cold storage
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 60
From: ft myers FL/Munising MI
cold storage
Leaving my 85 in the U.P. of Michigan for the winter...brought it up from FL but leaving it to return for the winter....more fun to drive up there...hills/curves/passing zones....it has a optima battery, I bought the type of battery tender specifically for it, but the mechanics up here say just disconnect it, it'll be ok in the spring.....gets pretty nippy here in the winter, would just leaving the tender hooked to the disconnected battery should be ok....any thoughts? thanks in advance, Paul
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 60
From: ft myers FL/Munising MI
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,366
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Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,550
Likes: 324
From: Mid Ohio
Not sure about that type of battery but their web page says this: http://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us...e-and-storage/
For winter storage in cold climates and in a garage:
I over inflate the tires to about 45-50psi, fill gas tank 3/4-7/8 full w/93 octane & stabil (don't fill 100%), turn HVAC off before turning engine off, tape off the air intake, tape off the HVAC intake (at bott of windshield).
If I were going to store a car for over a yr I'd pull each spark plug and put about 1oz of oil in each cyl.
For winter storage in cold climates and in a garage:
I over inflate the tires to about 45-50psi, fill gas tank 3/4-7/8 full w/93 octane & stabil (don't fill 100%), turn HVAC off before turning engine off, tape off the air intake, tape off the HVAC intake (at bott of windshield).
If I were going to store a car for over a yr I'd pull each spark plug and put about 1oz of oil in each cyl.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 60
From: ft myers FL/Munising MI
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 60
From: ft myers FL/Munising MI
Not sure about that type of battery but their web page says this: http://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us...e-and-storage/
For winter storage in cold climates and in a garage:
I over inflate the tires to about 45-50psi, fill gas tank 3/4-7/8 full w/93 octane & stabil (don't fill 100%), turn HVAC off before turning engine off, tape off the air intake, tape off the HVAC intake (at bott of windshield).
If I were going to store a car for over a yr I'd pull each spark plug and put about 1oz of oil in each cyl.
For winter storage in cold climates and in a garage:
I over inflate the tires to about 45-50psi, fill gas tank 3/4-7/8 full w/93 octane & stabil (don't fill 100%), turn HVAC off before turning engine off, tape off the air intake, tape off the HVAC intake (at bott of windshield).
If I were going to store a car for over a yr I'd pull each spark plug and put about 1oz of oil in each cyl.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
No "fix" needed. Concrete floor draining batteries is LORE. If it makes your psychology feel better, put it on piece of wood.
*I* leave my battery in , ane hooked up for the winter. Starts fine in the spring every time. I agree w/above about filling the tank.
.
*I* leave my battery in , ane hooked up for the winter. Starts fine in the spring every time. I agree w/above about filling the tank.
.
Last edited by Tom400CFI; Sep 10, 2015 at 07:19 PM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,550
Likes: 324
From: Mid Ohio
Oh I forgot... put some rags in the tailpipes too.
I'm a native cracker and also spent time in Mi. In my experiences up there rodents and tire belts taking a set seemed to be the biggest problem.
I'm a native cracker and also spent time in Mi. In my experiences up there rodents and tire belts taking a set seemed to be the biggest problem.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 121
Likes: 12
From: Newport Oregon
So on this theme, I will not "store" my 89, but it will only get driven maybe once a month or so if we are lucky enough to have some good weather. The battery goes flat after about two weeks so I was planning on putting in a battery tender. Question-can I leave the battery cables attached while hooked to the tender?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
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Instructor
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
but then you run the risk of killing wildlife and pets if the druged up critter gets eaten. 
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 438
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From: Tucson/Santa Paula AZ/CA
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
PS Are those '90 wheels on your '89 Convertible? Great pictures!
Mick
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 196
Likes: 4
From: Keego Harbor MI
I store mine every winter in mid Michigan, I disconnect the batt and leave it in the car. I put some moth ***** and a few dryer sheets in a few spots around car. I buy a roll of 6 mil plastic, four cheap area rugs. I put down plastic, back car tires onto rugs on top of plastic. I put my (the Wall) car cover on and tuck a little of the plastic into the cover to make a cocoon. I have not had any problems with start up in spring after re-connecting batt, nor have I had any critter issues. Good Luck!
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,424
Likes: 603
From: Minneapolis Mn
Here's my 'put to bed' procedures for my cars:
Wash and wax the cars
Recent oil change
check radiator and windshield washer fluids
check transmission fluid, top off if needed
check tire pressure, pump up if needed
Fill the gas tank with no-alcohol fuel, add a can of Seafoam and drive it for about 20 miles.
Get some chunk mouse poison and paper plated, I use Tomcat because I can get it at HD. One chunk on a paper plate under each car, one under the hood, one inside on the passenger foot-well
Disconnect the negative battery cable (both to save the battery and in case there should ever be an electrical short).
Put the car cover on.
Then every month or so: pull the car cover, hook up the battery and remove the poison. Run the car to get it to operating temp. If you have room, move the car forward and back at least a few feet. When done, put back the poison, unhook the battery and put the car cover back on.
That pretty much covers my routine (can't think of anything else) and it's worked ok for me for years now on multiple cars. Hope that helps.
Wash and wax the cars
Recent oil change
check radiator and windshield washer fluids
check transmission fluid, top off if needed
check tire pressure, pump up if needed
Fill the gas tank with no-alcohol fuel, add a can of Seafoam and drive it for about 20 miles.
Get some chunk mouse poison and paper plated, I use Tomcat because I can get it at HD. One chunk on a paper plate under each car, one under the hood, one inside on the passenger foot-well
Disconnect the negative battery cable (both to save the battery and in case there should ever be an electrical short).
Put the car cover on.
Then every month or so: pull the car cover, hook up the battery and remove the poison. Run the car to get it to operating temp. If you have room, move the car forward and back at least a few feet. When done, put back the poison, unhook the battery and put the car cover back on.
That pretty much covers my routine (can't think of anything else) and it's worked ok for me for years now on multiple cars. Hope that helps.