Winter Storage Tips
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,769
Likes: 147
From: Penfield NY
I've stored 3 different C5's over the past 4 years. Here's what I do:
- fill the gas tank and add a bottle of Sta-bil
- pump the tires up to 40 psi
- change the oil & filter
- wash & wax
- park it on carpet squares
- hook up the battery tender
- add the dry storage bags inside the car
- put the cover on it
I have a pretty tight garage so I don't worry about rodents. I don't drive the car in the Winter here in NY State so it sits from November to April. Come Springtime I take the cover off, let some air out of the tires and drive it out. I've had no problems of any kind with this process.
- fill the gas tank and add a bottle of Sta-bil
- pump the tires up to 40 psi
- change the oil & filter
- wash & wax
- park it on carpet squares
- hook up the battery tender
- add the dry storage bags inside the car
- put the cover on it
I have a pretty tight garage so I don't worry about rodents. I don't drive the car in the Winter here in NY State so it sits from November to April. Come Springtime I take the cover off, let some air out of the tires and drive it out. I've had no problems of any kind with this process.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
From: Lakeville MN
Originally Posted by KonaVette
all good information....but what is this "winter" you speak of?? 
KonaVette:
I just got back from Kona this morning. Spent a week at the Outrigger Kanoloa at Kona and then a few days at the Hilton Waikoloa. Beautiful area. I had never been to Hawaii before and I had a great time.
It seems like Saddle Road between the volcanos and Hilo would be a great road to take the Vette on. Between the Kona side and the volcanos the road would be too damn rough. Ever driven it in your Vette? I was longing for mine while driving the POS Jeep Wrangler. I had to go out for a drive today to remove the memory from my system
.Karl
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 424
Likes: 2
From: Galena, OH
Ohio winters put my fun on hold each year for about 4 months.
Check this out.
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...e/storage.html
Check this out.
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...e/storage.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,244
Likes: 13
From: Laguna Woods, CA
Originally Posted by cdibi
Is it really necessary to fill up with gas before storing. Wouldn't it be better to drive it almost empty and start the new season with a fresh tank? Is there really a condensation issue and couldn't you use some dry gas?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,387
Likes: 2
From: Chicago Burbs, IL
St. Jude Donor '03 & '06
Wait!!! The floor unit charger with the 2amp setting is not a battery tender. If I understand what your saying this is only a trickle charger and will continue to trickle charge until shut off. Battery Tenders have internal brains that charge to full capacity and then shut off until voltage drops again where they charge again. These are small units that usually come with clips that you can use or wires for direct connection to the battery and can be connected and disconnected via a clip. If you use your 2 amp trickle charger you will burn the battery up in a few days since they are only designed for slow full charges over about 24 hours.
Here is what you're looking for...
http://batterytender.com/default.php?cPath=11_2
Here is what you're looking for...
http://batterytender.com/default.php?cPath=11_2
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 793
Likes: 0
From: IN
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Originally Posted by Patman
Believe it or not, I'll be driving my C5 in the winter! I have stored cars in the past, but this time around I'm not going to bother. It's just too much of a hassle finding a beater car, plus I haven't got room to park another vehicle at my townhouse anyhow. We only get a few bad snow days per year in Toronto, and those days I'll leave the Corvette at home. The rest of the time I'll enjoy driving it. Salt doesn't bother me, I'll just visit my good friends who own a detail shop more often during the winter. 
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,079
From: Guelph, Ontario
Originally Posted by mcronec5
I drive mine in the winter but only when its dry. Does your car seem to take forever to warm up when its below 32 F?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 71,447
Likes: 6
From: Miami bound
CI 4-5-6-7 Veteran
Originally Posted by Patman
The coldest morning so far was 39, and it did seem to take an extra couple of minutes for the coolant to hit 190F, and it took even longer for the oil to get to it's normal temp.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 174,312
Likes: 1,217
From: Here
Pilot of Beer Force 1
Tampa Regional Coordinator
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Organizer St. Jude Fundraiser
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Thank God it doesn't snow here in Florida....there is no way I could possibly put all this priceless info to use 
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 71,447
Likes: 6
From: Miami bound
CI 4-5-6-7 Veteran
Originally Posted by pewter99
Thank God it doesn't snow here in Florida....there is no way I could possibly put all this priceless info to use
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=925268
Compressed air is hotter so your engine will warm up faster.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 174,312
Likes: 1,217
From: Here
Pilot of Beer Force 1
Tampa Regional Coordinator
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Organizer St. Jude Fundraiser
I believe in the Beer Fairy
now damn why didn't I think of that...and here I was just gonna put a space heater under the car
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 71,447
Likes: 6
From: Miami bound
CI 4-5-6-7 Veteran
Originally Posted by pewter99
I was just gonna put a space heater under the car
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,353
Likes: 0
From: Richmond Hill Ontario
Winter storage
Originally Posted by 1g1yy
One thing that would bother me about storing a car without even cranking it for several months, is that some of the valvesprings are compressed the entire time. Now this may be a non-issue, I really don't know since I have never stored a car, but if I were to store one I would do some research on this. It just seems that sometime in the past I heard that not turning an engine over periodically could weaken the compressed springs. 
Maybe someone can chime in with some info on this.
Maybe someone can chime in with some info on this.Good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,353
Likes: 0
From: Richmond Hill Ontario
Winter Storage
Dan,
Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. With my Chevelle, I am able to click the motor over without getting to the point where the engine actually starts. By doing this, it will move the piston and valve spring locations without actually starting the motor. I have not tried this with my Vette but am hoping that it will do the same for a split second without starting it.
Tino
Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. With my Chevelle, I am able to click the motor over without getting to the point where the engine actually starts. By doing this, it will move the piston and valve spring locations without actually starting the motor. I have not tried this with my Vette but am hoping that it will do the same for a split second without starting it.
Tino
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 10,244
Likes: 96
From: not far enough from Chicago
Originally Posted by Tino
Dan,
Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. With my Chevelle, I am able to click the motor over without getting to the point where the engine actually starts. By doing this, it will move the piston and valve spring locations without actually starting the motor. I have not tried this with my Vette but am hoping that it will do the same for a split second without starting it.
Tino
Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. With my Chevelle, I am able to click the motor over without getting to the point where the engine actually starts. By doing this, it will move the piston and valve spring locations without actually starting the motor. I have not tried this with my Vette but am hoping that it will do the same for a split second without starting it.
Tino
I just went out to the garage and tried the bump thing. If you turn the key momentarily, it will not start. It seemed like there was a jerking motion to the engine though that didn't seem good.
Dan