winter storage - midwest
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Instructor
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 111
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From: Brazil IN
winter storage - midwest
I'm looking for a winter storage thread. I know there has to be one around. Can anyone give a quick run down on how you store for the winter
We do have mice problems every winter. I've never got them in the cars or the camper, but I was planning on putting moth ***** in the engine, trunk, and floor boards, just in case.
I am thinkig about leaving the battery in, to start it once a week. But is it better to leave the battery out and let it sit until March?
We do have mice problems every winter. I've never got them in the cars or the camper, but I was planning on putting moth ***** in the engine, trunk, and floor boards, just in case.
I am thinkig about leaving the battery in, to start it once a week. But is it better to leave the battery out and let it sit until March?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
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From: Wisconsin
From the research I have done, the experts do not recommend starting and idling over the winter. Idling for long periods is not good for anything. It introduces moisture into the engine and exhaust, clogs the catalytic converter and 75% of wear occurs during startup and warm up. I always put it away hot, cleaned and waxed, full tank of gas, gas stabilizer, over-inflate the tires, park it on a vapor barrier, mothballs, Irish spring and a bucket of Damp Rid in car and under the hood. I pull the battery and put it on a tender in the basement and cover the car. I have done same thing for 40 years and in the spring it's just like it was when I put it away.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 164
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From: Groton MA
I store mine in Maine where last year the temps hit -25 and all I do is clean and polish, fill the tank, pull the battery and cover it. In the spring I put the battery in and it starts right up. The only thing I need to do is re-sync the keyfob and re-do the radio presets.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Wisconsin
I store mine in Maine where last year the temps hit -25 and all I do is clean and polish, fill the tank, pull the battery and cover it. In the spring I put the battery in and it starts right up. The only thing I need to do is re-sync the keyfob and re-do the radio presets.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 579
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From: Chambersburg Pa
I put a 20 oz bottle of Techron concentrate in with the tank below halfful,l THEN fill up so it reaches both tanks.Clean up car and put Bounce dryer sheets inside on floors and behind seat area plus the trunk if a FRC. Moth ***** in a couple of plastic butter tubs under the hood and even a tub or 2 under the car.No moth ***** inside car,the smell will linger.Set mouse traps and D-con out.I put carpet patches or heavy cardboard under tires and a heavy plastic vapor barrier to cover the unheated garage floor.Cover exhaust tips with old tube socks.A good quality battery tender(not charger), so you can leave battery in car.Some folks overinflate tires but i just check them about once a month.Lock it ,cover it and do not run unless you plan on taking it out on the road for a good drive to burn off any moisture.I change oil etc in spring since i only put less then 800 miles a year on it and the oil can't be that dangerous just sitting in the pan.Next spring its like getting a new toy all over again.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Lewisville TX
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Growing up in Indiana...I guess it would depend on how the car is kept.
If it stays in a relatively climate controlled garage that is going to help a ton.
This is what I did with dad growing up.
-Fill the fuel tank with fresh fuel
-wash the car
-change the oil
-wax it
-parked it on carpet pads
-put some Oder / moisture absorbing packs inside
-put a battery tender on it.
We never started them once they sat but the cars were typically only in there from November to say March. If it is going to be in storage a lot longer than that, then yes you would need to do some other things to it. Same would go with a race car or something that might use a more volatile fuel.
If it stays in a relatively climate controlled garage that is going to help a ton.
This is what I did with dad growing up.
-Fill the fuel tank with fresh fuel
-wash the car
-change the oil
-wax it
-parked it on carpet pads
-put some Oder / moisture absorbing packs inside
-put a battery tender on it.
We never started them once they sat but the cars were typically only in there from November to say March. If it is going to be in storage a lot longer than that, then yes you would need to do some other things to it. Same would go with a race car or something that might use a more volatile fuel.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2015
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From: Chicagoland
St. Jude Donor '16
I put a 20 oz bottle of Techron concentrate in with the tank below halfful,l THEN fill up so it reaches both tanks.Clean up car and put Bounce dryer sheets inside on floors and behind seat area plus the trunk if a FRC. Moth ***** in a couple of plastic butter tubs under the hood and even a tub or 2 under the car.No moth ***** inside car,the smell will linger.Set mouse traps and D-con out.I put carpet patches or heavy cardboard under tires and a heavy plastic vapor barrier to cover the unheated garage floor.Cover exhaust tips with old tube socks.A good quality battery tender(not charger), so you can leave battery in car.Some folks overinflate tires but i just check them about once a month.Lock it ,cover it and do not run unless you plan on taking it out on the road for a good drive to burn off any moisture.I change oil etc in spring since i only put less then 800 miles a year on it and the oil can't be that dangerous just sitting in the pan.Next spring its like getting a new toy all over again.
