations. You may have to travel outside the city limits to find them so take a couple of 5 gallon cans so you can top the tank off when you get home. Not all stations have the 93 octane so call them.
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Madison Wisconsin
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 504
Likes: 32
From: Madison Area WI
Agree, ethanol free gasoline is hard to find in many areas of the country where the grain lobby has been successful as changing gasoline supply laws during the energy crises years. But it is a non-fuel product. It has lower energy content, burns at a lower temperature under typical cylinder conditions compression, traps water, provides a less powerful slower moving flame-combustion-front on most engines not built for it, and can cause fuel-related damage. The best thing I can say about it is that it may lower carbon emissions a super tiny fraction when total emission systems are compared (seed to fuel vs. oil to fuel), but not enough to make up for the performance and storage and other damage. In Wisconsin it is very hard to stay away from it. But I do try as best I can. The C7 engine is one of the ones that are least impacted by it - thank goodness.