Storing car for winter
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,128
Likes: 5
From: Chicago IL
Storing car for winter
Storing car for winter
Well the winter is coming, this Is gone be the first winter with the vette. so I’m wondering what are some things to prep the car to store it. The car is go be stored 100 miles away from me, cant do a lot off work on it and I think I’m gone save all the work for spring when I have some $.
Ok so it’s a 97 coupe, stored in a NOT heated garage. In Rockford IL the temperature are gone go below zero . Do I drain any fluids? jack up the car?. Take the battery out or not car is NOT gone be driven nor started probably for mouths.
I take any suggestions as little as the can be.
if you just gone store your car for couple mouths would you change your fluids before and after or only after. Do I care if the anti freeze that I have in the car is old and it’s gone sit in the engine for a long time without moving in the system. Will that causing any problems ??
Thank you in advance Kamil D.
Well the winter is coming, this Is gone be the first winter with the vette. so I’m wondering what are some things to prep the car to store it. The car is go be stored 100 miles away from me, cant do a lot off work on it and I think I’m gone save all the work for spring when I have some $.
Ok so it’s a 97 coupe, stored in a NOT heated garage. In Rockford IL the temperature are gone go below zero . Do I drain any fluids? jack up the car?. Take the battery out or not car is NOT gone be driven nor started probably for mouths.
I take any suggestions as little as the can be.
if you just gone store your car for couple mouths would you change your fluids before and after or only after. Do I care if the anti freeze that I have in the car is old and it’s gone sit in the engine for a long time without moving in the system. Will that causing any problems ??
Thank you in advance Kamil D.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
No, a BATTERY TENDER is a float maintenance charger made by DELTRAN. It'll charge the battery up to full charge, then maintain that charge. It's designed to stay connected indefinitely w/o putting heat into the battery which destroys the internals.
The BATTERY TENDER PLUS (1.25 amp) or BATTERY TENDER JR. (.75 amp) are most popular. They also make units to charge multiple batteries. You can find them at PEPBOYS or most motorcycle shops for just under $30 or $60 depending on choice.
CTEK is another float maintenance charger that is highly recommended. It's popular in Europe. It costs about $70 and is available through site supporting vendor C.C.A.
The BATTERY TENDER PLUS (1.25 amp) or BATTERY TENDER JR. (.75 amp) are most popular. They also make units to charge multiple batteries. You can find them at PEPBOYS or most motorcycle shops for just under $30 or $60 depending on choice.
CTEK is another float maintenance charger that is highly recommended. It's popular in Europe. It costs about $70 and is available through site supporting vendor C.C.A.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Avoid Corvette tax buy this unit...
I have 3...they have been used the last 4 season on my vehicles.. They work great
www.harborfreight.com
42292-1VGA
Chicago Electric Power Tools AUTOMATIC BATTERY FLOAT CHARGER
$7.49
Also pump up the tires to the max pressure on the sidewalls to minimize the chance of flatspotting..
Change the oil BEFORE your winterize. You do not want acid containing oil sitting over the winter...
Ideally wax before the winter and but a silicone dressing on the weather strip.
You might want to take some precautions against mice.. They like nesting in the heater fan and love the insulation on wiring...
Check the rad and windshield washers fluid to make sure they won't frree in the undheated garage.
I have 3...they have been used the last 4 season on my vehicles.. They work great
www.harborfreight.com
42292-1VGA
Chicago Electric Power Tools AUTOMATIC BATTERY FLOAT CHARGER
$7.49
Also pump up the tires to the max pressure on the sidewalls to minimize the chance of flatspotting..
Change the oil BEFORE your winterize. You do not want acid containing oil sitting over the winter...
Ideally wax before the winter and but a silicone dressing on the weather strip.
You might want to take some precautions against mice.. They like nesting in the heater fan and love the insulation on wiring...
Check the rad and windshield washers fluid to make sure they won't frree in the undheated garage.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,128
Likes: 5
From: Chicago IL
Avoid Corvette tax buy this unit...
I have 3...they have been used the last 4 season on my vehicles.. They work great
www.harborfreight.com
42292-1VGA
Chicago Electric Power Tools AUTOMATIC BATTERY FLOAT CHARGER
$7.49
Also pump up the tires to the max pressure on the sidewalls to minimize the chance of flatspotting..
Change the oil BEFORE your winterize. You do not want acid containing oil sitting over the winter...
