Oil
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 251
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From: Windsor Connecticut
Oil
When storing your car for the winter should one change the oil then or wait until you bring it out the following spring///// next if you do not have the availability to lift your car in the air during the winter months would putting carpet under each wheel prevent getting a potential flat spot on the tires . Just looking for some suggestions
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,227
Likes: 697
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
When storing your car for the winter should one change the oil then or wait until you bring it out the following spring///// next if you do not have the availability to lift your car in the air during the winter months would putting carpet under each wheel prevent getting a potential flat spot on the tires . Just looking for some suggestions
Never been a carpet believer myself.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,329
Likes: 6,509
From: Melbourne, FL
Agreed, doesnt matter on oil. I'd do it in spring as a good chance to inspect, unless you'll be working on it over winter.
carpet wont do anything when you have a 3000 pound car on it, lol.
carpet wont do anything when you have a 3000 pound car on it, lol.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Racer
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 316
Likes: 63
From: Peoria IL
I personally think it does matter on the oil thing. I change in the fall and store it with fresh oil. Combustion by products, etc. get into the oil as the car is used and contaminates the oil. To what extent I don't know, but I'd rather it sat with fresh oil in it. My 2 cents.
Last edited by turtle96; Oct 30, 2019 at 01:39 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,692
Likes: 349
From: Sacramento California
I also think it would be better to store it with fresh oil circulated through the engine.
About the tires getting flat spots, you can either inflate them to the max pressure on the tire sidewall, or get some cradles that support a large arc of the lower tire instead of just a small flat area. Or better: just put it up on jack stands, you don't need a lift for that.
About the tires getting flat spots, you can either inflate them to the max pressure on the tire sidewall, or get some cradles that support a large arc of the lower tire instead of just a small flat area. Or better: just put it up on jack stands, you don't need a lift for that.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,329
Likes: 6,509
From: Melbourne, FL
I'd think that any material suspended in the oil would settle to the bottom of the pan, and then once you drain the oil after winter, it'd all be drained out. If you put new oil in it before winter, and then circulate it, you're just diluting new clean oil with old dirty oil.
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Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 293
Likes: 29
From: Columbus Ohio
I store mine on high density foam squares you can find in the flooring area at Lowes or HD. Inexpensive and the flat spots are not nearly as bad as they get sitting on the concrete floor.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,940
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From: New Jersey
The oil thing doesn't matter. That's why you have TBN. If it were in there for 5 thousand miles than maybe. Two or 3 thousand like most are, it doesn't matter. The oil would be just as acidic running through the engine all that time as it is sitting there so how does it actually make a difference. (Hint... it really doesn't. I change mine in august so I get to use it a bit.)
As for the flat spots... mine doesn't sit enough in the winter to get them. We get a 40 degree day and the roads are clean and I'm out for a ride lol.
As for the flat spots... mine doesn't sit enough in the winter to get them. We get a 40 degree day and the roads are clean and I'm out for a ride lol.
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 293
Likes: 29
From: Columbus Ohio
The oil thing doesn't matter. That's why you have TBN. If it were in there for 5 thousand miles than maybe. Two or 3 thousand like most are, it doesn't matter. The oil would be just as acidic running through the engine all that time as it is sitting there so how does it actually make a difference. (Hint... it really doesn't. I change mine in august so I get to use it a bit.)
As for the flat spots... mine doesn't sit enough in the winter to get them. We get a 40 degree day and the roads are clean and I'm out for a ride lol.
As for the flat spots... mine doesn't sit enough in the winter to get them. We get a 40 degree day and the roads are clean and I'm out for a ride lol.
Whats the benefit in not changing it before storage?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,940
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From: New Jersey
It really does matter for some of us. They salt the hell out of the roads here even if it rains so I won't drive mine in the winter at all. If you leave it sit that long the dirt in the oil will eventually settle and become sludge.
Whats the benefit in not changing it before storage?
Whats the benefit in not changing it before storage?
And any dirt in the oil should be in the filter anyway. You have bigger problems if that's happening... there is no reason not to, it's just going to be equally as oxidized if it sits fresh vs semi used. I don't use mine enough to necessitate it.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
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From: Park City Utah
It really does matter for some of us. They salt the hell out of the roads here even if it rains so I won't drive mine in the winter at all. If you leave it sit that long the dirt in the oil will eventually settle and become sludge.
Whats the benefit in not changing it before storage?
Whats the benefit in not changing it before storage?
Carpet squares is DUMB. IDK where this **** comes from but...DUMB. How is a piece of carpet going to help anything? And any flat spot that a modern radial tire gets is going to disappear w/n a few miles of driving anyway. Carpet squares is "Worryin' about **** that ain't worth worryin' about". Fill the tank with gas, change the oil. Put a battery tender on if you're so inclined. Done.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,692
Likes: 349
From: Sacramento California
I'd think that any material suspended in the oil would settle to the bottom of the pan, and then once you drain the oil after winter, it'd all be drained out. If you put new oil in it before winter, and then circulate it, you're just diluting new clean oil with old dirty oil.
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 293
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From: Columbus Ohio
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 1,490
From: New Jersey
Aside from that, acids react equally be it dilute or concentrated. If it's going to happen it's going to happen. Again... why you have a TBN in oil. The 55 has had the same oil in it since before I was born. I just changed it last year. 
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,147
Likes: 117
From: San Antonio Texas
I also think it would be better to store it with fresh oil circulated through the engine.
About the tires getting flat spots, you can either inflate them to the max pressure on the tire sidewall, or get some cradles that support a large arc of the lower tire instead of just a small flat area. Or better: just put it up on jack stands, you don't need a lift for that.
About the tires getting flat spots, you can either inflate them to the max pressure on the tire sidewall, or get some cradles that support a large arc of the lower tire instead of just a small flat area. Or better: just put it up on jack stands, you don't need a lift for that.
Fresh oil is good too. Gets all the condensation and evaporative corrosive contaminates out of the engine. It MAY not make any difference, but I think I'd rather go to bed with clean sheets!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 3,127
Likes: 86
No benefit, other than the money that you save on the oil. Technically, it's better to change the oil before storing to remove "acids", contamination and water. In reality, the oil is probably better than good enough for storage, but changing ensures that it is.
Carpet squares is DUMB. IDK where this **** comes from but...DUMB. How is a piece of carpet going to help anything? And any flat spot that a modern radial tire gets is going to disappear w/n a few miles of driving anyway. Carpet squares is "Worryin' about **** that ain't worth worryin' about". Fill the tank with gas, change the oil. Put a battery tender on if you're so inclined. Done.
Carpet squares is DUMB. IDK where this **** comes from but...DUMB. How is a piece of carpet going to help anything? And any flat spot that a modern radial tire gets is going to disappear w/n a few miles of driving anyway. Carpet squares is "Worryin' about **** that ain't worth worryin' about". Fill the tank with gas, change the oil. Put a battery tender on if you're so inclined. Done.
