Winter storage
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 229
From: Pennsylvania
Really? We've got these bit's of "advice":
*Tarps on the floor.
*Over inflate the be-jeezus out of the tires
*Magic potions in the gas tank
*Rodent control
*Ritualistic placement of "Bounce" Dryer sheets.
*Battery rituals.
Of those (and all the gems yet to come)....what are they going to do, to "preserve" an old car....that a new car is immune to??
My 26 year old car gets an oil change and I fill the gas tank (with gas) before putting it away. Same with the boat. And the snowmobiles. And the snow blower...and lawn mower.... Been doing this routine for over 18 years. Where have I failed? Where the the "problems" that I've "insured" (sic)?
.
*Tarps on the floor.
*Over inflate the be-jeezus out of the tires
*Magic potions in the gas tank
*Rodent control
*Ritualistic placement of "Bounce" Dryer sheets.
*Battery rituals.
Of those (and all the gems yet to come)....what are they going to do, to "preserve" an old car....that a new car is immune to??
My 26 year old car gets an oil change and I fill the gas tank (with gas) before putting it away. Same with the boat. And the snowmobiles. And the snow blower...and lawn mower.... Been doing this routine for over 18 years. Where have I failed? Where the the "problems" that I've "insured" (sic)?
.
I didn't think this post was SO hard to understand.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 44
Likes: 2
From: Apple Country WNY
Really? We've got these bit's of "advice":
*Tarps on the floor.
*Over inflate the be-jeezus out of the tires
*Magic potions in the gas tank
*Rodent control
*Ritualistic placement of "Bounce" Dryer sheets.
*Battery rituals.
Of those (and all the gems yet to come)....what are they going to do, to "preserve" an old car....that a new car is immune to??
My 26 year old car gets an oil change and I fill the gas tank (with gas) before putting it away. Same with the boat. And the snowmobiles. And the snow blower...and lawn mower.... Been doing this routine for over 18 years. Where have I failed? Where the the "problems" that I've "insured" (sic)?
.
*Tarps on the floor.
*Over inflate the be-jeezus out of the tires
*Magic potions in the gas tank
*Rodent control
*Ritualistic placement of "Bounce" Dryer sheets.
*Battery rituals.
Of those (and all the gems yet to come)....what are they going to do, to "preserve" an old car....that a new car is immune to??
My 26 year old car gets an oil change and I fill the gas tank (with gas) before putting it away. Same with the boat. And the snowmobiles. And the snow blower...and lawn mower.... Been doing this routine for over 18 years. Where have I failed? Where the the "problems" that I've "insured" (sic)?
.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Right? That's about what some of these ideas effectively amount to.
No? It's hard to understand or figure what parts of an old car would be more "vulnerable" to storage than the same parts on a newer car. Why would a new car be any more fit for storage than an older car? Is the gasoline in a new car more impervious to going bad and evaporation? Are the tires radically advanced so as to be able to avoid "flat spotting"? Is the engine oil special? Do mice prefer the wires of old cars, only? Of course none of that stuff is any different, new car or old. If you believe in any of the rituals suggested in this (and other threads), then they should apply to all cars, both new and old.
But I've been topping my gas tank and changing my engine oil before storage for decades. Therefore, I can't help but wonder what problems I've "insured" by that neglectful regimen? AFAIK, none. Car fires up and runs fantastic every year. Fastest stock LT1 in UT and this past spring I got it out of storage and ran the fastest drag track pass it's ever run here. No problems.
.
No? It's hard to understand or figure what parts of an old car would be more "vulnerable" to storage than the same parts on a newer car. Why would a new car be any more fit for storage than an older car? Is the gasoline in a new car more impervious to going bad and evaporation? Are the tires radically advanced so as to be able to avoid "flat spotting"? Is the engine oil special? Do mice prefer the wires of old cars, only? Of course none of that stuff is any different, new car or old. If you believe in any of the rituals suggested in this (and other threads), then they should apply to all cars, both new and old.
