Winter Storage
 

Hi everyone, I'm new to the site and have a question about winter storage. My 08 mustang is in the garage for the winter, is there anything I should do to protect it from sitting all winter. I am going to add some fuel stabilizer for sure. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, Lloyd

Well, one thing I started doing was trickle charging my battery for the season.

I let it sit and charge over and over for the whole winter season.

I've also have gotten into a habit of putting down mouse traps, not poison. **DO NOT USE POISON** Last thing you need is a mouse crawling up into its next in your vent and dying.... disaster...

Put the car up on blocks

It also seems like a good idea to start it up once a month and let it run for a bit. This is where the trickle charging will help too, keeping that cranking power at its peak.

I put fuel stabilizer in my 91 gt,put it up on blocks remove all tires and store inside,fire it up once a month,get out the wrenches and bust some knuckles..:)

Thanks for the suggestions, Lloyd:tup

Garage. Stabil. Roll it back and forth. Lastly, lots of polish:tup

Sounds good, I just had paint sealant applied at a local detail shop before it went into storage. Take care, Lloyd:tup

Oddly enough, I have never used any gas stabilizer in any of my cars, ever.

I have one word KROWN!
Rust proof it and but junk tires on it or block it up.

What is Krown charging?

I'm thinking $120-$130 for a car....I could be wrong but i'm close

Anyone just leave the car on the tires and in a garage with a cover over the car?? Full tank of fuel without stabilizer??

Yea. LOL

But I have a trickle charger on the battery. Most years I put it on blocks, but not anymore, I will start it up, move it in and out and leave it as is.

There has been many threads about people that start there cars threw out the winter and apparently its bad due to condensation.
Best Idea is to set it and forget it. :tup

I have mine covered in the garage, full tank of gas and the battery disconnected. My buddy has an old Trans Am and that is all he has ever done for the winter.

Yep thats the way to do it :tup

Thanks, how bad are the flat spots on the tires in the spring??

I have a set of car dollies that I am going to use. They tell me this will help avoid flat spots. Some good tips on winter storage, I think I will just cover the stang, put stabilizer in the tank and slow charge the battery. Take care, Lloyd

don't bother starting it....more harm than good

1) bump the tire pressures up 5-8psi higher than normal driving conditions
2) Stabil in the tank....and be sure to run the car for a good 20 minutes to insure the Stabil goes throughout the system
3) top the tank up to full
4) cut 4 pieces of 1" plywood planks about 1'x2' and park the car on the planks - stops the moisture from working it's way up the car from the cold concrete floor
5) yank the battery
6) give her a good detail and put a quality cover on

I leave the car in gear with no ebrake on....older Stangs were notorious for ebrakes seizing

in the Spring....charge the battery up for 24-48 hours, drop it in...adjust tire pressures and your back on the road:tup

I never remove the tires or put it up on blocks it's hard on the suspension to just let the wheels and struts hang suspended. They are meant to be compressed. A couple of miles and the tires are fine or as someone else stated roll the roll a couple feet.
Starting a an engine up in the winter is also hard it. The oil it will accumulate condensation even if you bring it to full running temperatures. Always change your oil first thing in the spring.
Stabalizer is better but supposedly gas is good for 6 months without it? I use it pretty cheap insurance.
Battery should be fully charged and disconnected most people remove them and put them indoors. Do not store them on a cement floor without protection underneath them.
I also put steel wool in my tail pipes (keeps out the little guys) and tins of baking soda under the hood it absorbs moisture. Moth Balls will also keep the little fellows away if you put some in and around your car, gives it that new smell in the spring.

Pull the cover in the spring, change the oil and get out the wax!! 3 more months to go.:tup

By time I used to get my car home 5 miles flat spots were gone.

lol... I stored mine this year without an engine.....

but I usually take the battery out.... bump the tire pressure...

load the interior with bounce sheets... (mice)
fill the fuel tank...
lock 'er up and cover it up.

Bounce sheets seem to be taking over from moth balls likely cause the mice like the smell better? I wonder if either really work? In 5 yeras I have never had a prob but it could also be just a coincidence?

