So its getting a little chilly up here in NY so i decided that im going to store my car this week. Whats does everyone do to make their Z winter storage ready?

 

I just fill the tank, so you don't get moisture rusting the tank, cean car hook up my charger maintaner, cover.

Your not leaving it in there for ever just a few months, I start my car every now and then on those nice winter days, and let it run and come up to temp.

I have been doing this for at least 10 years with no problems. I don't


use any of the stabilizer I can't see the point on a fuel injected car.

I guess a lot of people go through a lot of pains, with unnessacary things, if I was leaving the car for years, I do different things.

 

IMHO, couple of things you should do:

Change the engine oil, filter, transmission and differential fluids. This is especially important with the engine oil. You want to get all the acids that build up out of the crankcase and not let them sit all winter.

Add gas stabilizer and fill the tank up. If you let the car sit for 5 or 6 months, the gas can get nasty and clog up injectors when you restart in the spring. Be sure to run the engine for 5 minutes or so to be sure that the gas in the lines is all stabilized.

Disconnect the battery. Even though drain is low, you will still wear the battery down if you leave it connected. Alternatively, get one of those inexpensive battery tenders to keep the charge topped up.

Some people like to jack the car up a bit and put it on stands to keep the tires from taking a set. Others like to put a couple of extra pounds of pressure in. Do check them during the winter to be sure they don't go flat.

Take anything out of the car that can rot, smell, cause problems. Use a car cover or cotton sheet(s) to cover the car to keep the dust off but let the car breath. Consider putting one of those anti-mildew canisters that they use on boats inside the car.

Put some mouse bait and/or moth ***** around under the car and in the garage corners. Mice, chipmunks, etc. like to take up residence and find things like your wiring harness, leather shifter boot and things like that to chew on.

It doesn't hurt to give the car a good waxing before putting the cover on. Be sure that the paint is nice and clean before you put the cover on.

If you plan on driving the car regularly over the winter, then you only really need to change the oil and filter, put the cover on, and periodically start it to be sure the battery stays charged. Otherwise, the more you do the happier you will be when you uncover it in the spring.

 

Excellent!
Goose

 

...or you could just send it South for the winter. I'll take good car of her, rotate her into the driving cycle with the other two...Mon/Fri are Two-Tone's days, Wed-Thu the Z16, I'd drive yours in on Thu I guess. Oh, the service is free!

Seriously, don't know how you guys do it - I complain when we get into the "teens" here and that won't happen until January...then I'm ready to migrate South!

 

I blow up my bubble. Feel free to drive to Buffalo to view it...

 

I'm in Rochester, too, but I'm not giving up yet! I usually keep my car on the road until November 1 when the talk of snow gets more serious. When I store it I do the following:


Wash & wax
Pump tires up to 40 PSI, park it on old carpet squares
Change the oil & filter
Add Stabil to the tank and fill it up
Treat the leather with a good leather conditioner, and treat all the rubber gaskets around the doors & trunk, etc with Silicone
Add the dry packs to the inside and one in the trunk
Put the battery tender on it, cover it and say good night!
I store from November 1 to April 1 without moving or starting the car. In the Spring I uncover it, adjust the air pressures and drive off!

This is the 3rd C5 I've done this process with and it's worked great every time.

 

I change the oil, gas her up and add a bottle of Stabil. Give her a good coat of wax, park her on tire cradles (my garage isn't heated) cover her with a soft flannel cover and a regular car cover. Almost forgot the battery tender. That's about it. Five years, no problems.

 

CAR STORAGE CHECKLIST


1 ________ DRAIN AND REPLACE OIL AND FILTER
2 ________ DRAIN AND REPLACE COOLANT
3 ________ RUN ENGINE TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE
4 ________ FILL WITH GAS AND ADD FUEL STABILIZER
5 ________ REMOVE SPARK PLUGS
6 ________ SQUIRT OIL INTO EACH CYLINDER AND REPLACE PLUGS
7 ________ TURN ENGINE OVER SEVERAL TIMES
8 ________ COAT ALL ENGINE RUBBER COMPONENTS WITH SILICONE
9 ________ PLACE SEVERAL MOTHBALLS IN CHEESE CLOTH AND PLACE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT
10 ________ SEAL AIR CLEANER INLET AND EXHAUST OUTLETS
11 ________ REMOVE TIRES AND COAT STUDS WITH ANTI-SEIZE COMPOUND
12 ________ COAT BRAKE ROTORS AND CALIPERS WITH SILICONE
13 ________ COAT ALL UNDER BODY RUBBER AND SUSPENSION BUSHINGS WITH SILICONE
14 ________ CLEAN AND WAX WHEELS INSIDE AND OUT
15 ________ GREASE ALL FITTINGS
16 ________ SILICONE TIRE SIDEWALLS
17 ________ INSTALL WHEELS TORQUE TO SPECIFICATION AND CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
18 ________ CLEAN AND DETAIL VEHICLE
19 ________ WAX VEHICLE AND POLISH CHROME
20 ________ CLEAN AND DETAIL INTERIOR
21 ________ REMOVE ANTENNA AND WIPER BLADE ARMS AND STORE IN TRUNK
22 ________ SPRAY CARPETS AND FABRIC WITH FABRIC PROTECTOR
23 ________ PLACE A BOX OF BAKING SODA IN THE INTERIOR TO ABSORB ODORS
24 ________ REMOVE BATTERY AND TRICKLE CHARGE AWAY FROM VEHICLE
25 ________ STORE VEHICLE ON JACK STANDS WITH TIRES SLIGHTLY OFF THE GROUND
26 ________ COVER VEHICLE WITH A FITTED CAR COVER



