Winter storage

[Darth Menace]

Hi, I am not parking the car for the winter yet, but sadly the idea is in the back of my mind. Usually, I put the thing in my carcoon and hook up the tender that came with it, and that is it. The air is always flowing, so I put the windows down so there is fresh air and not musky crap over the winter. Anyway, I got a write-up from the Pontiac club and it gave me different ideas. I was wanting to see what you guys did in relation to these steps.

They say to put fresh oil in it so the old crap doesn't sit there and contaminate the motor over the winter. I have always kept the old oil in there and put fresh oil in there in the spring when I get it out. Which do you guys do?

Then they say to roll the windows up and put baking soda packets in the car to keep vermin out, and to put mothballs in the exhaust (possibly taped in). I have never done this and wondering if you guys have.

Also, they say to get the car up on 4 jack-stands to take the pressure off the suspension and prevent a flat spot on the tires.

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

Not really a good idea to use jack stands because the rubber bushings will be flexing a direction that is not normal to them (control arms are tightened at ride height) and tires won't generally flat spot in a few months and stay that way. IMHO

 

[Darth Menace]

Thanks for the info. What about the changing oil before storage vs when I get it out in the spring as I have been doing?

 

[dmerkle]

I have always heard that you should change the oil before storage opposed to after.
I lay down a large plastic painting tarp on the floor to prevent moisture coming up from the concrete.
I then put plywood cutouts with carpet on top under each wheel and throw a couple extra pounds of air in the tires.
I put moth balls underneath the car, all around, but have never placed them in the exhaust, engine bay, or interior.

PS - Look at the bottom of this page, there are a handful of other threads on this exact same topic if you haven't already seen them.