I've read through a number of the storage tips on the storage but still looking for some general advice. Any help would be appreciated.

I live in Canada and hate to think that winter's soon approaching. As we don't have a garage I've rented a storage unit starting Nov 1 for 5 months unheated but sealed from the elements with a cement pad and garage doors.

Looking for recommendations on what prep work I should start thinking about. Wondering what others are doing?

• Fuel stabilizer? Needed or not?
• Do I need to remove the battery before storage? I've read up a little on trickle chargers but not sure if there is a plug in the unit
• Tires what's a cost effective way to avoid flat spots? I read up on tire stoppers but at $190 I'd rather save that for gas in the spring. What about pink pather foam styrofoam insulation instead? Other?
• Car covers? What should I look for. Was at the store today and there seems to be lots with different price ranges. What should I look for.
• Best way to keep moisture out?
• Should I start the car during the winter or just leave it turned off?

I know question after question but I'm new to storing. Thanks for the advice.

 

I would wax it, put a heavy coat of Lexol on leather, 303 or similar product on rubber seals and add Stabil.

However, I wouldn't let it sit all winter - Even up in the great White North, you guys get some dry, semi-warm days (+30F) every month. Drive it for a half hour or so on these days, even if it's only once a month, and you don't have to worry about the other storage tactics. Plus, you'll be able to bond with your X-Fire during the winter.

Driving the car occasionally and circulating all the fluids is the best way to go. No battery, tire, gas or other issues to worry about.

 

You may want to think about plugging up your exhaust, and your air cleaner intakes to prevent rodent intrusion. Spread some moth ***** around the ouside of the car. Set a half a dozen or so mouse traps. Make sure there is no bird seed containers, or other pet food containers anywhere near the car that a rodent could get in to. They like to take their food back to their hiding place (which is probably someplace in your car) and store it. Take my word, I've had some experience in this area.
You may want to put a few pie pans full of charcoal in the footwells, trunk, or under the hatch, this will help absorb moisture.
I've been storing cars for the last 40 years, and I've never noticed flat spots on the tires on any of my cars. But if you're still concerned, some people jack their cars up just a little to take some of the weight off of the tires, but not enough to to make the springs "stretch".

 

Wow, Just to read your post is depressing. I am lucky to live where I currently do. In Pa. where I am from, I would be looking at a couple months like you are.

I have to agree with harbor and drive it once per month if you can. I am told the worse thing you can do to a car is to have it sit and not run it and bring it up to full temp. once in a while. I say this while I used to do what AMX mentioned all my life with cars and motorcycles... but the best choice is to run it. Don't just leave it idle, it needs driven if you choose this option. Internally, the car, motor both draw and accumulate moisture based on temperature fluctuations. Not good.

Either way, I would put a couple coats of wax on it, lube all rubber componants, use either a heavy dose of Marvel Mystery Oil in your gas and keep your tires pumped to the max accpetable pressure. As far as the additive in the gas, make sure you have a full tank upon storage or moisture could form on the walls of the gas tank inside then transfer to the gas. Make sure you drove it a few miles whith the Marvel in it so it will bethrough the entire fuel system upon storage.

If you can't drive it once per month, I would use a fuel stabilizer rather than the Marvel. I would also remove the battery and do not store it on concrete over the winter. Keep it charged up. The biggest issue is the dry start that will ocur in the spring when you first start it after 5 months. Not good. To help somewhat, you could have someone spray WD-40 way down into the throttle body as you crank it over for the first time. This will help with upper cylinder wear for the first few seconds. Make sure the red tube does not fall in.

This may not cover all but this is a start for what I would do.

Steve

 

• Fuel stabilizer: Yes. I use Stabil.
• Battery: No need to remove it. I use a Battery Tender Plus to keep it charged. Works like a charm.
• Tires: I use Race Ramps Flatstoppers. They work well but don't qualify as "cost effective."
• Car Cover: I use a Form Fit car cover. I then zip the whole car in a Car Jacket.
• Moisture: The car jacket came with some of those little bags of moisture absorbing crystals.
• Starting in winter: I did this once and then read a Click and Clack column that said this actually introduces moisture into the exhaust system. After that, I just let it sit. It started fine in the spring.

Hope that helps.

 

I think the guys here said what I was going to say. Here in So. Cal we don't have to worry about winter, but when I put my boat away for our so called winters, I top off the gas tanks and and a fuel stabilizer, squirt oil down the spark plug holes and crank the motor over a couple times, put a battery tender on, and jack up the trailer to take the weight off the trailer tires, and for my camping trailer, I crank the stabilizer jacks down to take weight off the tires as well.

 

I park at home for the winter in an unheated garage, for the first few months I used cotton sheets as dust covers to cover my Crossfire, then the kids bought me a California custom car cover for christmas, calcarcover.com. I used a sandwich of styreen/ply and carpet for insulating the tire's from the cement, it worked! no flat spots.I may upgrade to the fancy things this year(250 U$). (Kids are you reading this?). Inflate tires to correct pressure. Change oil and filters. Add fuel stabilizer. Wash and wax, including the undercarrage. Drain, refill windshield washer and flush system with -40 fluid. Check radiator fluid rating, and ensure its good to -40c. Disconnect the battery as it keeps the ECU running, and time/ mileage govern the service cycle. Buy a comfortable chair and keep it in the storage unit so you can spend your spare hours during the winter staring at your one true love, a catilitic heater also comes in handy on realy cold days