Winter storage?

[bhurley]

I am not trying to wish the fall away, but was wondering what you guys do to get it ready for winter storage. This is only for the cold weather guys.

I did a search of the site and couldn't find anything posted.

I was planning to
1) change the oil
2) fill the gas tank, add stabilizer and take one last ride
3) wax the entire car
4) take the battery out and take it home to put on the battery tender plus
5) put the indoor cover on it (should I crack the windows a little?)
6) the car is going on auto dollies. That should eliminate the flat spots. It will be sharing my friend’s garage. He has a Miata.
7) I plan to put bounce dryer sheets throughout the car. We did that for the boats in the past. Supposedly critters don’t like them.

Did I miss anything?

Thanks Bill

[knievil]

Don't really need to fill the tank as it won't rust - plastic.
Everything else is spot on.
One last thing - overinflate the tires to 40-45PSI to reduce flat spotting - unlikely with modern tires anyway.

[JWhite]

That's pretty much what I do except, as poster 2 noted, I fill the tires to 40 psi. I've never noticed any issues with flat spots, but that may escape me.

This year, I may actually run it from time to time all winter.... when the roads are clear of snow/salt.

My main concern with wintering in my garage (instead of a nice storage facility) is mice, and the convertible top. I may try your idea of the fabric softener sheets.... I had been thinking moth balls.

JWhite

[MCoupeVet]

I garage my Coupe all winter at home. I start it occasionally and have winter mods in store for it, so I really dont put it away. Dont drive it at all if the roads are snowy or salty.

[fmcfad01]

I just fill the tires a bit more, throw the sweet M Coupe indoor cover on it, set up the BMW battery tender, and call it a winter, aka Honda Fit time.

[razingkane]

Originally Posted by MCoupeVet

I garage my Coupe all winter at home. I start it occasionally and have winter mods in store for it, so I really dont put it away. Dont drive it at all if the roads are snowy or salty.

According to the farmers and their woolly caterpillars, were gonna have a mild winter here on the eastern slopes of the Rockies. That being said, we can drive the roads most of the winter anyway. Snow at night, clear roads during the days.

Still don't like the thought of a winter. If those pesky caterpillars are wrong.....ouch!

[MCoupeVet]

As far as I can tell by the wooly caterpillers here in New England we are gonna have a mild winter as well.




now I'm jinxed

[Mbryo]

There used to be a ton of wintering threads around here. When I tender batteries I make sure to agitate them several times a month so that plating doesn't occur and try to keep them off of the cold cement floors.

A big thing about washing cars for storage in humid climates is to make sure you heat the brakes (dry) before storage so that rotors/brakes don't rust together.

[SunzOut]

How about searching for last years "winter storage" threads....

[Y2KMSC]

Originally Posted by JWhite

That's pretty much what I do except, as poster 2 noted, I fill the tires to 40 psi. I've never noticed any issues with flat spots, but that may escape me.

This year, I may actually run it from time to time all winter.... when the roads are clear of snow/salt.

My main concern with wintering in my garage (instead of a nice storage facility) is mice, and the convertible top. I may try your idea of the fabric softener sheets.... I had been thinking moth balls.

JWhite

Use dryer sheets. I run storage facilities and several of my customers have had no problems with this. Change them monthly. 1 thing, keep a count of how many sheets you place in the engine bay.

[BobSarley]

I stored mine in my garage last year. My wife hated it, as she had to crawl over it all winter. I am thinking about a storage facility this year. What should I pay in the Chicago are??

[MarcMacZ3]

Where are you storing it Bill? If its at home I would vaccum it out every now and then in crevices to get rid of cobwebs.

[Y2KMSC]

Originally Posted by BobSarley

I stored mine in my garage last year. My wife hated it, as she had to crawl over it all winter. I am thinking about a storage facility this year. What should I pay in the Chicago are??

Unless you are going to put your car in climate control, probaly $230-$260,
your garage will keep it a little warmer and you will be more inclined to start the car more often.

I have access to storage and I keep the car in my garage during the winter so I can tinker and start it up without leaving my house.

If you do rent a spot you will probaly need a 10X20. I think the car is about 13.5' long(not 100% sure on the length) . A 10X15 will fit the car but leave you no room for error when moving it in and out of the unit.

[bhurley]

MarcMacZ3, It is being stored in a friends garage. He has a 3 bay garage that we are going to put my Z3 and his Miata in one bay. Vacuuming sounds like a good idea.

Thanks
Bill

[cosmoscoupe]

I recommend emty tank storage with E10 (ethanol) crap we have today. Stabilizer isn't very effective on it for longer periods especially if your topping off a tank with fuel older than a month. Let' all thank Al!!

[Z4Roadster]

Originally Posted by Y2KMSC

Use dryer sheets. I run storage facilities and several of my customers have had no problems with this. Change them monthly. 1 thing, keep a count of how many sheets you place in the engine bay.

hahaha, funny you should mention that. Last winter i thought i put in 3, i only ever found 2.. I looked forever, my Z3 has the 1.9l so its pretty easy to poke my head around in there. Oh well...

[bhurley]

Well I hate to say it, but we picked a day to put the cars away. It will be 10/17. My question is what do you guys recommend for the windows and top? Should the windows be cracked a little and should the top be latched down for the winter?

What do you guys usually do?

Thanks Bill

[Tech69]

Maybe stuff the exhaust pipes with something - after last year's winter mine were full of sunflower seeds which the mice put there (as well as every other crevice you can imagine)......

[dwm]

Top latched, windows up. The cabin is not air-tight, and you don't want to make it any easier for critters to get into the cabin.

Starting a car in storage is generally a bad idea; it should be driven to bring everything up to temperature, or left alone. Mine often sits the whole winter, so part of my spring revival routine now includes lifting the ground for the DME and turning it over for 10 to 20 seconds. The starter will still engage and turn it over, you just don't get fuel and spark. Easier than any other technique (on my car, the DME ground is on the passenger shock tower).

[bhurley]

Thanks DWM

[wazzuFreddo]

How I winterize my Z in California:
1) Put the top up when it rains
2) ?
3) Profit

[lokijibber]

Originally Posted by wazzuFreddo

How I winterize my Z in California:
1) Put the top up when it rains
2) ?
3) Profit

Does that keep the gnomes out though?


EDIT: Sorry the compulsory post - just realized this was 3 months old.