Winter Storage
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 111
Likes: 9
From: North East Pennsylvania
Winter Storage
I'm new to the forum and the Corvette community so I'm sure this question has been debated before, but her goes. I've had Honda Goldwing motorcycles for over 20 years and here in NE Pa when the weather turns to Winter I cover the bike and put the battery tender on and never touch it until Spring. Now that I have a vette that probably won't be used during the Winter month, My plan is to park it, cover it and put a battery tender on it. I've talked to some folks who say they go out every week or so and start their car and let it run to temp so the oil can circulate through the engine. Is this a good idea or should I do like I did with the Goldwing and just cover it with the tender connected and not start it until Spring? If it helps, the vette will be stored in an unheated detached garage.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,893
Likes: 295
From: Buffalo NY
If you're going to run it to temp, make sure you get the engine oil hot enough to boil off any moisture in the crankcase (at least 212*F). If you're not going to drive it, don't bother running it. I would also recommend blocking any entry points for squirrels, chipmunks, and other critters (exhaust pipes, front intakes, etc. Other than a tender and a cover there's not much else to worry about.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 3,340
Likes: 2,082
From: Lehigh Valley PA
Steps To Winterize a Corvette - From a Corvette Dealership:
- Wash, dry and wax the car. Clean wheels, tail pipes, etc. Treat tires with a non-drying tire shine to protect them.
- Leave an interior drying product such as DampRid inside, to reduce moisture build up which could lead to mold or mildew.
- Get the car off the ground. Preferred method is 4 jack stands with 2x6 boards as support. This helps unload the suspension and prevents tires from flat spots.
- Inflate the Tires to max pressure - Only if the car will not be lifted
- Fill the Fuel Tank to full. Add fuel stabilizer like Sta-Bil to protect your fuel system
- Connect a smart battery tender to battery
- Cover or stuff exhaust pipe exits with rags to prevent rodents from nesting
- Spray WD-40 into a soft towel and wipe all door seals and weatherstripping to keep rubber lubricated and to stop from tearing when opening in the Spring
- Do NOT set the parking brake. Over time, if left in the set position could seize in that position. It also engages the pad to the rotor which could leave a footprint reducing effectiveness or creates pulsation when applying the brakes
- Cover your car, with a high quality, breathable cover
- Do NOT start or "warm up" your car over the winter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 338
From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
And the suspension hanging, "unloaded", is better than the car sitting on it?
Flat spots in tires ia an old myth, if they did develop they would round out in a minute or two of driving.
There is no need to pick up a car of the ground for winter storage.
Flat spots in tires ia an old myth, if they did develop they would round out in a minute or two of driving.
There is no need to pick up a car of the ground for winter storage.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 310
Likes: 25
From: Edmonton AB
Any car I have stored (Including Camaro SS's and our current C5) have been in both heated and non-heated storage. Here is what I do:
Take car to storage facility. Disconnect battery. Leave over the winter.
Go back in spring, reconnect battery, start and drive away.
Never has failed me yet.
Take car to storage facility. Disconnect battery. Leave over the winter.
Go back in spring, reconnect battery, start and drive away.
Never has failed me yet.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 44
Likes: 9
From: Berwyn Il
I would not recommend starting the engine weekly.
I agree with everything else other forum members have said. Fill the tires to max pressure, hook up a smart battery tender. I use sta-bil in my car, others prefer seafoam.
I didn't stuff steel wool or rags in the exhaust pipes last year (as I didn't know about it). I did this year.
I agree with everything else other forum members have said. Fill the tires to max pressure, hook up a smart battery tender. I use sta-bil in my car, others prefer seafoam.
I didn't stuff steel wool or rags in the exhaust pipes last year (as I didn't know about it). I did this year.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
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From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
i don't warm any car up in storage....if you can not get it hot enough to make all the moisture from combustion go away then you are creating more of a problem. also
put green bait block traps around the garage to keep the mice dead.
put green bait block traps around the garage to keep the mice dead.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
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From: Iowa
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I would not recommend starting the engine weekly.
I agree with everything else other forum members have said. Fill the tires to max pressure, hook up a smart battery tender. I use sta-bil in my car, others prefer seafoam.
I didn't stuff steel wool or rags in the exhaust pipes last year (as I didn't know about it). I did this year.
I agree with everything else other forum members have said. Fill the tires to max pressure, hook up a smart battery tender. I use sta-bil in my car, others prefer seafoam.
I didn't stuff steel wool or rags in the exhaust pipes last year (as I didn't know about it). I did this year.
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Here is what I do:
- get gas tank down to 1/2 or below (good excuse for those last few drives before the weather turns bad), then add a bottle of Techron and a bottle of Sta-Bil to the tank, then fill up the tank.
- I always change the oil and filter just as I put the car in storage.
- detail the car so it is clean.
- place some Bounce dryer sheets in the engine compartment and the passenger cabin - helps deter mice.
- add some psi to the tires - you don’t really need to go the max pressure on the side of the tires - maybe 5-8 psi more than the 30 psi that is recommended for normal driving.
- place some carpet squares under each tire to keep the tires up off the cement.
- hook up a Battery Tender and let it do its thing all winter.
- cover the car with a good car cover.
That’s it. I do not start the car each week. The next time it will be started is when I get it out of storage in the spring.
- get gas tank down to 1/2 or below (good excuse for those last few drives before the weather turns bad), then add a bottle of Techron and a bottle of Sta-Bil to the tank, then fill up the tank.
- I always change the oil and filter just as I put the car in storage.
- detail the car so it is clean.
- place some Bounce dryer sheets in the engine compartment and the passenger cabin - helps deter mice.
- add some psi to the tires - you don’t really need to go the max pressure on the side of the tires - maybe 5-8 psi more than the 30 psi that is recommended for normal driving.
- place some carpet squares under each tire to keep the tires up off the cement.
- hook up a Battery Tender and let it do its thing all winter.
- cover the car with a good car cover.
That’s it. I do not start the car each week. The next time it will be started is when I get it out of storage in the spring.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 338
From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
What he said. Or bring your car down to me in Florida for the winter, I'll take care of it for you and drive it around to keep it running and the oil circulating. And check the tire pressures.