If I was forced to store my car outside (you know, my dad's ass can't be cold in the mornings, not like has heated seats... oh yeah, he does...) what's a good practice?

You know, that was my fathers old school ways, put moth balls. Nothing stinks more and ruins a car than that wretched old person smell :biggrin:

Traps work best, on the outside of a car of course.

[QUOTE=2tone;101579]You know, that was my fathers old school ways, put moth balls. Nothing stinks more and ruins a car than that wretched old person smell :biggrin:

Traps work best, on the outside of a car of course.[/QUO

Maybe you are using old moth balls !!:laughhard

I park my GT on cut out plywood for each tire with styro foam under them,and have a tarp under her aswell,tires are over inflated a tad,fuel tank is full,and has stabilizer in her,fresh oil in the pan is always good aswell with a new filter,moth balls....depending were you store it,but since i have my own garage,the last two years i haven't done this step,bounce sheets are always good aswell,and i give her a good cleanning,and polishing,but i polish her threw out the winter anyways LOL!!Helps me get the winter blues to go away :bleh::).

As far as flat spots I put the car in neutral an roll it back or forwards a foot or so hence no flat spots. I guess I just want to be my former self, Hercules:biggrin:

With current tires today,there really isn't any worries about flat spots.I have never had an issue with flat spots with any of the two mustangs i have had when storing.:wink:
It's the ol' bias ply(spelling) tires you would need to worry about,and i'm sure that most of us today really don't run a "dino" tire,especially with todays technology on tires.:tup

Bumping up the air pressure a little helps and 1 guy I know parks his on pieces of styro foam to avoid flat spotting.

I put some stabilizer in the tank and fill it to the top.

I do an oil change right away once I take it out of storage.

One thing though, the AC needs to be on every 2-3 weeks as the freon carries lubricating oil with it as it circulates through the system. If it is left off alot I have been told that the o rings tend to dry out and crack and this leads to the freon escaping and then this causes AC problems.

This is one reason I have been told to start the car every now and then just to have the AC run for 5 minutes a month.

I am certainly not saying this is 100% correct but this is what a few old timers who store a few classic cars told me. They say they do this and never have to deal with AC failure.

Some great info guys, take care. Lloyd:tup

Spelling is fine:tup

Thanks!!!:biggrin:

put bounce dryer sheets in your engine bay and inside the car, mice don't like the smell and will avoid it.

Maybe no A/C failure but end up replacing the exhaust system frequently when firing up the vehicle and not driving it.Better off to let the vehicle quietly rest for the winter.

But the tire only gets a flat spot on the bottom just rotate the tire LOL... Had to say it as for the bounce sheets and moth balls all they do is stink. get an electronic mouser or a cat works great too keeps the mice out.

When it comes to winter storage I guess I am mean to my cars :( Basically pull out the keys and cover them up. Usually set a bunch of mouse traps around them and thats it till spring. I've never started them during the winter thinking its harder on them to try to start them & moisture in the exhaust isn't a good thing either. Square tires are usually gone after the first trip and if not the roads around here are rough enough you can just blame it on them :) Usually half way through the winter I might throw a battery charger on and let them charge for a bit and then again before I decide to get them out in the spring. On the years that I didn't they usually start with-out troubles. Maybe I have been lucky but its only 5-6 months.

Kinda like the idea of putting something under the tires & possibly getting them off the ground but I guess I am just too lazy :)

http://www.machwon.com/ExtraStuff/Winter Storage.jpg

It was actually nice enough today to uncover, attach the battery cable and fire her up, started no problem at all, let her run for awhile, and put her back to bed, 2 months to go.

I was soooooooo tempted yesterday to put the key in LOL Reading about alot of people that have gone for a quick spin these last couple days.....

I did the same last week too when it got mild out,openned the garage door,put some fresh oil in her as i hadn't had a chance before i parked her,and a new Ford filter,then fired her up for 20 minutes.She fired up without any hesitation.Not bad for the original battery still sitting in her.LOL!
Was definitely good to hear her run again!

I was tempted to take mine for a drive, but I need to change oil thats been sitting before I put any kind of real revs on it.