I've never stored any car for the winter because I've never had the room. Now I moved all of my junk into the shed and i have to tear down shelving, but nothing is going to stop me from getting a home for my vette. I've read threads on all the steps people go through for winter storage. I'd just like a simple little write up of steps that i DEFINITELY should do to keep the car perfect. I'm not looking to go nuts and above and beyond, but just the necessities because i plan on taking it out here and there on really nice warm days, but for the most part stored.

I'm getting an indoor car cover. If i just disconnect the battery terminal is that fine, or should i buy a battery trickler or whatever they are?? Do I need to park the vehicle on planks of wood? Over inflate or deflate the tires to a certain PSI? Put any additive in the gas? Any tips like this that are simple and you think I should definitely do would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

PM sent

 

Some folks disconnect the battery for winter storage. Just be sure you know how to enter the car with no power. And you'll have to re-index the windows (very easy).

I keep my 09 C6 connected to a CTEK battery maintainer all winter. That way I'm sure it won't degrade and will be ready-to-go next Spring.

My "simple" procedure for winter storage:
sta-bil & fill gas tank & drive 10 miles;
zaino, detail, clean, change oil, tires to 40psi, CTEK, dryer sheets, indoor cover, paper towels in tailpipes.

Takes me about 8 hours.

 

My storage procedure pretty much mirrors that of Lightfoot. I assume his and my cars are placed in storage and left for the duration, be it 5-6months or whatever long Winter lasts in our respective parts of the country. Your situation where you would occasionally drive it on nice days may change things a bit as you'll be adjusting tire pressure, removing various storage materials, and needing to do a re-clean every time its' driven. Unless your climate is such that you can guarantee the opportunity to redo all the storage steps in comfort I guess I'd just leave it parked or not bother to store it at all and just hook up a battery tender of sorts and call it good.

 

i take it the paper towel in the tail pipe is to prevent rodents and vermin from crawling up the exhaust, but what are the dryer sheets for?

 

I think it keeps other critters out too.

 

'parently, varmints don't like the smell of the extra-stinky dryer sheets.

 

All we have to do is put the top back on. It does get chilly in the morning, but those heated seats are great.

 

A battery tender is needed and some Stabil for the gas. I fill the tank to half but if its a nice day in the winter I will drive it on the highway for a bout 40 miles. This kills off any condensation in the exhust. No way can I go a month with out driving it! Set some mouse traps up in your garage to see if you have them, and kill them before they make a home.

 

Drive it down to AZ and I'll even drive it around once in a while during the "AZ winter".

 

For winter, I drive it into the garage when I come home from work, and drive it out of the garage in the morning to go to work.

No hassle.....

 

pm sent

 

Thank you all very much for the posts and PM's. Very helpful. The paper towels and dryer sheets are very easy to do (plus i love the smell of dryer sheets) but if its covered and in your garage, are rodents really an issue?

So basically parking it on wooden ramps is unnecessary? Just some sea foam (which i dont know what that is) or sta-bil (which i dont know what that is. haha) in the gas tank and a battery tender is basically all you need? Would you guys recommend a battery tender or just disconnect the battery? And if a tender, whats the differences? Someone said I can pick one up from sears for 25 and ive seen up and over 100 dollars online for some. Thanks again and sorry for the multiple questions.

I probably will drive it from time to time, its just the roads here are horrible in the winter and the salt isnt helping. I figure if I have it stored away I wont be tempted to drive it when im getting salt kicked up all over it

 

Blackbeast21:
This will be my first winter for storing my ZR1 but I have stored my '07 XLR-V for 4 winters thus far and here's been my experience. Sweep and clean up your storage area so there is absolutely nothing edible to rodents. I had heard that Irish Spring was a good rodent repellent so I put a bar in the engine compartment, one in the cockpit and one in the trunk the first year I had the V. I also started the car about once a month. What I found was that the rodents were attracted to the Irish Spring in the engine compartment and actually ate it. Probably the warmth from running the engine drew them in and they munched on it. They didn't touch the bars in the trunk or cockpit. So, for the past two years, I've put nothing in the car anywhere, made sure there was nothing edible in the storage area, put a battery tender on the battery and not started the car all winter. Doing these things, I've not seen any evidence of rodents (hair, urine or droppings) anywhere in my car storage area. Anyway, that's my experience for the past three years.

 

Car Cover (indoor or outdoor depending on where you store it)
Battery Tender- a must IMO
Inflate tires to 40PSI (or whatever max PSI is on your tires)
Dryer Sheets
Stabil in fuel (if storing more than 3 or 4 months)

I put a plastic tarp on the ground to help keep moister from the concrete,, but some might think that is overboard. I also Never start the car once in a while like a few folks will tell you, this actually causes more harm than good for the engine. If you do take it out of storage or start it during winter, make sure you drive it long enough to let everything get up to operating temp, otherwise best to let it sit until you are ready to take it out for good.

That is what I have been doing for the last 10 years I have stored cars.