Winter storage?

[pHEnomIC]

Im storing a total of 6 months. Full gas tank, Stabil added, I charge the battery with a charger when I go home. Fluids are all good, I plan to change the oil when i drive it again. I ordered a car cover but it still hasnt come yet.

Another trick is do an awesome detail job on the inside and buy some Damprid from Home depot. It is a moisture absorber. The small kind is cheap and fits inside your cup holder. I put that and one air freshener half open. I sat in my car for a bit when I went home. It smelled soo nice and fresh inside like it was new. It picks up quite a bit of moisture. If you get it though, dont spill it all over the place like i did. I cleaned my interior perfect then i spilled the pebbles all over the place and it took me another 1/2 hour to clean.

BTW, Does it matter if I start it up and let it warm up a little bit without driving it? I am worried that moisture will build up and it wont get hot enough to burn it off without driving.

[zspot98]

not to mention traction issues when you putting down the power

Forgot to mention that too. Pushing 450 driving in the snow, yea that would suck.

[SS4Matt]

this will be the first time since i've had my car that i won't be driving it in the winter, i plan on putting down a tarp, then some indoor/outdoor carpet and park it ontop of that so the cement doesn't absorb the moisture out of the tires making them useless hockey puck tires.....with my parents trans-am we generally just start it and let it run for 1/2 hour or so every week or whenever there's a half way decent day pull it outside and let it run...

somewhere down the road this winter my car may turn into a hoist queen

[SS4Matt]

Forgot to mention that too. Pushing 450 driving in the snow, yea that would suck.

naa i made it through 2 winters with BFG G-Force kDWS (the "high performance" all season tires) and my at the time 390 and a 6 speed car...never once did i get stuck!

[JoeliusZ28]

park it on a tarp, cover over it, stabil, battery out. I change my oil in the spring so its fresh then. I start it as little as possible... usually only once or twice a winter if that. Ive let it go all winter before and it started right up no problem... ran a bit rough for about 10 seconds but was fine.

[MattODoom]

Ive heard varying opinions as to putting it on jackstands or not.

Some say the suspension is meant to be loaded, and the cars weight is not meant to be supported on the subframe, some say it doesnt hurt it.

[WMCC Dino]

I park mine on carpet,cover it,disconnect the battery. I didn't start mine once last winter and the winter before that the tranny was out of it.

[Orange Terror]

This will be my 4th year storing my car. I put Sta-bil in, seems to have worked great, no problems. I haven't used a tarp or anything under the car in the past but I plan to this winter. I have a cover on it. I put a trickle charger on it. I start it every 3-4 weeks, and I always wait for a mildly warm day to do it, if not, I wait untill there is one. When I do, always start it and let it run untill it gets up to full temp and is there for 5 minutes. I always kick on the AC for a minute or two to keep the system lubricated. It is recommended you do this even with your DD in the winter.

I've never used jack stands, I'm not sure how taking the weight off the suspension could hurt it and I've never found a reason for it. I usually will roll the car a couple inches once in awhile too when its running. Check the tires visually frequently and keep them well inflated.

[81DaytonaPaceCar]

Ive heard varying opinions as to putting it on jackstands or not.

Some say the suspension is meant to be loaded, and the cars weight is not meant to be supported on the subframe, some say it doesnt hurt it.

Never EVER leave the suspension unsprung. Over time, your springs will develop a new memory, and you'll be riding 6 inches higher than what you used to (yes, it will take quite a bit of time for this to happen...but just not a good practice).

Jackstands are fine (especially for bias ply tires) as long as they are supporting the suspension points and compressing the suspension.

When you do your monthly starting and warming exercise, and assuming everyone has radial tires, and you DON'T use jack stands, just move her forward and back a few feet. Idealy, if you can leave it forward/rearward of where it was by a foot or so, it's a good idea.

If not, no big deal with radial tires. They don't have as much of a "memory" for flat spots that bias plies do. In the spring, the flat spots will have worked themselves out in the first mile or so.

[ezysk]

I had a car sit for 3 years, never started it, nothing special added to it, started fine the first try when I finally got around to her.
Been driving it daily for over a year not without an issue.
Never put anything in my lawn mowers either..
But then again, I only live in Michigan not Alaska....

[superman4evr]

i plan on putting down a tarp, then some indoor/outdoor carpet and park it ontop of that so the cement doesn't absorb the moisture out of the tires making them useless hockey puck tires.....

Damn good idea with the carpet.
Thanks!!

[TSTONE]

I don't generally use stabil (It use to gum up my racing bike carbs something aweful), i do recommend starting your vehicle every 4-6wks to get the juices flowing. Such as - if you have a high mileage or older auto trans - i recommend shifting from gear to gear P-L and back pausing on each gear a few times as I have seen valves and balls get stuck.

[TSTONE]

as for the carpet idea - i forgot to mention that i use large cardboard boxes to cover my entire garage floor. I work at a dealership with a body shop so we get really big ones. Most are coated which is nice cause if you spring a leak its easier to pinpoint, also when it gets dirty it's easier to bundle up and throw away.

[bootleg <5.7 LS1>]

I dont start my car either....the heat produces mouisture,and it isnt warm enough to evaporate,so it sits,which prohibits rust.....I dont leave the suspension unsprung either.....just cant be good having all that weight just hanging there....."nowadays" tires are better,flat spots arent an issue like they used to be.

And a few months wont dry the seals and what not,it just isnt long enough of a time.

[ActionJack]

How can you guys/gals do it???

I have had a second car for three of my four years with my car and I have driving my car every winter even if not on all the snow days. I just could not handle not driving it. This year I am going to try some Dunlop M3s and see how they do in 4 to 6 inches of snow...

FWIW - do not bother with jacking up the car. If you have to winterize outside use a cover and inside no cover necessary.

And besides saving on insurance why not take the car out for a spin on the warm dry days in winter when the roads are clean from salt?