Will shortly be storing my 575M. Based on actual successful experience, or "expert" advice, what is the best way to store the car? I have stored all my non-Ferrari cars by jacking up the rears, putting it on wooden blocks so the tires are off the ground but the car is suspended by its own suspension. I then occasionally (every 3-4 weeks), start the car, let it warm up to full operating temperature and then engage the gears and let the wheels spin a bit so as to oil all the gears and seals. I have also heard that the new trickle chargers are a good way to keep the batteries topped up in these "computerized" cars that otherwise discharge the batteries in a few weeks of not being run. However, I am a bit worried about hooking one of those up, under a car cover - fumes etc. What is the best way to keep critters from setting up house inside the car? Any advice?
It is actually best for the car if you don't "store" it. Not driving it over an entire winter is worse for a car than driving it on those overcast, cold days...or even when it's raining. (I know, it's a chore to clean it afterwards!) That being said: - Using a simple "float charger" will keep the battery fully charged, but not overcharged. Do not use a conventional trickle charger. A float charger doesn't have enough juice to charge a depleted battery, but it will keep the battery consistent. The float charger should be fine with the electronics. - You're fine putting the car on jackstands, but you can also leave the car on the ground and periodically roll the car a few inches to keep the tires from flatspotting. - Instead of running the cars in the garage, it is better not to start the car. It seems counter-intuitive, but starting the car and letting it idle isn't good for it. The general rule is that a car needs to run for a minimum of 20 minutes at normal driving speeds across a normal rev range for all components to fully warm. Just idling the car, even if you engage the gears will not fully warm all moving parts, so it actually does damage (minor.) Modern cars obviously won't foul plugs like old classics, but that's also a consideration for your other cars. - The most important thing for storage is a single word: CLEAN. You want clean oil, filter, coolant, fuel (fill the tank and run it with Sta-bil per the directions to keep fuel from breaking down,) paint and interior. - To keep out rodents, insects etc... 1) place a couple bags of sillica gel on the floor to absorb moisture. 2) get a single little box of mouse poison and place it on the floor. 3) Stick a sock over your exhaust outlets. REMEMBER TO REMOVE THEM. You can also place an open container of baking soda to remove smells in the interior. Again, the best thing for your seals, gaskets etc... is to simply drive the car. Otherwise, I think you'll be surprised just how robust modern cars are, and how you can pretty much do everything wrong and they'll fire immediately with no problem after a full year of sitting unused.
I could keep it in my heated garage for you and run it around occasionally on nicer days. Be no trouble for me at all. Seriously, I would just change the oil and filter, make sure the coolant is good, fill the tank and add some stabil, disconnect the battery, and block the car up with the suspension compressed and the tires off the ground. You dont want the suspension to hang as it would stress the rubber bushings. A good battery will still start your car 6 months from now if you unhook it. The car has to much elecrical drain to keep it hooked up. And I totally do not like automatic chargers left unattended. Clean it, wax it, and put a cover on it. If the garage is unheated you may want to take more measures.
Why fill the tank? Would it not be better to run tank down to as low as possible and add some stabilizer? Would using a tire cradle not stop flat spotting? If the windows are left slightly open in a climate controlled garage is there still a need for baking soda? And as for rodents, never seen one in my garage. Have had to get kill 2 snakes by stomping on them though - perhaps they ate the rodents (true story). Best, K
