430 Winter Storage - Coaching Needed 1st Year

Welcome to the community and congrats on the car! Do a quick search, this topic was just covered with some really helpful insight into the different things needed. Some quickies, full tank of gas as to prevent moisture in the tank and lines. Park the car in first and leave off the hand brake. Tires should be ok for a couple of months without issues, you could over inflate. Make sure to hook the battery up to a tender. Do a search, there is more.

Heated garage, nice!

Robert

 

probably obvious, but a good fresh coat of wax to protect the finish from regular on and off of the cover. Don't be surprised at how frequently you'll need to get a peek to get you through the winter

 

A product called "stable" for the fuel wouldn't hurt. Mine don't sit all winter so I really can't help beyond that. Next track day is the 12th of Jan. and it will probably be raining. Yes, they don’t melt or run paint.

 

It does depend on whether you intend to use the car at all over the period. Living in MA also, I store my cars in a garage but I concentrate on keeping them going rather than storing. ie I try to drive them at least once a month even in the winter period. I look for dry days, or my favorite a dry day following a rainy day to wash the road salt away.

I took the dino out yesterday for about 100 miles for instance. If you take this approach, then simply car cover, battery tender, keep it clean is all you need. If you intend no use at all for the winter, then by all means fuel stabilizer, inflate tires more etc, all that stuff, but to me that's just accepting we can't use the car at all for almost 4 months. You should try driving your spider on a clear blue 28F ("warm") day with the roof down and your ski-gear on - its incredibly invigorating!

 

agreed.... as long as there is no snow on the ground..... take the car out and drive it. I cant imagine putting my car "AWAY" for the entire winter. There are just too many nice days throughout the winter to do that.... This week here in NY its going to reach near 60 degrees!!!!

 

You guys are so lucky we over here in the Pacific N.W. are cold.. WET.. and on top of that I'm lazy and my car has never seen the rain! I get to drive on averge once a month in the winter! It kills me to look in my garage and see my trusty steed waiting for spring but the car is amazingly clean and spotless all the time! and on those days it's clear it's just like the first time all over again!!! You all know what I mean. Glad you get alot of those cold clear days.. ENJOY!

 

I don't have an Fcar, but they would be no different from any others.

When I store my cars for +/- 6 months up here in Ontario I do the following:

1) Change oil/filter prior to storage
2) Fill it up with gas
3) Put the recommended amount of Stabil (fuel stabilizer) in the tank
4) Take the car for a spirited drive to operating temperature (10 min or so) after #1/2. This gets the new oil worked in, burns off any moisture in it and works the Stabil through the fuel lines.
5) Park it with either the tires on carpet, or on those rubber "no-flat spot" things. Make sure they are at recommended air pressure.
6) If the car is parked in a non-climate controlled garage, cover the ground underneath it with old pieces of carpet/tile/cardboard etc. This prevents moisture from wicking up during temperature swings...especially important if the floor is bare concrete.
7) Fresh coat of wax (wash first if necessary)
8) Dress tires, clean rims, clean/condition leather interior
9) Crack your windows a hair. This allows the weather stripping to maintain its shape
10) Dress all rubber weather stripping with your favourite conditioner.
11) Put on a battery tender (not just a simple trickle charger, but an actual automotive tender that maintains float charge etc. Google "battery tender")
12) Put your car cover on

Leave the car until you start it for the first time in spring. Some may argue to periodically start the car throughout the winter, but the car (transmission, engine, exhaust etc) does not get to optimal temperature and you'll just end up with condensation throughout...and you all know what moisture contributes too.

That's what I do, I have zero problems

 

http://www.tirecradle.com/

 

Welcome F430-SCA....Great info on this thread. My simple procedure is using the OEM battery tender between drives, car cover and trying to drive every 10 days or so.

 

everyones got you covered- listen to the Ringmeister- he knows. The tire cradles work great. Also would add that you should leave it in gear w/o the parking brake engaged- so long as its on a mostly flat surface. Also this applies to metal brakes- Im not sure on the CCM brakes if long term parking brake application is a no no. Oh, I see Robert nailed that on the first post. Well done Robert!

 

the name of that product is "Stabil". i think there are other equivalent products as well.

 

What does disengaging the parking brake do?
Thanks

 

are tire flat spots from storage perminent? Or can you work them out when you drive again?

 

Flat spots are an urban legend. As long as your car still isn't sitting on old ply tires (i.e. pre 1990...which it shouldn't be anyhow) "new" tires will only temporary flat spot...which should work themselves out quickly. Might be a tad bumpy, however

As long as you keep the tires stored on a medium (carpet, tire cradle etc) and keep them properly inflated, you won't have a problem

 

While not so much a concern in a climate controlled facility, disengaging the parking brake will prevent it from seizing up....slim chances, but I've seen it happen.

I usually leave the parking brake disengaged and leave the car in gear.

 

My suggestion is simple.

Drive the freaking car at least once a week! About 20 miles doing some running around on the weekend should keep it in good order.

 

There is nothing wrong with that my friend

However, when you have half an inch of sand/salt on the road and you're looking at snow on and off for 5 months up here....storing the car looks realllllllly good right about now

Saves a bit on insurance as well.

 

I live in a place where there is no snow--sorry for the brain fart on that one. It was a knee-jerk post, sorry.

I just have this "need" to see people drive their cars, instead of putting them in a museum--but I AM all for keeping them in great shape.

How about this . . . bring the car south and come visit it once a month?

 

I would also put a comfortable chair approximately 10 feet in front of your car with a beer cooler next to it and a foot stool. Its not a bad view to while away some winter nights.

 

You don't need Stabil unless you don't intend to run it for more than 4 months.
You don't need a car cover indoors.
You don't need to over inflate the tires.
You don't need to leave it in first unless your garage floor slopes and the car will roll.
You don't need to leave the handbrake off in a heated indoor garage...it's not going to seize up.

All of the precautions above are for old cars. Except the battery tender. That you do need.

You have a modern car in a heated indoor garage. Park it, hook up the battery, and you are done.

 

All of the aforementioned plus put a couple of mouse traps down loaded with peanut butter. Place them alongside a wall and these will stop the bas*ards getting into the nice nooks and crannies within your car. I regularly trap 2-3 per week in the winter season.