Getting ready for winter.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
Getting ready for winter.
I know it's early, but let's get this one out of the way.
If a car is being parked outside, and temperatures can hit 20 below at times with snow, what should be done to the car to protect it? Primarilly fluid levels. Anti-freeze, of course. Full tank of gas, half tank, no gas? Other fluid levels? Park away from prevailing winds, or that doesn't matter at those temperatures? I've heard: cover the tires in plastic. Anything else?
If a car is being parked outside, and temperatures can hit 20 below at times with snow, what should be done to the car to protect it? Primarilly fluid levels. Anti-freeze, of course. Full tank of gas, half tank, no gas? Other fluid levels? Park away from prevailing winds, or that doesn't matter at those temperatures? I've heard: cover the tires in plastic. Anything else?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,181
Likes: 286
From: Puyallup Washington
With temps of -20 I would make sure the antifreeze is definitely good, at the minimum. I would consider draining the entire system for the winter and leave it empty. What is not there can not freeze. The gas tank should be full with Sta-Bil in it. I would jack the car up and put jack stands under it so all 4 wheels are off the ground. Empty the windshield washer reservoir and then run the washers until the system is empty. Remove the battery, put it in the house and keep it charged. Wash the car good and wax it. Cover it with a good outdoor, CLEAN car cover, that is securely attached to the car. You do not want it whipping around in the wind. Put some wood in the fireplace and keep the skis handy, and enjoy the winter.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
Full tank, w/seafoam or stabil....
jack it up just off the ground...not wheels hanging, just no weight on them. The springs do better with some tension on them. Take most the load off the tires. Fill tires with nitrogen. or Co2.
wrap heating pad around block or under oil pan and turn on low or med. Thats enough to keep some warmth and prevent seals from getting hard.
Even a halogen shop lite will work but those are a little bright. Very warm, just bright.
Dryer sheets inside the car, under mats, tucked in vents.
Wrap up the whole mess securely in a tarp to help hold the heat. Secure it so it does not rub in the wind. Tag..."do not open till roads are clear"...
jack it up just off the ground...not wheels hanging, just no weight on them. The springs do better with some tension on them. Take most the load off the tires. Fill tires with nitrogen. or Co2.
wrap heating pad around block or under oil pan and turn on low or med. Thats enough to keep some warmth and prevent seals from getting hard.
Even a halogen shop lite will work but those are a little bright. Very warm, just bright.
Dryer sheets inside the car, under mats, tucked in vents.
Wrap up the whole mess securely in a tarp to help hold the heat. Secure it so it does not rub in the wind. Tag..."do not open till roads are clear"...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 995
Likes: 1
From: Naples Campania
In a garage or storage shed would work the best. See if you can find a storage unit that will fit the car in it. If not, that's okay. Get a car cover with a nice thick core. Wash the car from top to bottom and make sure it is perfectly clean when you put that car cover on and secure it. Every time the cover moves, it scratches your paint a little bit and a kitten dies!!!
Sta-bil in the gas (when everyone says it, YOU DO IT!!!). If you don't, the first thing you do in the spring will end up being a new fuel filter and getting the injectors/fuel lines cleaned out.
Change the oil just before you put it in storage. Then, change it again when you take it out!
Wheels off the ground unless you plan to get new ones in the spring.
Mice WILL find their way in. Buy a couple bars of irish spring soap. cut them up and put inside and around the car. They don't like the smell.
I would just drain the radiator. That is the only way to be 100% sure that it doesn't freeze.
I've never worried about wrapping the motor to keep it warm (and I'm from Minnesota), but it sounds like a good idea.
Sta-bil in the gas (when everyone says it, YOU DO IT!!!). If you don't, the first thing you do in the spring will end up being a new fuel filter and getting the injectors/fuel lines cleaned out.
Change the oil just before you put it in storage. Then, change it again when you take it out!
Wheels off the ground unless you plan to get new ones in the spring.
Mice WILL find their way in. Buy a couple bars of irish spring soap. cut them up and put inside and around the car. They don't like the smell.
I would just drain the radiator. That is the only way to be 100% sure that it doesn't freeze.
I've never worried about wrapping the motor to keep it warm (and I'm from Minnesota), but it sounds like a good idea.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,765
Likes: 5
The mice here in Illinois love & eat Irish Spring Soap & have found out THAT
Some of them even eat those stinky chemical mothballs.
Crazy stupid rodents.
Best thing you can do is get a BIG FAT TOM CAT.
Get A FEMALE COMPANION TOO- SOME *****.
LOL
HE DESERVES IT FOR KILLING AL THE MICE.
Some of them even eat those stinky chemical mothballs.
Crazy stupid rodents.
Best thing you can do is get a BIG FAT TOM CAT.
Get A FEMALE COMPANION TOO- SOME *****.
LOL
HE DESERVES IT FOR KILLING AL THE MICE.
Last edited by 87 vette 81 big girl; Sep 9, 2011 at 07:01 AM.
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You guys with harsh winters should do a sticky on how to winterize a Corvette.
Good info here.
Good info here.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,072
Likes: 83
From: Everyone needs something to believe in, I believe I'll have another beer. Wisconsin
No way no how I would drain the coolant, that'll cause all kinds of problems, ie RUST. I've been storeing my 91 for 7 years with 0 problems. Change the oil and filter,add sta-bil,dryer sheets in interior and engine bay, put battery on float charger, cover car and 6months latter she fires right up.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,268
Likes: 142
From: Ottawa Ontario
Additionally, I shove steel wool in the tailpipes to keep mice from taking shelter in the exhaust. It might be an idea to remove the air cleaner & block off the TB intake to keep critters out of that also.
Doing as much maintenance before storage will get it on the road that much faster in the spring.
This has a lot of appeal, also!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
I call BS on jacking the car up and such. Just air the tires up to the max. listed pressure on the sidewall and let it be. My car has been fine this way and NO flat spots what so ever. These are not crappy bias ply tires folks. Radials with steel belts and so forth do not flat spot nearly as easily.
I would not drain the cooling system, if you maintain it properly, check the freeze point should be about -40 if you mixed it right and don't worry about it.
Don't create any warmth on your Corvette, battery tenders included. Removed the battery and tend else where. Rodents will be drawn to the heat of even a battery. Make that Corvette a cold tomb so as to not attract attention. I use mothballs and dryer sheets. This year I am going to bait traps next to the car as well. That way they eat the peanut butter and die.Keeps the brave ones out of my car.
Also, human activity tends to scare away rodents. Mine sits in a barn but I start once a month and check on it every week.
I would not drain the cooling system, if you maintain it properly, check the freeze point should be about -40 if you mixed it right and don't worry about it.
Don't create any warmth on your Corvette, battery tenders included. Removed the battery and tend else where. Rodents will be drawn to the heat of even a battery. Make that Corvette a cold tomb so as to not attract attention. I use mothballs and dryer sheets. This year I am going to bait traps next to the car as well. That way they eat the peanut butter and die.
Keeps the brave ones out of my car.Also, human activity tends to scare away rodents. Mine sits in a barn but I start once a month and check on it every week.