When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
This will be the first winter I own my 86 corvette and am looking for advice on putting it up for the season
Other than a battery tender and some fuel stabilizer are there any other recommendations? The car will be in a garage, unheated. Should I pull the wheels so they don’t develop flat spots ?
Thanks for the advice, much appreciated
Make sure your tank is full before storing it, I would also start it up and run it occasionally, working the brakes when you do so. No need to pull the wheels, just move it forward or backwards a little bit every now and then & you'll be fine.
If you don't plan on using it it may he better to just disconnect the battery. Otherwise looks good to me. I leave the top off mine so the seals don't get compressed from sitting.
Make sure your tank is full before storing it, I would also start it up and run it occasionally, working the brakes when you do so. No need to pull the wheels, just move it forward or backwards a little bit every now and then & you'll be fine.
No. Do not start it up, occasionally, unless you're actually going to be driving it. I highly suggest GIVING THIS A READ. <Pics and explanations inside.
Fill the gas tank.
Change the oil, if it hasn't been done recently.
Put it in the garage with a tender OR disconnect the battery.
Unwrap in the spring, and enjoy. Don't turn it into a time-sucking ritual.....KISS
Easiest thing to do is just drive it.
No need for fuel stabilizer, battery tender, or jacking the car.
I drive my 89 all winter long. ( I'm an hour north of you, in Poughkeepsie) Of course I don't take it out when there's ice and snow. But on those nice days, why not.
Who cares if it's 20* outside, the heat works well, and the car runs great in the cold air.
I believe the worst thing for a car is to sit. A good run every week or two will burn off any moisture , and keep everything lubricated.
You may even have a good time.
Easiest thing to do is just drive it.
No need for fuel stabilizer, battery tender, or jacking the car.
I drive my 89 all winter long. ( I'm an hour north of you, in Poughkeepsie) Of course I don't take it out when there's ice and snow. But on those nice days, why not.
Who cares if it's 20* outside, the heat works well, and the car runs great in the cold air.
I believe the worst thing for a car is to sit. A good run every week or two will burn off any moisture , and keep everything lubricated.
You may even have a good time.
I do my mods in the winter. Too much brine on the roads to drive it most days. If I get a nice day I do take it out but it sucks washing it after.
I fill mine with non-alcohol fuel and a can of Sea Foam. If the oil is due less than 1K miles, I have it changed. Check the antifreeze and insure it's good to about -40 degrees. I've washed and waxed the car already. Air up the tires to proper pressure. I put some mouse/rat poison blocks under the car and on a paper plate under the hood. Put the car cover on and it's pretty much ready for winter. During the winter months, I do start the car monthly and let it get up to operating temp and move it forward and back a foot or two each time.
That's my process, and it's worked well for a number of years.
One thing that is seldom mentioned or thought about is if it has auto climate control C68 (this is for all C4's) and this was told to me direct from Gordon Killebrew, when leaving your Corvette unattended for a while, before you turn the ignition off and give it time to move, set your temperature setting to 75, this puts the blend door in the "middle" and it won't get stuck or bound up from sitting against the hot or cold side of the heater box ( I every few years take out the blower resistor and spray some WD40 on the rubber blend door gasket)... ALSO this is the hunt setting the C68 seeks if you disconnect the battery or have to jump off or your battery runs down. Also, do not leave cassette/CD in player, wipe antenna mast with some light oil and let it down down (not just down with ignition off).
Seconding a lot:
- Roll it a foot or so once a month to ease tire flat spots.
- Leave on the ground, this is good for bushings and springs.
- Fill the tank with non-ethanol gas and add a stabilizer. I prefer Stabil. As part of its instructions, drive for a bit before storing.
- Mice or other rodents possible? Buy 20 cats and store them in the garage.
Advice to others: If storing your car for the winter in a rented garage from an apartment complex, get in writing that no water will enter the garage, or else. Like say from the two ******** in the garages on either side. My Lady ended up sitting over a pool of salt water seeping from the neighbors most of the winter, luckily it was frozen most of the time.
Seconding a lot:
- Roll it a foot or so once a month to ease tire flat spots.
- Leave on the ground, this is good for bushings and springs.
- Fill the tank with non-ethanol gas and add a stabilizer. I prefer Stabil. As part of its instructions, drive for a bit before storing.
- Mice or other rodents possible? Buy 20 cats and store them in the garage.
Advice to others: If storing your car for the winter in a rented garage from an apartment complex, get in writing that no water will enter the garage, or else. Like say from the two ******** in the garages on either side. My Lady ended up sitting over a pool of salt water seeping from the neighbors most of the winter, luckily it was frozen most of the time.
I doubt that you'll get any storage unit to agree to that. I couldn't. That's why I bought a house.
As for the list....my god...I'm so glad that I don't waste my time rolling my car around all winter. Yikes.
Winterizing my 86 corvette