But I've been topping my gas tank and changing my engine oil before storage for decades. Therefore, I can't help but wonder what problems I've "insured" by that neglectful regimen? AFAIK, none. Car fires up and runs fantastic every year. Fastest stock LT1 in UT and this past spring I got it out of storage and ran the fastest drag track pass it's ever run here. No problems.
.
Last edited by Tom400CFI; Oct 24, 2018 at 03:31 PM.
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Again, I thank everyone for their input. It goes in the barn tomorrow. Sadly, upstate NY is no longer top off weather. I have topped her off and added stabil. Changed the oil and bought a box of bounce. I have a tarp to lay down on the stone floor and will undo the negative side if the battery.
That being said..... I’ll post up the results of all this effort in the Spring. Best to all this winter. Stay warm and thanks again.
That being said..... I’ll post up the results of all this effort in the Spring. Best to all this winter. Stay warm and thanks again.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,052
Likes: 290
From: Farmington MO
No. They like new car wires just as well. Some better (Subaru with soy insulation, for example.) But where I live, rodent control is an issue. One of my cars, one of my son's cars and at least two friend's cars that I can think of have had wiring chewed by mice. And a motorcycle I had was temporarily disabled by mice storing acorns in the intake system. So I'd argue this rodent control thing with you til one of us turns blue.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
No. They like new car wires just as well. Some better (Subaru with soy insulation, for example.) But where I live, rodent control is an issue. One of my cars, one of my son's cars and at least two friend's cars that I can think of have had wiring chewed by mice. And a motorcycle I had was temporarily disabled by mice storing acorns in the intake system. So I'd argue this rodent control thing with you til one of us turns blue.
In Michigan (where you would actually store a Corvette for winter), you better do something proactive about mice or you will be sorry, and that's all there is to it.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
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All kidding aside, our new neighbors have approximately 2 or 3 cats that they let run around outside. I was pretty upset about it at first, but now we are finding dead mice and ground moles laying around every once in a while. I'd rather have the cats get them instead of having to deal with them inside.
Last edited by SmokinBlack; Oct 24, 2018 at 08:49 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
For myself, I don't store my car in a remote location, so I just set mouse traps and I'm diligent about maintaining them. I cant speak to all the other things people do to keep mice away, but traps work fine if you pay attention to them.
Zen Vet Master Level VII
Joined: Mar 2016
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From: Southlake, TX
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
He also looks like he will wipe out anything, and everything on the nearest table, if you leave the house.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 17
Likes: 3
From: Nebraska
I have read through the posts and find all good, even the humorous ones. I will be storing a new to me 1996 in an unheated garage for about 5 months in sub freezing temps. Other than what I've done; Stabil in a full tank, oil change, battery tender, wax and cover. Is it necessary or wise to start it monthly just to move some oil to the top end?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
I have read through the posts and find all good, even the humorous ones. I will be storing a new to me 1996 in an unheated garage for about 5 months in sub freezing temps. Other than what I've done; Stabil in a full tank, oil change, battery tender, wax and cover. Is it necessary or wise to start it monthly just to move some oil to the top end?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,430
Likes: 3,282
From: Hartford WI
I have read through the posts and find all good, even the humorous ones. I will be storing a new to me 1996 in an unheated garage for about 5 months in sub freezing temps. Other than what I've done; Stabil in a full tank, oil change, battery tender, wax and cover. Is it necessary or wise to start it monthly just to move some oil to the top end?
I left a 99 turbo diesel in the field during the storage months since I needed it out of the driveway Hooked up battery, glow plugs and crank.
Last edited by aklim; Oct 25, 2018 at 06:08 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 229
From: Pennsylvania
I have read through the posts and find all good, even the humorous ones. I will be storing a new to me 1996 in an unheated garage for about 5 months in sub freezing temps. Other than what I've done; Stabil in a full tank, oil change, battery tender, wax and cover. Is it necessary or wise to start it monthly just to move some oil to the top end?
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 229
From: Pennsylvania
