Hey guys winter is getting closer and closer and it's my first winter with the srt. I have never winterized a car. Any of you guys have some good tips on what to do like do I put it on jack stands? Is there anything I put in the gas? I know nothing so any info would be very helpful.

 

move to FL an drive it all year

 

Haha I was in florida last year for school with the car. I didn't like it down there to much thats why I am back up in new york. Plus i have a little beater truck for the winter that i cant wait to drive.

 

Bring your car to my place in Johnson City and I'll take care of it for you. I promise.

 

I'm not planning to put mine on blocks, but I will likely start-up and move it a bit every month or so.

I recently changed the oil and filter, but in future years will likely change it just before storage.

And store with a full tank of gas. Opinions on using a fuel saver additive (like Sta-Bil)?

I'm planning to replace the fuel filter over the winter.

The battery concerns me most. I don't want to disconnect it, and I need my cheapo float-charger for elsewhere too. So starting to look at better ones, with pig-tail leads to attach permanently.

Already picked up a cheapo car cover (~$30) at WM. Car will be clean and very dry before storing.

And, of course, will check the antifreeze for low-temp capacity.

 

Beware of mice! Seriously.

 

If stored in a garage you might add some moth ***** around the tires or better yet get mouse pellets, they like insulation and padding. >>>>>>>>>>>>Not to be placed inside<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Best value I have found is the 2 amp battery float charger, NOT a battery charger. Available at walmart for about 18.88$ recently. I test each one I have bought for all 6 vehicles and riding things and the OPEN CIRCUIT voltage was always like 13.6 - 14.0 with limited energy so you wont bake the battery. Harbor freight has useful multimeters for checking these sort of things on sale for $2.99 and includes a durn backlight that my Flukes dont have.

Had a little skid loader that lost a battery every winter before, now its still perky after about 4 years of battery tender maintenence.

Woody

PS. I have done a fair amount of testing of the "battery desulphator units" SHOWN and have not been to detect any improvement or benefit over the Much Less costly tenders..

THe 440 shown has a pigtail that pops off without opening the trunk and it is an added benefit if you get going without remembering that your teather to the battery was NOT disconnected.



I designed and added an accumulator to the 10 Quart oil system to my Challenger so I always start with oil pressure before cranking the key over. Sitting causes drain-down and that is tough on a HIGH compression toy after the winter or a long quiet spell..WW

 

No problems with mice, only a six foot long snake once. He's wasn't a problem for long.

 

Thanks guys i really appreciate this. Now I just have to find a place to put it.

 

What's wrong with disconnecting and removing the battery?

It will probably save you in the long run.

 

"What's wrong with disconnecting and removing the battery?"

Lose all my programs, and the alarm system.

 

.....Feel free to put it in my garage in Sarasota if you'd like. No ice. No mice. No problem.

 

"No problem."

Just be sure to leave a set of keys with you?

 

Michigan winters are long and hard, and I've stored my roadster for 4 of them and the SRT6 for 1. Waldig gives good advice. You can also buy float chargers at Harbor Freight for about $6/each, but with shipping it's better to buy 2-3.

Give it a good washing. Put in the recommended amount of Sta-Bil and a bottle of gas line antifreeze, then fill it. Fill the tires up to recommended pressure +2 lbs. Buy a cheap cover from Walmart to keep the dust off it. Last winter I used a self-store place and could only get the cars started once and drove them around the lot once. This year it's back to my garage and I'll probably start them every 4-6 weeks. In the self-store I put sticky boards along the walls and two boxes of moth ***** on the floor - no problems with vermin. Moving the cars -- drive them around the block if the roads are dry/salt-free, reduces the flat spots.

 

Well the problem i have is that i am not going to be able to drive it any where. Our driveway is a dirt hill that is about a 1/4 mile long. So i thought about taking off the tires to clean everything and putting the car up on jack stands. Also i thought of an idea for the mice. I am going to get two small car covers from the parts store and sew them together and then put a zipper on one end to make a big sleeping bag for my car. I hope that will keep the mice from getting in.

 

I'm not a Winterizing Virgin, but I'd like to add one more thing to the list ....... I shove 2 tennis ***** into the exhaust pipes to prevent any mice from seeking refuge, along with the sticky traps and moth ***** around the car. Anything to add?

 

I put a couple of silica bags in the trunk and in the passenger's side to make sure no water vapor is allowed to accumulate. I change these every couple of months. I also soak two sponges with leather cleaner that has a leather odor to them. In addition, I put the car on plywood that is covered with carpet pieces. I use sta-bil and replace my oil and filter just before their long winters nap. Needless to say they get a total detail before storage. My garage is heated so I keep the temp at 50 degrees. On the roadster, I put a blanket on the top before the car cover. Since I only drive in good weather I put the top up for the winter storage. I also use the battery tender mentioned earlier. I also replace my brake fluid. Most important take them for a long drive before storage.

P.S. I take the antenna off the roadster.

 

Mice will eat through your car covers. I have living proof. Make sure you follow IBLUBYU advise about the tennis *****, they can cause some real problems.

 

Ultrasonic pest repeller. Assuming you have 115VAC where you are storing it.

Amazon.com: Bell + Howell Electromagnetic Ultrasonic Pest Repeller: Health & Personal Care

Bird-X Transonic Pro Ultrasonic All Pest Repeller - TXPROX at The Home Depot

These things actually work. Not like the "Ultrasonic Whistles" for deer you stick to your front bumpers!

 

I've had one winter with my coupe and my $.02 is that you need the float charger for sure, not just to save the battery but to avoid those annoying alarm problems. I put fuel stabilizer in but got a light on the dash the next time I ran it, don't know what that was about. Anyway, that part of it seemed to clear up after a little bit. I didn't do anything else and have not noticed any problems, as yet.