It was a sad day yesterday, Do to the fact Chicago WInters are not nice on the fbodys, I had to put my WS6 in my garage for the winter. DOes anyone have any hints of what to do while its in there? Some one told me to start it at least once a week or so. Anything else I should do or know?
It was a sad sad day yesterday

 

i would start it up atleast once a week.

other than that i have no clue, since ive been old enough to drive ive never lived in the snow.

 

.....just do a search on this site, you'll find alot of info that way. This is a topic that comes up often. As for starting the car once a week, it is not recommened by alot of these guys. Just change the oil before you put it away, give it a good lube, silicone your door, truck, t-tops seals, so on and so forth.

...like I said. there is so much you can do, just do a little research.


Good luck

 

Put each wheel on a piece of plywood. Any moisture opn the ground will get sucked into that instead of your tires and rotting them.

 

why is that?

 

The idea is that by just running the engine and not actually driving the car you are introducing moisture to the crankcase which may cause internal rusting.

 

Being from the cold north, I have had to store my SS each winter.

Here's my checklist

- change oil and filter just before storage.

- do not start the car during storage if it is only being stored for 4 - 6 months. This actually creates condensation within the engine and exhaust systems and accelerates corrosion.

- fill tank and add a high quality fuel stabilizer like Stabil to prevent the gas from "gumming".

- wash, clay if you can (don't let particles rest in the paint for 4 - 6 months) and wax or polish paint – I use Zaino

- condition all of the weather-stripping with silicone conditioner - GM sells this as well as most autoparts stores.

- lubricate all hinges.

- wipe down all engine bay hoses with either the silicone conditioner or Armorall to prevent drying or cracking.

- vacuum the interior.

- treat leather seats with a good leather conditioner.

- treat dash and other areas with Zaino, Back to Black, etc.

- wash interior windows.

- remove antenna (if you are covering).

- treat tires with a non-petroleum based conditioner.

- just before storage inflate tires to maximum recommended rating. The "flat spots" came out of my F1's in about 15 miles in the spring. Most car manufacturers do not recommend taking the weight off the suspension during storage

- disconnect the battery (and remove if storing outside or garage is not heated)

- check your antifreeze strength and drain windshield reservoir if filled with summer fluid (if storing outside or garage is not heated)

- place a deodorizer in car to prevent stale smells – tool supply stores sell vinyl mesh bags with volcanic ash that absorbs and Home Depot has a powder in a container.

- cover the car.

- if storing outside, plug exhaust pipes and other entry points for rodents to prevent them from wintering in your car.

I've accumulated this list over the years and it makes getting the car out of storage and back onto the road a breeze in the spring.

Harry

 

One thing that I've found that works really well is Silica Gel. If you put this inside the car it keeps the interior nice and dry and keeps it smelling fresh. It's not very expensive either. I got mine from Cabelas. They sell if for use in gun safes to keep guns from rusting. The best part is that they are reusable year after year. When the get laden with moisture you can just stick it in the oven to dry it out and then continue using it. I use 3 small ones. I put one on my dash, one on the back seat, and one in the hatch. The car stays really dry and it seems to keep the leather smelling fresh too.

 

good info.. ill be storing my car outside for the first time this winter...

Though id love to start the car and watch mice fly out the exhaust!

 

harry'sCanSS,
Some great tips there, a few I hadn't thought of yet. Question though, do you park the car over-top of anything to keep moisture from getting the the under carriage? I've never stored a car for winter, will do so for the first time around December 15th, and I had heard to park your car on top of old carpeting, or cardboard that will absorb moisture. Do you do anything like that?

 

I store mine in an underground garage that is heated and has a cement floor. The garage has about 400 cars in the winter (everything from mint 57 Chevys to Lamborghinis) and I haven't seen anyone put anything underneath.

I think the key is to not store your car anywhere that is too humid. Even if you put cardboard or carpet underneath, if the moisture content of the air is really high the cardboard won't help once it gets saturated.

If where you store the car is not heated and the temperature goes below freezing in the winter, you don't have to worry about the moisture either -- its solid!

Harry

 

..good point Thunder, although I heard carpet and cardboard will hold the moisture, but that moisture will have an effect on your undercarrage. It will start to rust, I heard of some guys using plastic instead. Just a hint.......

 

One of the worst things you can do for your car is not drive it at all during winter. Living in the Chicago area myself I know the conditions here are terrible, but the snow does melt from time to time. If you can take it out. Not driving a car for long periods of time is not good. Drive it everyone once in the while when the weather eases up.

 

94B&RZ28,

I noticed you're at Beale AFB, I'm stationed there as well, where do you work?

 

I would NOT start it once every week. Having the engine sit for a few months is much less hard on it than just starting it up and not warming it up poperly.

Change the oil before you put it away, top off the tank, check the air pressure in the tires and drive it for a longer distance so the engine gets properly warmed up and then drive it right into the garage.

The worst thing you can do to an engine is start it and not warm it up properly and then let it sit for a while.

And think of the time in spring when the garage door opens and the car is in there waiting for the first miles

Chris