I found this is Popular Mechanics for long term storage. Some good ideas for short term.

Excel version attached

Jeff

 

The best way to store it is to keep using it. I live a couple of hours away from you and I drive my car at least once every 30 days. Have been doing this for over 20 years after Gordon Killebrew from the old factory Corvette Action Center told me the best way to store a car was to keep driving it. I change the oil in November or December and make sure the car is clean then pull into the garage and wait for a nice day to drive the car. Each time I drive it I put 30 to 40 miles on it which gets around the problem of moisture build up in the exhaust which is what happens when you idle the engine for long periods. Some times the winter is bad enough I don't get to drive it for 60 days but the battery has always held up on my C5s. The best thing about it is the great feeling I get when I drive it. It sure takes away the winter blues. Depending on the weather I usually go through 3/4 of a tank of gas during the winter. By mid March I am pretty much back to good weather driving. Since insurance is only $250 per 6 months and the car would only be stored for 4 months while comp was still being paid for there isn't any true savings in dropping the insurance so that isn't any consideration in storing the car.

Bill

 

I use the Car Jacket, have used them for over ten years and love them. Car comes out in the spring just like the day it went away.

 

Why Store it? The car isnt going to seriously increase in value, and the time it sits, it just loses value, especially with the new Z06 being the bad azz on the block. I was once a worry wart. Now I drive it when the roads are clear. I just wash her twice a week to get any salt off. If I had a classic, that would be different, but I bought a car that was exciting and fun to drive....to be able to drive it. Why let winter deter that?

 

The best thing for the car is to drive it. Particularly with the older ones, since long term inactivity can cause leaky calipers, moisture buildup, etc. etc. I try to start my '67 at least once a week and even if the roads are a mess I'll back it out a bit, work the brakes, move the steering around and let it get warm. On the days where the roads are dry, out it goes for a cruise. As far as the Z06, I'll keep the salt off it as much as possible but that bad boy needs to get out at least once a week or it gets mad.

 

I store mine in Western NY, and we had snow today. I'm not giving up yet. They were'nt spreading any SALT today, although there were multiple accidents on I 90. This is and has been my storage trigger for 4 nice Vettes now. My oil change will be this week, and I will put a few hundred more miles on the beast before it's over. Pretty crappy, unprecedented weather week here in the Buffalo area, and I'll grant you that. I really like to take my wife out for Thanksgiving dinner in the Z, and I always hold out for that, if possible. We're back in the 60's Monday, so I refuse to puss out at this point. Chautauaqua County spreads liquid brine from the Nat Gas wells that I maintain, and NO vehicle that I love will EVER splash that crap around. These great cars are not Deusenberg's, but those of us in the rust belt need to take care of our babies. All advice above is great info and should be followed. F--- it all! I'm moving to Cabo!

 

I'm putting mine away tomorrow. Fresh wax,full tank with stabil,leather and vinyl treated, everything clean, oil change, tires on carpet floor mats, fitted cover. I will start it at least once a month through the winter to keep everything coated with oil and burn out condensation. I dont think you need to worry about water in the titanium exhaust. If we have some nice days, I'll take it out for a romp until they salt the roads, no salt on my baby.

 

Hey bubble boy,
Do you use nitrogen....?

Mine goes into the garage for all but the clearest most dry days. I think it's good to drive it at least once amonth if possible.

 

You don't have to do much. Most important is to rodent proof the area, especially if the area is heated. Wash and clean. Fill fuel and stabilize, battery tender.

Change oil if your driving habits are short runs generally, otherwise oil will be fine. Do not start until you are ready to drive again.

The tires will not flat spot although I roll the Z a few feet every other week, forward then back wards the next time. Don't think it is necessary tho.

Oh, I also sit in a chair and look at it every week for an hour or so.