Opinion Needed: Winter hibernation
Well winter is coming and my monte has gone into hibernation. So im thinking of throwing some fuel stabilizer in the tank, disconnecting the battery and calling it a day. Anyone have some tips on what to do for storing a car for the winter?
You probably have the car up by now.
I used to put my 93 Z28 up every year for 8 months.
- I would add fuel stabilizer and ensure I ran the car for at least 10 - 15 minutes to make sure it got through the fuel system
- I would make sure I put it away at operating temperature and never start it up until 1st time out in the spring.
- I would change the oil before I put it away clean oil does not sludge, have moisture in it and/or have sulfur (from incomplete combustion)
- depending how cold it gets (it was down to -40 where I lived in deep winter) I took the battery inside the house (didn't put any tender on it)
- covered the car up with a good car cover one year I used old bed sheets with tarps.
That was all I did and the car was fine every year.
I used to put my 93 Z28 up every year for 8 months.
- I would add fuel stabilizer and ensure I ran the car for at least 10 - 15 minutes to make sure it got through the fuel system
- I would make sure I put it away at operating temperature and never start it up until 1st time out in the spring.
- I would change the oil before I put it away clean oil does not sludge, have moisture in it and/or have sulfur (from incomplete combustion)
- depending how cold it gets (it was down to -40 where I lived in deep winter) I took the battery inside the house (didn't put any tender on it)
- covered the car up with a good car cover one year I used old bed sheets with tarps.
That was all I did and the car was fine every year.
My Monte goes in the garage, I bring the battery inside and put it on a tender.
Put Stabil in the gas tank and let it run for 10-15 minutes.
I put dryer sheets in the exhaust tips, glove box, under the seats, in the engine bay near my wiring harnesses (injectors, PCM, air filter, battery tray), then cover it up with my car cover and wait until March/April
Put Stabil in the gas tank and let it run for 10-15 minutes.
I put dryer sheets in the exhaust tips, glove box, under the seats, in the engine bay near my wiring harnesses (injectors, PCM, air filter, battery tray), then cover it up with my car cover and wait until March/April
When I used to have the luxury of putting my car away I would also jack it up to give the suspension relief and also the tires, so they don't get a flat spot from sitting, and make sure you have the openings plugged so that mice can't get in and make a nest, one year they got into my 78 Camaro and almost had a mouse city in the air breather, glad I checked it before firing it up in the spring lol
I have two cars I put away once true winter gets here and the roads get salted. I use Stabil in the tank, use a battery tender and dryer sheets. I've stored the Monte this way for two years and the Fiero for 18 years without any problems. I also have a cover for each car.
Cool thanks for the advice everyone. I've already dissconnected the battery but i dont think ill take it in the house because my garage is heated. also put stabil in the tank and a cover is otw. ill throw some dryer sheets in to boot.
X2? Just keeps everything smelling good?
When I put my CJ-7 jeep into long term protected storage, put it up on jack stands to take any weight pressure off of the tires. With the engine running squirted a light weight oil like 3 in 1 into the carb until the exhaust was really smoking. Then squirted the oil in faster until it killed the engine. Put the air cleaner back on, disconnected the battery and that was it for a year while I went to Korea with the US Army. When I came back, the battery was dead, but with a new battery and some starting fluid the engine started right back up.
When I put my CJ-7 jeep into long term protected storage, put it up on jack stands to take any weight pressure off of the tires. With the engine running squirted a light weight oil like 3 in 1 into the carb until the exhaust was really smoking. Then squirted the oil in faster until it killed the engine. Put the air cleaner back on, disconnected the battery and that was it for a year while I went to Korea with the US Army. When I came back, the battery was dead, but with a new battery and some starting fluid the engine started right back up.
Okay with mine wax the car do the christmas parade while I am in town I change the oil, fill that tank put fuel stabilizer in and then drive it 30 miles home. I do that to get it the stabilizer in the system. Once I get home I wipe the car down I put the bra on (we don't salt or sand here we use Red cinder on the roads so small Rocks) I put the bra on so its already ready for the first show of the year drive in April. Next hook it up to my CDE battery tender put a car cover and she is down for the next 4 months














