Unheated Winter Storage
10-04-2012, 10:46 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Unheated Winter Storage
Hey guys,
Wondering if there are any issues if I decide to put the Vette in an unheated pole barn with outside temps getting down to -40 for a few days in January/February up here; won't even hit 0 for several weeks in a normal year. Did a search but really don't see a clear answer in the other threads.
Put up the 24'x30' pole barn with a concrete floor, lights and outlets to store winter and summer toys like my ice fishing house, deer blind, snowmobiles, etc. The Corvette was going to occupy the heated attached garage but now thinking of moving it out to the barn. A bit concerned that kids might accidently bump/scratch the car as they go in and out of the garage, even with it covered.
It will be hooked up to my CTEK 3300 via the cigarette lighter adapter to keep the battery from draining. Plus doing all the other storage prep like increased tire pressure, park it on rubber mats, Bounce dryer sheets and steel wool in exhaust, Sta-bil in fuel, fresh oil change, and covered. Will have mouse traps and other critter controls in the barn as well.
Anyone living up in similar climate ever stored their Corvette for the winter like this? Other advice?
Wondering if there are any issues if I decide to put the Vette in an unheated pole barn with outside temps getting down to -40 for a few days in January/February up here; won't even hit 0 for several weeks in a normal year. Did a search but really don't see a clear answer in the other threads.
Put up the 24'x30' pole barn with a concrete floor, lights and outlets to store winter and summer toys like my ice fishing house, deer blind, snowmobiles, etc. The Corvette was going to occupy the heated attached garage but now thinking of moving it out to the barn. A bit concerned that kids might accidently bump/scratch the car as they go in and out of the garage, even with it covered.
It will be hooked up to my CTEK 3300 via the cigarette lighter adapter to keep the battery from draining. Plus doing all the other storage prep like increased tire pressure, park it on rubber mats, Bounce dryer sheets and steel wool in exhaust, Sta-bil in fuel, fresh oil change, and covered. Will have mouse traps and other critter controls in the barn as well.
Anyone living up in similar climate ever stored their Corvette for the winter like this? Other advice?
10-04-2012, 10:59 PM
#2
Sounds like it will be just fine. My garage is insulated but unheated and have no problems. If your not starting it up all the time, I doubt it matters to the car how cold it gets.
10-04-2012, 11:02 PM
#3
Race Director
JMO, but with temps that cold, or even around 0* for weeks, I would think you'd want to take the battery out of the car
and leave it on a tender in the heated area. Has to be better for battery life...
and leave it on a tender in the heated area. Has to be better for battery life...
10-04-2012, 11:22 PM
#4
Retired & lovin' it!
I would definitely pull the battery & store in a heated area with the tender on. Other thing you should ocnsider is jacking the car & set up on four floor jacks so that the tires don't flat spot over the Winter.
10-05-2012, 05:56 AM
#6
Race Director
Not a problem,my garage is not heated,I hook up the battery tender around thanksgiving and leave it on until spring. I don not take the battery out no need to as long as the tender is on.
10-05-2012, 06:52 AM
#7
Intermediate
Mine is in an unheated garage bay by itself. It has a car cover, battery tender, full tank of gas with stabilizer and plenty of mouse traps. I check on it very few days to make sure everything is working. I live in New England and our winters vary in temperature. Never a problem in the spring when I start the car. This has been my practice with all my Corvettes and other vehicles.
10-05-2012, 07:00 AM
#8
Race Car Tech
looks like your doing everything the right way. You should have absolutely no problems. 
10-05-2012, 08:31 AM
#9
Team Owner
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I roll mine up on thick carpet squares, just for extra peace of mind.
10-05-2012, 08:37 AM
#10
If any of you southern folks move to a cold climate, no need to bring your battery in at night during the winter........
My truck never sees the inside of any garage and I have never had a battery related problem because of the cold.
Last edited by R&L's C6; 10-05-2012 at 08:59 AM.
10-05-2012, 09:05 AM
#11
Team Owner
10-05-2012, 09:16 AM
#13
Melting Slicks
My Vette is in unheated storage all winter. I just unhook the battery, put a cover on it, and scatter some moth ***** around the floor. The place stinks pretty bad from the moth ***** the following spring, but I havent had any rodent problems yet.
10-05-2012, 09:17 AM
#14
Safety Car
No problem! My understanding is a fully charged battery will not freeze. I leave my boat outdoors with the batteries on board and the charger turned on about once a month. 15 years latter all is good.
10-05-2012, 09:37 AM
#15
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what you are doing is plenty good, maybe even overkill
I am in balmy southern MN, my unheated, uninsulated, but attached garage gets to the mid teens in January, I just let it sleep, still have original battery on 07 car, car starts in spring no problem.
the one thing that might get you is if you have changed tires, some summer tires should not be stored where the temps get that cold, out of round would be the least of your problem, but if you have OEM tires you are good
I see most of your neck of the prairie got a foot of snow yesterday, not a good day for a cruise unless it was in a different toy
I am in balmy southern MN, my unheated, uninsulated, but attached garage gets to the mid teens in January, I just let it sleep, still have original battery on 07 car, car starts in spring no problem.
the one thing that might get you is if you have changed tires, some summer tires should not be stored where the temps get that cold, out of round would be the least of your problem, but if you have OEM tires you are good
I see most of your neck of the prairie got a foot of snow yesterday, not a good day for a cruise unless it was in a different toy
Last edited by cadguymark; 10-05-2012 at 09:42 AM.
10-05-2012, 10:03 AM
#17
Melting Slicks
10-05-2012, 10:48 AM
#19
Racer
Thread Starter
what you are doing is plenty good, maybe even overkill
I am in balmy southern MN, my unheated, uninsulated, but attached garage gets to the mid teens in January, I just let it sleep, still have original battery on 07 car, car starts in spring no problem.
the one thing that might get you is if you have changed tires, some summer tires should not be stored where the temps get that cold, out of round would be the least of your problem, but if you have OEM tires you are good
I see most of your neck of the prairie got a foot of snow yesterday, not a good day for a cruise unless it was in a different toy
I am in balmy southern MN, my unheated, uninsulated, but attached garage gets to the mid teens in January, I just let it sleep, still have original battery on 07 car, car starts in spring no problem.
the one thing that might get you is if you have changed tires, some summer tires should not be stored where the temps get that cold, out of round would be the least of your problem, but if you have OEM tires you are good
I see most of your neck of the prairie got a foot of snow yesterday, not a good day for a cruise unless it was in a different toy
Still snowing this morning, expecting another 2"-4" during the day. Ground is still too warm to keep the snow very long for snowcats. Did see quite a few guys running around last night and this morning on their ATV's.
Appreciate all the advice folks on the right way to handle the Corvette in unheated storage. Just didn't want to screw this up since I'd waited 37 years to buy one.
10-05-2012, 11:19 AM
#20
Safety Car
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sorry, should have said mostly competition tires, most people that have these tires would already know, just people that buy a used vehicle with them already installed wouldn't know
for example: http://marktg.toyotires.com/file/TireStorage.pdf
at least you have the snowmobile to play with while the Vette is hibernating
for example: http://marktg.toyotires.com/file/TireStorage.pdf
at least you have the snowmobile to play with while the Vette is hibernating
Last edited by cadguymark; 10-05-2012 at 11:22 AM.