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I will be storing my '03 in a couple of months in the garage (in Cleveland). I have read some of the previous posts on winterizing the car. I've got a cover, I will remove the battery, and I was also told to get a rubber garage floor mat to prevent moisture from creeping up through the concrete. Any thoughts on whether to store with a full tank of gas vs. an empty tank...should I add Stabil to it? Also, is it better to change the oil before taking the car out after hibernation, or should I change it before storing? Thanks :flag
Store it with a full tank of fuel. This minimizes the volume of the vapor dome and minimizes the chance of water condensation. You don't need stabilizer. Change the oil and filter prior to storage. The clock does NOT run on fresh oil while the car is in storage, so you can run it for the normal time or mileage term you use when it comes out. If you store the car every winter, just do an annual oil change before storage,
The clock DOES run on brake/clutch fluid and antifreeze while the car is in storage, so don't forget about these two items when the time comes.
I agree with the above poster about the full fuel tank, but I add stabilizer. Of course our winters are much more severe than in Cleveland. My car will be out of service for at least 5 months. Stabilizer is a lot cheaper than the alternative.
I leave my battery in and keep it charged all winter.
I like to run the car a fairly long time to get it up to normal operating temperature and then immediately shut it down until I fire it up the following spring.
Chemical reaction rates increase exponentially with temperature, so the colder the storage temperature, the less likely the gasoline is to react to form gum and varnish.
I've been storing cars for six months to a year for over ten years, including summers in Scottsdale. I've never added stabilizer and I've never had any fuel system problems.
Either remove the battery or get a battery tender. DON'T go out every couple of weeks and start it and let it idle for 10 minutes. If you want to start it, be sure you can drive it 10-20 miles.