Winterizing
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Waupaca WI
Winterizing
I live in Wisconsin and it is getting cold. Is it ok to just pull the battery out for the winter or will that mess up the electronics? Also In my lawn mower, snow blower etc I put in 20% Lucas oil to coat the cylinders because they are not started often. Can I do that with my C5?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,408
Likes: 1,595
From: Western NY
I dislike having to go through all the hassle of re-programing the items that might lose their info when the battery is out for a long period of time. I also don't like leaving the engine (pistons and valve springs, for example) in one position for 3-4 months, so I like to be able to start it up and let it run for 10-15 minutes, 2-3 times over the winter.
Therefore, I leave the battery in the car, and once a week, usually when I'm clearing the driveway with the snowblower, I put the battery charger on the car. Now I know a lot of people will rush in, and tell you to get a battery tender, but in my case, I have an attached garage, and don't trust a tender. I don't need one to overheat, and burn down my garage and house.
With respect to oil in the gas, your snow blower and mower don't have catalytic converters, so it's not an issue. I wouldn't add oil to the gas in the car, however, just a good dose of fuel stabilizer. Also, pump up the tires to 40-45 lbs. of air pressure, and see if you can find some old carpet squares, and put them under the tires.
Therefore, I leave the battery in the car, and once a week, usually when I'm clearing the driveway with the snowblower, I put the battery charger on the car. Now I know a lot of people will rush in, and tell you to get a battery tender, but in my case, I have an attached garage, and don't trust a tender. I don't need one to overheat, and burn down my garage and house.
With respect to oil in the gas, your snow blower and mower don't have catalytic converters, so it's not an issue. I wouldn't add oil to the gas in the car, however, just a good dose of fuel stabilizer. Also, pump up the tires to 40-45 lbs. of air pressure, and see if you can find some old carpet squares, and put them under the tires.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,408
Likes: 1,595
From: Western NY
Do you mean that you add the Lucas oil to the crankcase? If so, I really doubt that it's necessary. I've been "winter storing" cars since the 70s, and never really added anything special to the oil. In my cars that have conventional oil in them, I've always used STP as an additive, especially since the oils are now required to meet the "SN" levels of reduced ZDPP, and STP had that as an ingredient. So, when I park my Camaro, for instance, it has clean oil, with STP, in it. With syn oil, I doubt you'd need any additional suppliments.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Waupaca WI
winterizing
Do you mean that you add the Lucas oil to the crankcase? If so, I really doubt that it's necessary. I've been "winter storing" cars since the 70s, and never really added anything special to the oil. In my cars that have conventional oil in them, I've always used STP as an additive, especially since the oils are now required to meet the "SN" levels of reduced ZDPP, and STP had that as an ingredient. So, when I park my Camaro, for instance, it has clean oil, with STP, in it. With syn oil, I doubt you'd need any additional suppliments.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,408
Likes: 1,595
From: Western NY
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,479
Likes: 36
This is my winter storage process:
1) Change the oil and filter
2) Get a full tank of gas (94 octane)
3) Add Stabil fuel stabilized in tank and start car. Let it run for 15 minutes.
4) Add air to tires. 40-45 psi to avoid flat spotting. Probably not an issue put I like to be safe.
5) Plug in the Ctek 3300 battery maintainer. I do not disconnect battery from car.
Whenever possible during the winter months, I take her out for a few laps around the block. Of course, this is heavily dependant on the type of winter we are having.
That's it. I've been doing this for the last 5 years with absolutely no issues. Make sure you are using a reliable battery maintainer. I have found the Ctek to be the best (based on regular verifications during winter months including voltage readings).
1) Change the oil and filter
2) Get a full tank of gas (94 octane)
3) Add Stabil fuel stabilized in tank and start car. Let it run for 15 minutes.
4) Add air to tires. 40-45 psi to avoid flat spotting. Probably not an issue put I like to be safe.
5) Plug in the Ctek 3300 battery maintainer. I do not disconnect battery from car.
Whenever possible during the winter months, I take her out for a few laps around the block. Of course, this is heavily dependant on the type of winter we are having.
That's it. I've been doing this for the last 5 years with absolutely no issues. Make sure you are using a reliable battery maintainer. I have found the Ctek to be the best (based on regular verifications during winter months including voltage readings).
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 1,217
From: Wisconsin
This is my winter storage process:
1) Change the oil and filter
2) Get a full tank of gas (94 octane)
3) Add Stabil fuel stabilized in tank and start car. Let it run for 15 minutes.
4) Add air to tires. 40-45 psi to avoid flat spotting. Probably not an issue put I like to be safe.
5) Plug in the Ctek 3300 battery maintainer. I do not disconnect battery from car.
Whenever possible during the winter months, I take her out for a few laps around the block. Of course, this is heavily dependant on the type of winter we are having.
That's it. I've been doing this for the last 5 years with absolutely no issues. Make sure you are using a reliable battery maintainer. I have found the Ctek to be the best (based on regular verifications during winter months including voltage readings).
1) Change the oil and filter
2) Get a full tank of gas (94 octane)
3) Add Stabil fuel stabilized in tank and start car. Let it run for 15 minutes.
4) Add air to tires. 40-45 psi to avoid flat spotting. Probably not an issue put I like to be safe.
5) Plug in the Ctek 3300 battery maintainer. I do not disconnect battery from car.
Whenever possible during the winter months, I take her out for a few laps around the block. Of course, this is heavily dependant on the type of winter we are having.
That's it. I've been doing this for the last 5 years with absolutely no issues. Make sure you are using a reliable battery maintainer. I have found the Ctek to be the best (based on regular verifications during winter months including voltage readings).
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, Alberta
This is my winter storage process:
1) Change the oil and filter
2) Get a full tank of gas (94 octane)
3) Add Stabil fuel stabilized in tank and start car. Let it run for 15 minutes.
4) Add air to tires. 40-45 psi to avoid flat spotting. Probably not an issue put I like to be safe.
5) Plug in the Ctek 3300 battery maintainer. I do not disconnect battery from car.
Whenever possible during the winter months, I take her out for a few laps around the block. Of course, this is heavily dependant on the type of winter we are having.
That's it. I've been doing this for the last 5 years with absolutely no issues. Make sure you are using a reliable battery maintainer. I have found the Ctek to be the best (based on regular verifications during winter months including voltage readings).
1) Change the oil and filter
2) Get a full tank of gas (94 octane)
3) Add Stabil fuel stabilized in tank and start car. Let it run for 15 minutes.
4) Add air to tires. 40-45 psi to avoid flat spotting. Probably not an issue put I like to be safe.
5) Plug in the Ctek 3300 battery maintainer. I do not disconnect battery from car.
Whenever possible during the winter months, I take her out for a few laps around the block. Of course, this is heavily dependant on the type of winter we are having.
That's it. I've been doing this for the last 5 years with absolutely no issues. Make sure you are using a reliable battery maintainer. I have found the Ctek to be the best (based on regular verifications during winter months including voltage readings).
I live in Calgary and been doing almost the same for 18 years (C4 and now C5), I only put in about 35 - 38 psi in the Tires If I remember to do it at all, and a battery tender. Never a problem to date.