I pretty much do the same, minus the mouse traps..dont really have a mouse problem where Im at..
Le Mans Master
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From: Wisconsin
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St. Jude Donor '16
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I'm in the Midwest and here's what I do to store my car for the winter:
I do not start the car up unless I plan to take it for a decent drive that would get all fluids up to operating temp and allow any moisture to be eliminated from areas such as the exhaust.
Here are a couple of files that may give you some other ideas, depending on how long you need to store the car.
- Clean all areas of car, including engine bay, wax car, detail interior.
- Add a bottle of Sta-Bil and fill gas tank.
- Put a few extra lbs of air in tires and put a piece of old carpet under each tire to get the tire off the cold cement floor.
- Put Bounce dryer sheets in engine bay and interior to keep any critters away.
- Change oil and filter.
- Hook up battery tender.
- Put car cover over the car for a long winter's nap.
I do not start the car up unless I plan to take it for a decent drive that would get all fluids up to operating temp and allow any moisture to be eliminated from areas such as the exhaust.
Here are a couple of files that may give you some other ideas, depending on how long you need to store the car.
Last edited by Vetteman Jack; Nov 20, 2015 at 08:45 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 62
From: New Madison Ohio
I just cleaned mine up as mentioned in the above posts. I filled the tank and added a bottle of Techron. Put the battery tender on and covered it up. I don't start mine either. And she has a cover on her for her long winter nap..
..Now that long wait till Spring.
..Now that long wait till Spring.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 156
Likes: 28
From: Lombard IL
My usual ritual is to:
- Fill the gas tank up and run Sta-Bil
- Clean the exterior and interior
- Change the oil
- Overinflate the tires
- Hook up the battery tender so the battery can stay in the car
Then I throw the car cover on and up she goes for the next 4 - 5 months of hibernation. Just did this last night thanks to snow we're getting hit with right now.
With the weather being as mild as it was recently, I was hoping to get at least a couple more weeks out of the year, but... oh well. 
Since buying the new house and the lift I haven't used moth ***** or anything, but back when I lived in the apartment where the car was stored in a detached garage where I DID see mice occasionally, I used the moth ***** and never had an issue with rodents. Someone's thread also mentioned using socks to cover up the exhaust tips; I think that's a great idea1 (the woman also thinks it's "cute"... go figure)
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,441
Likes: 2,186
From: Buffalo Texas
Chicago suburb resident here; like akapounder, I also literally put mine up for the winter by having her hibernate on the four post lift.
My usual ritual is to:
- Fill the gas tank up and run Sta-Bil
- Clean the exterior and interior
- Change the oil
- Overinflate the tires
- Hook up the battery tender so the battery can stay in the car
Then I throw the car cover on and up she goes for the next 4 - 5 months of hibernation. Just did this last night thanks to snow we're getting hit with right now. With the weather being as mild as it was recently, I was hoping to get at least a couple more weeks out of the year, but... oh well.
Since buying the new house and the lift I haven't used moth ***** or anything, but back when I lived in the apartment where the car was stored in a detached garage where I DID see mice occasionally, I used the moth ***** and never had an issue with rodents. Someone's thread also mentioned using socks to cover up the exhaust tips; I think that's a great idea1 (the woman also thinks it's "cute"... go figure)
My usual ritual is to:
- Fill the gas tank up and run Sta-Bil
- Clean the exterior and interior
- Change the oil
- Overinflate the tires
- Hook up the battery tender so the battery can stay in the car
Then I throw the car cover on and up she goes for the next 4 - 5 months of hibernation. Just did this last night thanks to snow we're getting hit with right now.
With the weather being as mild as it was recently, I was hoping to get at least a couple more weeks out of the year, but... oh well. Since buying the new house and the lift I haven't used moth ***** or anything, but back when I lived in the apartment where the car was stored in a detached garage where I DID see mice occasionally, I used the moth ***** and never had an issue with rodents. Someone's thread also mentioned using socks to cover up the exhaust tips; I think that's a great idea1 (the woman also thinks it's "cute"... go figure)
is that the SS TrailBlazer you mentioned a while back ? how is that working out for you ???
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 156
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From: Lombard IL
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
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From: Wisconsin
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Last edited by JR-01; Nov 21, 2015 at 04:15 PM.
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,441
Likes: 2,186
From: Buffalo Texas
It sure is! So far it's been great with no real issues. Puts a smile on my face every time I turn the key, just like the 'Vette! Now that the snow's here though I'll have a lot more time to spend with her. Gotta try to find an empty parking lot to try donuts for the first time