Car storage question.

"Coty" (coty)
10/21/2014 at 16:22 • Filed to: None

So if I were to hypothetically order a new car and that car were to hypothetically arrive late November/ early December and immediately go into hypothetical winter storage, what should I do to keep it from going to shit, hypothetically? Would be inside but not heated storage. Thanks for the help.

DISCUSSION (15)

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Coty
10/21/2014 at 16:23

Put the battery on a trickle charge, Drain the gas tank, and put it on jack stands so the tires wont flatten. Oh and cover it

Jcarr > Coty
10/21/2014 at 16:26

Just off the top of my head:

Some sort of additive like Stabil to stabilize the fuel.

Trickle charger for the battery.

Up on jack stands to keep from flat-spotting the tires.

I'm sure there's more.

Coty > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
10/21/2014 at 16:27

How hard is it to drain the tank in a modern car? All of my cars are over 35 years old.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Coty
10/21/2014 at 16:28

Well, You go out and have fun on a nice curvy road until the gas light comes on. then go home and park it

bob and john > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
10/21/2014 at 16:31

hehehehehe

lone_liberal > Coty
10/21/2014 at 16:31

If it's only going to be in storage over the winter I wouldn't worry about draining the gas but would instead make sure the tank is full and the gas has a gas stabilizer in it. Then put in on jack stands and cover it. I'd also take the battery out and store it someplace warm with a trickle charger on it. Some people do more, some less but that's what I felt comfortable with when I used to store my Mustang for winter.

TheCraigy > lone_liberal
10/21/2014 at 16:39

+1 yeah draining tank is a waste of time.

crowmolly > Coty
10/21/2014 at 16:39

1.) Trickle charger on battery

2.) Dessicant bag in the interior

3.) Fuel stabilizer in the full tank

4.) Car on jackstands with tires aired down to half

5.) Start it every 2-3 weeks if you can

6.) Cover if you've got one

Coty > crowmolly
10/21/2014 at 16:41

Dessicant?

TheCraigy > Coty
10/21/2014 at 16:44

Your gas, tires, and the rest will be fine on a new car. I would be more concerned with moisture, critters and that sort of thing, so have some sort of large desiccant and perhaps mousetraps etc. Trickle charger is the only thing you might want if you want a guaranteed spring start, otherwise just run it every few weeks. If you're that worried about tires then just roll the car a couple feet every now and then.

If it's going to go into storage, why not just buy a car/take delivery in the spring? Save a few months of insurance, interest payments, state fees, and general headache.

crowmolly > Coty
10/21/2014 at 16:44

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/one+po…

You can find them elsewhere for cheaper. It will absorb any moisture in the car (especially if it's under a cover) and keep the interior from getting smelly since it won't be opened up for a while. Sometimes you want to bring only the noise and not the funk.

Coty > TheCraigy
10/21/2014 at 16:53

That's when it's gonna be here. I ordered it to spec.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Jcarr
10/21/2014 at 18:49

Not really, modern cars can sit for a winter without doing crazy prep to them.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Coty
10/21/2014 at 18:55

This will be the third winter I've stored my car... I don't do a lot, but it's always been fine.

Gas tank full, put some stabilizer in. I run E85 and don't have any problems.

Trickle charger, or if you don't have power where the car is, pull the battery and keep it someplace where you can put it on the charger.

Get the tires off the ground. Jackstands are fine, but then you are stressing the suspension while it hangs. Car dollys are nice, and then you move the car around if needed.

Put some dryer sheets around, like in the engine bay, interior, and tailpipe. Mice won't go near it.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > TheCraigy
10/21/2014 at 18:55

Dryer sheets. Mice hate them, car smells good. Win win.