winters comming, how do i store it?

[duzer182]

so i moved to iowa, and the winters are supposedly brutal. i have the car stored in my grandparents barn, its not heated, and i wont be driving it all winter, any advice on how to store it so when spring comes i dont have to worry about something messed up.

 

[TSITurbo95]

Just start it up about once a week, and put a car cover over it.

 

[cookmeup272]

www.TechGuys.ca | How to: Store a car for winter

 

[MJBean420]

Buy a battery tender and keep it connected to the battery. They are like 30 bucks. Keeps the battery fully charged. Otherwise you risk damaging the battery.

I usually keep about a half tank of gas and put some Stabil in it and run it through the motor. I start it up about every other week and let it run for about 10 to 15 minutes. As soon as the weather starts to break (when we get that one nice day in February) I take it to the gas station and put a little fresh gas in it.

 

[quickspool4g63]

I have always put a battery tender on my dsm and put dry gas in the tank. Start the car at least once a week. II am lucky enough to have a climate controlled garage so i just park it in the garage all winter.

 

[95eclipser]

put the wheels on wood, so tires don't lose air and develop flat spots, battery tender, fuel stabilizer, make sure to start it up a couple times a month.

 

[T is for TURBO]

put the wheels on wood, so tires don't lose air and develop flat spots, battery tender, fuel stabilizer, make sure to start it up a couple times a month.

I stored mine for three years and never had flat spots

But I would put it on jack stands. When winter comes, so do varmints, specifically mice. And if they want to get into your car, the will. So eliminate any food source, and keep the car off the ground. And if you cover it, make sure the cover is allowed to hang above the ground a good 6 inches, other wise the mice will climb up it.

Trust me, I had to rip my entire car apart this summer. I found one dead mouse and a nest in the glove box. I found a nest under the rear seat. I found a HUGE nest under the dash. I found birdseed EVERY WHERE! It was the biggest pain in my ass. I had to tear out everything minus the headliner to get ride of the smell of dead mouse and mouse piss/shit.

Taking out and reinstalling the HVAC system is not fun. Not hard, just time consuming and requires to you contort into un-human like shapes to get at bolts

Also, make sure you are running coolant rather than just water. I know of too many people who forget that water freezes and breaks blocks and radiators.

You may also want to put a lower weight oil in the car in case you need to start it up when its really really cold. When I had 10-30 in my car with the b.s. removed, I would have well over a 120psi on a cold startup.

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

Put it up on jackstands. (Reason for this is because the tires sitting on the frozen ground for long periods of time can cause them to crack. Also helps prevent the rodents from getting in)

Store it with the fuel tank FULL! If you don't, water condenses on the inside of your gas tank and causes it to rust. I use seafoam not stabil. Stabil works by being lighter than gasoline, causing it to float to the top and in essence sealing off the gasoline from air exchange which is what causes it to grow stale. Seafoam blends with the gas and stays anywhere the gas does such as carb jets. Stabil or other similar fuel stablizers don't keep injectors from clogging because Stabil does not blend with fuel. Seafoam provided added benefits including cleaning, stabilization, and lubrication.

Starting it every week is a bit of overkill if you ask me. I start my car once a month while it is stored.

 

[EglTalon_ESi]

I live in canada and i've had my car parked for 3 years in a non heated garage. not once did i go out and start her up. I took her out this year just replaced the battery gave her a oil change and primed the fuel pump and she started the first crank. Idle a bit rough for about 20-30 secs but cleared up after that.

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

I live in canada and i've had my car parked for 3 years in a non heated garage. not once did i go out and start her up. I took her out this year just replaced the battery gave her a oil change and primed the fuel pump and she started the first crank. Idle a bit rough for about 20-30 secs but cleared up after that.

Not everybody is that lucky though. It could startright up after a winter,or it could be a total PITA to get started after a winter, which is why I do all that I mentioned above before every winter season. It can end up saving you a lot of time and money that fallowing spring.

 

[WolfsFang]

pfffs why store it XD, best part is snow drifting!!!!! plus having all the fun of digging it out of the snow!!!
pic was taken after like a hour of digging

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[EglTalon_ESi]

yeah i guess its a good idea to be on the safe side.
every car can react differently.

at least you left your wiper blades up. sucks when they get frozen on the wind shield.

 

[T is for TURBO]

pfffs why store it XD, best part is snow drifting!!!!! plus having all the fun of digging it out of the snow!!!
pic was taken after like a hour of digging

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

Fwd dsm + winter = fail

After a couple of inches, they just become snow plows. Then the boost comes on..

Getting Fwd to hook on dry pavement is hard enough

 

[rEclipserGST]

Good tires + alingment + driving skill = win in winter

I have had minimal issues in the winter. Most trouble I've experienced was because I had 18" wheels on summer tires

But why are you trying to boost in winter conditions anyway? That right there is a Fail.

& any lowered car becomes a snow plow, awd or not.

 

[duzer182]

alright cool thanks for the advice, the garage is on a farm, so mice are not only abundant, but HUGE, so it will be on stands, covered, and mice traps in the garage.

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

alright cool thanks for the advice, the garage is on a farm, so mice are not only abundant, but HUGE, so it will be on stands, covered, and mice traps in the garage.

Good call.


ANY DSM + winter = fail BTW. They're too low and rust too easily. Buy a pickup or SUV for winter.

 

[T is for TURBO]

Good tires + alingment + driving skill = win in winter

I have had minimal issues in the winter. Most trouble I've experienced was because I had 18" wheels on summer tires

But why are you trying to boost in winter conditions anyway? That right there is a Fail.

& any lowered car becomes a snow plow, awd or not.

When cars start to plow snow, a load is applied to the engine. Loaded, tuboed engines like to go into boost. Even more so when the turbo is small. Add that with a steep grade, or an unplowed onramp, creeping into boost is almost unavoidable.

I'm not saying it's impossible, as I did it for 3 years, its just a pain in the ass.

I've diven many cars in the winter, and my DSM was the worst. Even my 92 Geo Storm was better in the snow, granted that thing had skinny tires and didn't have enough power to get out of its own way...