Storage tips

Disconnect the battery, check tire pressures, add some STABIL and dry gas to the tank, throw a few moth balls on the floor of the garage, and a few Bounce dryer sheets on the garage floor and in the tailpipes and engine bay to keep the mice away... Also, keep windows cracked open a quarter of an inch.

 

If you heat garage, try and keep temp at about 60 degrees. Best, K

 

There are numerous threads re: this topic on this site.
In addition to drygas and Stabil, I keep Decon rat/mouse bait on the floor around the car. Instead of disconnecting the battery, I use a Battery Tender; it keeps the battery up and will not overcharge. Prior to putting it away, I change the oil and filter and wash and wax it before covering.
I also try to start it up and take it for a short run, bringing it up to temp. if the roads are dry about once a month.
It's also a good idea to move the car so the tires don't get flat spotted.

 

Good Morning-Its a beautiful Sunday morning-you should be out driving ! but here are some ideas for storage:

1) Add fuel stabilizer and fill the tank, This helps to reduce fuel breakdown into a varnish like sludge. and a full tank displaces the moisture. An empty tank is like a cold soda can in July and moisture will condense on the inside of the metal tank...this is bad.
2) Climate control is very important, you want the outside of the car to stay dry, but the leather to stay for lack of a better term: pliably moist.
Tough to accomplish during winter. Treat the leather with a wipe-on preservative. I have used tanners brand on my Mercedes with no ill effects. (1996 E320, 156,000 miles) Try it on a small area before doing the interior. 50-60 Degrees F. is a good temp.
3) Beware!! some of the dryer pads contain chemicals !! put them on the floor mat, not the leather. remember these things are made to release a chemical into your laundry (that nice fresh smell is a chemical!) -they could release it into the leather and stain it. These dryer pads are a great idea to fight bad smells, thats really all they do.
4) Store your convertible top UP !
5) Mice & spiders want in...use moth balls outside car on ground..inside if you dont mind the smell- mothballs on the floor not the seats, Also Nice smelling cedar keeps moths out.
6) Cover the tail pipe. Something that wont melt when you forget its there and start the car.
7) Move car around to avoid flat spotting.
8) Drive it when you can! and run the AC system. Set it to defrost and adjust temp to warm. Here the compressor kicking on ? Running the AC keeps it lubricated.
9) Use a battery maintainer, We prefer Battery Tender brand.
10) Leave the windows open slightly & use a car cover.

Some advise to reduce acid & moisture in the oil, change it before storage, not a bad idea, but honestly- a hot engine burns off moist impurities in the oil and if the oil is 300 degrees F, the moisture boiled off long ago. If the oil was changed recently-thats fine.

I gotta got to church-talk to you later.

 

6) Cover the tail pipe. Something that wont melt when you forget its there and start the car.




Steel Wool works well.

Also, plastic sheathing under the car to form a vapor barrier between the ground and the car (unless of course the garage is climate controlled). You might want to put some cardboard under the drivetrain to catch any leaks if your car is of "vintage" classification.

 

Seriously, maybe the car-coon would be a good choice if you're really not going to drive it.

http://www.carcoon.com/

 

I used to have a carcoon for all my cars. So much so I used to be called "bubble boy". A superb product - keeps car crisp and in top condition. I have, however, moved to a climate controlled garage. Climate control is easy in winter because the heating can be set at a particular temp. Humidity control is hard to achieve, especially if you are moving other cars in and out of the garage. In those dark winter months, I like to have access to sit in the car and dream of spring. Also, it is easier to move car around a little to avoid flat spotting. To prevent flat spotting, try a tire cradle. I like the battery charger but there is nothing better than actually starting the car and running it for at least 20 min to make sure it comes up to temperature and shutting down. You cannot do all this in a carcoon. Griots Garage also does a fuel stabilizer. This is critical - sludge in the fuel tank is an engine removal job to fix. Run fuel down to almost nothing before you store. Some folk even run the motor until it stops because there is no more fuel to be sure. Then add some stabilizer and no more than .5 gallon of fuel.

Good luck,
K

 

A club in Salem, NH offers climate controlled storage and full baby sitting services for F and other cars. The facility is spotless. They also perform detailing and general automotive services. Not sure if they accept none member cars. Check them out here:

www.premiercarclub.com

Good Luck.

 

KTR Motorsports in Ayer has climate controlled storage on the entire 2nd floor of their facility.

Radial tires don't tend to flatspot the way the old bias ply tires did. All you need to do is inflate radials to 40-50 psi.

I posted a lot of winter storage tips in the old fchat 4 or 5 years ago. Search is your friend.

 

Just got a letter from Ferrari Maserati of New England, they are offering heated, secure storage for the winter.

vty,

--Dennis

 

Make sure you do not have mice in your garage.
I had unexpected residents living in the car over the winter. I had the car covered and did not notice it until
the spring . Part of the problem was we were storing bird food uncovered in the garage.
I was lucky no electrical damage was done , just some small inside carpet damage and some insulation being pulled out between the firewall and front of the car.

 

Some people say to leave only .5 gallons of gas in the tank, but what about 'older' tanks rusting out if they are not filled all the way? Is a full tank better than almost nothing in the tank for storage?

-Kevin

 

Fill the tank to prevent condensation. Water in the fuel supply is bad. Make sure to use Sta-bil or some other fuel treatment if it's going to sit for 3+ months.

vty,

--Dennis