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chevyluvr

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
When you store your car for the winter is there any recommendations? Do you prefer heated storage or do you just pull it in your garage and that's that?

Do you start it and run it for a bit once a week during the winter?

Thanks,

Kel
 
#2 ·
chevyluvr said:
When you store your car for the winter is there any recommendations? Do you prefer heated storage or do you just pull it in your garage and that's that?

Do you start it and run it for a bit once a week during the winter?

Thanks,

Kel
Click to expand...
Ok, I'll bite.

What is "winter?"
 
#3 ·
I don't really do anything special and we have winter here! It goes into the garage, is cleaned, covered and that's it. I don't start it until spring. Probably should disconnect the battery-but I don't. Also, be sure that coolant has enough anti-freeze in it. So far, so good and I never have had any trouble-yet.

The only issue in an unheated space might be some moisture problems in the early spring if we get some extraordinary warm days in March or early April. I just run a fan and open the door for a while. Oh yes, be sure to do something to keep the mice away. Do a search and you will find all kinds of choices. I prefer traps w. peanut butter and checked regularly. Don't want them taking any kind of bait and crawling up some place and dieing. The smell is not too pleasant and they might try to take up into your car and then.......
 
#5 ·
I wash it before winter sets in and then it's covered all winter. I also fill the gas tank and add a fuel stabilizer such as Stab-bil. I've never had any other problems. Some guys remove the battery or put it on a trickle charger which is not a bad idea. That's about all and I've never had any problems. Oh, one more thing, make sure you check the air pressure over the winter and add air if necessary.
 
#6 ·
Not much too add... we get about 5 of this type question from Sept through November every year.. and some really interesting Responses... usually overkill type. :)


Just pull it in, car cover, antifreeze, gas in tank,Trickle charger on the Tar Top battery... oh and Shut off the Garage Lights!! Restart in May ;)
 
#7 ·
I dont know man, I still think it's a good idea to start and let run for a few minutes at least once a month, just to keep the upper cylinders lubed up. I also run 60 degrees in my wonderfully climate controlled garage. this of course comes from me whose car hasnt been in the garage for a year now (bodyshop for convt) and the coupe is in so many pieces it takes up 3 bays. Jason.
 
#8 ·
chevyluvr said:
When you store your car for the winter is there any recommendations? Do you prefer heated storage or do you just pull it in your garage and that's that?

Do you start it and run it for a bit once a week during the winter?

Thanks,

Kel
Click to expand...
Kel,

I'm from Cleveland and know the winter is a bit colder and longer for us guys up North by lake, but all I do is:

Add stabil to the gas tank (makes it easy to start in the spring), then fill it up and let it run a bit
Pull it in the garage
Disconnect the battery
Put on a car cover (put some traps around the garage if you have mice)
Wait for spring

Unless you have a heated garage I wouldn't start it during the winter, otherwise you'll get condensation in and on everything and have to deal with corrosion. And I just wait til spring to change the oil. You can lube the cylinders with a bit of oil if you are worried, but I've never done that yet. I've never put it up on jacks before, but might this winter.

Check this out for more recommendations from the Chevelles archives:

http://www.chevelles.com/archive/files/wnterize.html
 
#9 ·
I live in upstate my and wish i had a heated garage for the car ! i sprinkle moth balls and mouse traps on the floor of the garage ( my headliner says hi ,litlle bastards ) and put a moisture absorber in the car . drain any water out and use straight coolant because it gets down too thirty below here sometimes . i start it on nice days and make sure the garage stays sealed up and the car covered . i usually run a fuel stabalizer and the usuall prep for the rest . Good luck
 
#10 ·
I always parked on top of a plastic sheet or tarp as moisture can come up through the concrete.

For a reliable, self resetting mouse trap. Use a 5 gallon paint pail with a paint stick horizontally across the open with a nail though the side of the pail and into each end of the paint stick. Make the nails REALLY loose fitting so the paint stick will pivot and twirl on the nails. Load the center on the paint stick with your favorite paint, put 2-3 inches of brine water in the pail and position so mice can get to the paint stick. The fall off when going for the bait, and cure in the brine so no smell.
 
#13 ·
Being up in Canada, winter storage is nothing new. :)
I usually take the battery out of the car, and put it in the basement(no heat in the garage). I make sure the gas tank is full and add a fuel stabilizer. Change the oil and filter, run the car and spray engine storage spray down the carb till it stalls, makes for a good smokey start in the spring. :) Tarp it and wait 5 months. :( When I go to start it in the spring, I disconnect the ignition power, crank till I see oil pressure, hook up the power and it fires right up. Spark plugs are usually pretty clean (amazingly enough),thought the storage spray would foul them. Winter's coming, now I'm depressed. :(
 
#14 ·
Fill the tank, clean the car, cover the car, wait till spring. :(

If I start them, its usually more for me than the cars.
And if you start them, I think you should run them until operating temperature is reached.

Thanks for bumming me out.
I know winter is coming but was more or less successfully blocking it out of my mind.

When I retire, I'm moving south.
 
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#15 ·
ACE841 said:
I drive mine if I get a dry day anytime between Oct and May, other than an occasional charge it is all I have to do.....
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Same here. No special precautions, but I have a good garage that doesn't get moisture or get below freezing. Guess it depends on your particular situation.
 
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#16 ·
Shortly after Team Chevelle moved to this new UBB format (I believe in Aug. 1998) I posted a very similar question. A reference to the Winterize page was made by Al but some other members had good suggestions too. I've followed these suggestions ever since 1998.

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79035
 
#17 ·
Don't just start her up for a few minutes and leave her sit and just run the engine. Whereas your coolant temperature might get up to operating temps, the oil won't get hot enough to burn off any of the moisture and acids will form up, causing more damage (much more) then good since before you started it up. If you do start it up do some highway driving to get the oil hot enough to burn off the contaminants.
 
#18 ·
You can store it the way I did last fall. I drove in the garage. Removed the engine. Disassembled it. While I waited for parts and money, I removed the interior. Fixed some minor rust. Polished the wheels while waiting for engine parts money. While I was at it, I redid the engine bay. While I was at it...
And, now that it's Sept., the car is about a month away from bring it out of last year's storage.
Of course, I don't know if I'd recommend my way if you're actually wanting to drive your car when the weather gets better...
Danny
 
#19 ·
Here is a trick my buddies use in their fish houses. Put a couple Bounce dryer sheets inside the car, a couple in the engine bay, and what the heck throw a couple under the car too. My friends swear by this, and they store their fish houses all year until the lakes freeze. NO mice problems !!
 
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