Ideally wax before the winter and but a silicone dressing on the weather strip.
You might want to take some precautions against mice.. They like nesting in the heater fan and love the insulation on wiring...
Check the rad and windshield washers fluid to make sure they won't frree in the undheated garage.
I have 3...they have been used the last 4 season on my vehicles.. They work great
www.harborfreight.com
42292-1VGA
Chicago Electric Power Tools AUTOMATIC BATTERY FLOAT CHARGER
$7.49
Also pump up the tires to the max pressure on the sidewalls to minimize the chance of flatspotting..
Change the oil BEFORE your winterize. You do not want acid containing oil sitting over the winter...
Ideally wax before the winter and but a silicone dressing on the weather strip.
You might want to take some precautions against mice.. They like nesting in the heater fan and love the insulation on wiring...
Check the rad and windshield washers fluid to make sure they won't frree in the undheated garage.
i was thinking about taking the tires off the car and rasing the car on jack stends
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 104
From: Des Moines Iowa
Not sure about sea foam, but a product by the name Stabil is a good fuel stabilizer. Make sure you fill tank with fuel AFTER adding stabilizer.
Also have heard that the green / original irish spring bath soap bars, cut into quarters and placed in the interior are a good way to keep out the mice / rodents. Agree that it's best to change engine oil BEFORE placing car into winter storage.
Also have heard that the green / original irish spring bath soap bars, cut into quarters and placed in the interior are a good way to keep out the mice / rodents. Agree that it's best to change engine oil BEFORE placing car into winter storage.
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Brett Foote
Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,814
Likes: 105
From: Dearborn Heights Michigan
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I remove the battery, bring it in the house. I now know two people who have had fires with the BT connected, mine shorted out and smelt. I won't risk it any more. I also put the car in a "Carbag", which keeps it very dry so even the rotors are shiny when it comes out.
Last edited by vettenuts; Sep 14, 2007 at 06:01 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 924
Likes: 0
From: Macedon NY
Storage
For any potential mice prob (We have a big one here in the Rochester, NY area), use clothes dryer sheets (BJ's Generic work well) and put them all over the place (Engine comp,, interior, etc.) They work great, and you'll have a hell of a nice smellin' vette in the spring!!
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 571
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee Wi
I stored mine in a barn last year about 40 miles away from me. I filled the tank - put in a can of sea foam - forgot to pump the tires up- disconnected the battery cable - covered car in plastic.
Spring I chenged the oil -tires were still ok - car started right up after reconnecting the battery.
It was stored for 4 months.
Ricky
Spring I chenged the oil -tires were still ok - car started right up after reconnecting the battery.
It was stored for 4 months.
Ricky
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,887
Likes: 2
From: Macomb MI
St. Jude Contributor
Never had a issue using battery tender and fuel stabilizer, I also inflate the tires to 45lb each ( no flat spots with over inflated tires ) wrap and stuff my exhaust with towels and plastic around them ( keep small critter out ) I never start the vehicle until spring. It's not healthy for a motor to start up in the winter unless you run it hot enough to evaporate the moister. I've used this method on my motorcycles for year and my Vette for the last 5 yr.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Too be honest, I used the Battery Tender for years without a problem, even bought a second one. Then is shorted out while connected to the Vette, when I opened my small garage all you could smell was burnt electronics. Mentioned it to a couple of friends and then find out two people burnt their garages down when theirs shorted out, so I don't leave it connected long term any more. Maybe overnight once a week if the car hasn't been driven, but for the winter I just remove and bring the battery in the house so it won't freeze. I think its less risk.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,128
Likes: 5
From: Chicago IL
Ok how about taking the batter out and buy a new one when I what to take the car out after winter ?? what happens to the car with no electricity for a 4 mouths ????? is there any thing needing the power with the car off ??????
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,572
Likes: 3
From: Rehoboth MA . . . NRA Life Member
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
- Clean car throughly
- Battery Tender
- Stabil Fuel Stablizer
- 10oz treats 25 gallons of fuel
- Fill fuel tank
- Top off all fluids
- Pump up tires 35-40 PSI.
- Cover car
Battery Tender
Stabil Fuel Stablizer
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
You won't need a new battery, put in in spring, re-program FOB's, turn key and start. Been doing this for years, no problems. You can also top the battery off (charge) a couple of times over the winter. I do this with my tractors as well.
