I'd appreciate any ideas or feedback that members can give me regarding the storage of the Crossfire.

I've put it away today after taking the last drive of the year. Everything ran well and I have no mechanical or bodywork issues to contend with. I filled the tank with Premium Shell and put in what I think is an appropriate amount of Fuel Stabilizer (200 ml). The oil/filter was changed. New tires properly inflated. Brake pads and rotors turned (40,000 mi on it now). It's been cleaned, waxed, vacuumed, engine bay detailed, rubber and all seals have been 303'ed and the roof has been treated with 3030 Fabric Guard (it dried in the heated garage for 48 hours). I put the roof down and the car cover was put on it. The insurance has been reduced appropriately for the next 3 or 4 months.

My questions for the group are:
Store it with the roof UP or Down?
Disconnect the battery?
How often should I start it and let it run?
Should I be going to the trouble of putting it on blocks, removing the wheels and wrapping the brakes?
Is there anything that I have overlooked or should consider regarding storage?

I'd really appreciate your insights into the best way to perform the storage prep issues.

Thanks in advance for you help!
John

 

I've read some of the winter storage tips and it seems that I should invest in a "Float Charger". I don't know what that is compared to a regular charger or a Battery Tender. Can someone enlighten me? Also, with the Float Charger or Battery Tender, what is the recommendation regarding disconnecting the battery cables? Can I just connect it directly to the battery as it currently sits without disconnecting anything? Is there potential for the electronics or the alternator/regulator to be damaged with the charger running all the time? What about using a car cover with the battery charger? Is there potential for a fire hazard? Many questions but I'm just not too sure ...

I never really considered the mouse probability but I guess I better prepare for that ...

Too, I read of one person who seemed to store the car with the roof up. Is this the preffered method? Does it make a difference?

RIP Leslie Neilson

Best,
John

 

schumacher float charger from walmart 21$. keep everything hooked up and connect. it will charge then shut off when full charge is detected. as static drain is detected the float recharges the battery.
stabil is 1 oz for every 5 gallons gas. jack the car up on jackstands and plug the muffler with a rag. put a couple small dessicant bags in the interior.
the charger can be used with a cover as the cord comes out the front just dont slam the hood closed. the charger itself sits on my bench

 

Add some extra air to the tires to limit flat spots
Put some stabile or other suitable gas treatment
Leave the top up.
Run it at least every couple of weeks twenty minutes @ least, you need to get the exhaust hot enough to dry any condensation.
It does not hurt to put it in neutral instead of park while running it, this will circulate the trans fluid.

 

Thanks for the words of wisdom. Top is up - Exhaust is "plugged" (sticky note on the ignition lock to remind me) - 34 lb. air in the tires. I looked at what I think is the proper charger at WalMart's Canadian Website 1.5 Amp Battery Maintainer - Walmart Canada - Save Money Live Better and I'll check for it tomorrow. I think that this year I will not put it up on the jack stands just in case I have to move it out of the way in the garage for some yet unknown reason. I'm still looking around for some of those desiccant bags.

Thanks for the notion of putting the transmission into neutral (compared to being in park) when idling it every 4 or 6 weeks. That is really valuable to know. Great information. That is what makes you guys on this forum such a treat!

Best,
John

 

Strongly suggest storing with top up .... Folds and creases can really seem like they're permanent and noticeable. Also ... the seal to the back window is held together tightly. Keep the windows closed also .....

The "float charger" style battery tender should be hooked up to the battery with the cables connected. It will keep all your systems at ready, and keep the battery topped up without cooking it, as regular chargers will. If you only plan to have it in storage for about 4 months (as you stated), I wouldn't worry about starting it up at all, unless it is stored outside exposed to severe cold and such. In a garage, don't bother for just 4 months. Should be fine.
Tires ... maybe up to 40 lbs, to help with "flat" spots.

I use tennis ***** in the muffler tips to prevent mice from going in, and put about 6 bounce fabric softener sheets in the car on the rugs. Some have said this prevents mice inside also, but it makes the car smell nice when opening it in spring. I really don't think dessicant packs in a roadster are needed, because the top and cover should breathe out any "moisture" build up inside.
Just my $.02

 

Thanks for all the great suggestions.
I have had my roadster for only three weeks and unfortunately, it's now time to put her to bed for the winter.

 

I was able to pick up one of those float chargers at WalMart today... $29 in Canada (what's new?)

I won't hook it up until Christmas day, if you know what I mean! Too, I will add more air to the tires ... 40 lbs is what I'll put in. Now I have to get myself a decent pressure guage - one with a nice big analog guage. Anyone have manufacturer preferences on these?

John

 

That looks like a good battery 'Float' charger. It did not give any specs so I found some on another site. This looks good to me and I might buy one.
Amazon.com: Schumacher SEM-1562A 1.5 Amp Speed Charge Maintainer: Automotive
I would put around 40 psi in the tires, what you have is only just above the factory specs. I move the car back and forth during the winter to limit the flat spots as well.
My Garage only just gets below freezing on the coldest days. So it does not see extreme temperature drops.

 

180, I think Amazon .com is the U.S version!, reality is Amazon.ca

 

I just went there to get the specs of the unit, his site was Walmart.ca and it had no specs.
It is the same unit, that's is all I was interested in.

 

OK, I will pick one up from Wally world tomorrrow
As for winter storage I picked up some jack stands and am now 1 inch off the floor (the Crossfire), the past couple of year's I put her on 3/4 ply with 2 layers of carpet underlay no flat spots on the tires ,but summer storage of 4 jack stands will be a lot easier

 

I don't know how you guys do it... going for so long without driving your XF.

I"m glad I was never a "car guy" when I lived in Michigan.

 

Sorry, I should have stated earlier that the WalMart Canada unit is the Schumacher 1562A. On the shelf (in the Markham store on Hwy 7) there was also an older model of the same charger but this one had the manually switchable 6V/12V capability.

I opted for the automatic version, though I probably could have saved a buck or two if I'd taken the older one. Too, I read that someone had bought the automatically switching one only to have it fail right out of the box. The switchable one seemed to be the reliable one to that guy. That being said, I suppose I should check mine to make sure it works (before it gets wrapped for under the tree ).

 

Someones going to get a charge out of it when they get this for a present.

 

Hi! you should never have jump started me on this discussion! The charger as a gift - has its positives and negatives. I'd float the idea to my wife to see if she'll connect with it but she'll likely just clamp down on this and say it was a terminal idea to have gotten wired up about this post. If things were to really amp up there'd be a battery of comments I'm sure. She might eve refuse. Generally, my wife is pretty well groundedbut I doubt that she would be excited by the flow of this posting. Whatever sparked this topic anyway?

Sorry, Canadian sense of humour!!

Best,
John

 

Sorry? You'll fit in just fine. I hope to see you at a GTG soon. We have one on the 11th of December, see the Canada section.

 

Woke up this morning to snow on the ground, so I just put storage insurance on my car today.
Pizzaguy, I've been storing my "Summer" cars for the last 41 years and it never gets any easier. But it does make you appreciate your car just that much more come spring time.
Good advice on pluggin up the exhaust. Mother nature's little critters only cost me about $800 and two months of my car being in the shop, just because they turned my Crossfire's muffler into a dogfood storage facility.

 

I forgot to mention 1 more thing that I've always done in storing cars over the years.
I put small blocks under the arms of the windshield wipers, so they don't rest on the windshield.

IS IT SPRING YET ..........