Winter Storage

**axracer50ss** · 10-09-2008, 02:58 PM

I'm putting my 2000SS away until April 1, 09. It will be in a semi-heated garage. I'll plug in a Battery Tender and put on the car cover. I don't intend to put it on jackstands - sticky tires are not on the car anyway. How much gas should be in the tank? Tire Pressures? Recent Mobil 1 oil change. Any other suggestions? Do's? Dont's? Appreciate any help! Thanks !!

**thearborbarber** · 10-09-2008, 03:16 PM

I would (and do) fill the tank and add stabil.

**4get gto** · 10-10-2008, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by thearborbarber

I would (and do) fill the tank and add stabil.

Yep........And like the poster said a battery tender. That its. You'll be fine. Been doing it this way along time. No issues.

**Goldcuffs** · 10-10-2008, 06:03 PM

I would suggest moving to Florida so you can drive it all year round!!

**Hot Black Trans-Am** · 10-10-2008, 06:18 PM

Just start it once a month and let it get to full operating temp. Keeps things working.

**axracer50ss** · 10-11-2008, 06:22 AM

Thanks for the responses - ALL !! I Googled "Stabil" & came up with some good tips on their web site - follow this link:

http://www.goldeagle.com/sta-bil/Sto...scle%20Car.pdf

Thanks again for your replies !!!!!!

**Frozen WS6** · 10-13-2008, 04:37 PM

Up here starting it once a month does nothing. It's too cold to get it up to operating temps. Plus I've found that up here the warm up and cool down will create condensation in the cylinders. Which is what did in my 454 boat engine. Putting rust rings in each hole were each piston stopped at.

**allbaugh_04** · 10-14-2008, 04:11 PM

i just removed my battery, cuz after a while it got so cold the car wouldn't turn over at all, but i guess you have that battery tender which will probably work great.

i will be removing my rims and putting on some old ones this time. i hear its good to leave a load on the suspension even though some people recommend jacking the car...idk what to do so i leave it as is.

**Wesman** · 10-14-2008, 04:50 PM

Another very good idea to prevent the engine from building up condensation/corrosion is to fog it before you store it. This is common practice on Marine engines which sit for the better part of the year.

All you need is a can of Seafoam. With the car running, pour the seafoam into the engine (best source is the brake booster line, just stick the hose in the can of Seafoam) and wait until the engine stalls. You could start it back up again and stall it out once more for good measure if you want, thats all there it to fogging.

Then you can add the rest of the can of Seafoam to the oil, which will prevent sludge from building up in the engine from condensation/moisture while it sits.

**importssuck** · 10-14-2008, 08:18 PM

You can also use fogging oil

**Bouvers** · 10-14-2008, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by thearborbarber

I would (and do) fill the tank and add stabil.

what for? its a plastic tank... keep it as empty as possible in the spring start it up run through the rest go through one full tank and then change your fuel filter... if you care about your car change your fuel filter at the beginning of every season... its cheap and easy... no fuel no need for stabilizer which ALWAYS gets mixed reviews.

**Bouvers** · 10-14-2008, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by Hot Black Trans-Am

Just start it once a month and let it get to full operating temp. Keeps things working.

if you do this just be sure to change your oil right at the beginning of the season as starting the engine warming it up in the cold and not driving it much tends to create alot of condensation in the crankcase...

**Bouvers** · 10-14-2008, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by allbaugh_04

i just removed my battery, cuz after a while it got so cold the car wouldn't turn over at all, but i guess you have that battery tender which will probably work great.

i will be removing my rims and putting on some old ones this time. i hear its good to leave a load on the suspension even though some people recommend jacking the car...idk what to do so i leave it as is.

you're right that does more harm to the suspension then what temporary differences are created to your tires... come one people really... its rubber it will take the shape of something ofcourse but it will change back... guarantee after the first time you take your car up to 60mph no more flat spots... just leave them on...

**Hot Black Trans-Am** · 10-15-2008, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by Bouvers

if you do this just be sure to change your oil right at the beginning of the season as starting the engine warming it up in the cold and not driving it much tends to create alot of condensation in the crankcase...

I always change it before and after storage.

**Wesman** · 10-15-2008, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by Bouvers

you're right that does more harm to the suspension then what temporary differences are created to your tires... come one people really... its rubber it will take the shape of something ofcourse but it will change back... guarantee after the first time you take your car up to 60mph no more flat spots... just leave them on...

Once you flatspot the tires the flat spots are there to stay, it actually deforms the tires permanently. My friend has an '05 STI that he rarely drives, most of the time it sits in the garage. With the low profile high performance tires, they developed flat spots.

You really notice them at high speeds, we had his car up to 139MPH, and it felt and sounded like we were driving over rumble strips.

I'd reccommend taking a slight load off of the suspension if possible, while still leaving the wheels/tires touching the ground. That way the weight is off the tires, but the suspension won't get stretched out from being extended for a long period of time. Best bet would be jackstands under the rear axle and under the front control arms to relieve some of the weight.

**4get gto** · 10-15-2008, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by Bouvers

what for? its a plastic tank... keep it as empty as possible in the spring start it up run through the rest go through one full tank and then change your fuel filter... if you care about your car change your fuel filter at the beginning of every season... its cheap and easy... no fuel no need for stabilizer which ALWAYS gets mixed reviews.

A stabilier is more for keeping the gas fresh and becoming like varnish over long periods of time. Does'nt matter if tanks are made of plastic or steel.

The reason behind keeping steel tanks filled for long term storage is to keep condensation from forming in the tank and rusting the tank from the inside out. Plastic tanks still condense but naturally won't rust....

**Frozen WS6** · 10-15-2008, 04:30 PM

[QUOTE=Wesman;1675760]Once you flatspot the tires the flat spots are there to stay, it actually deforms the tires permanently. My friend has an '05 STI that he rarely drives, most of the time it sits in the garage. With the low profile high performance tires, they developed flat spots. QUOTE]

I kinda agree here. I watched a supra on a wheel dyno blow the tire apart on a pull. Luckly no one or anything was hurt or damaged. When we looked at the tire you could see where the cords were discolored where it had been sitting. Yes, I know that the dyno will probably load the tire more then just street driving but I still have that experiance in the front of my mind. That its possible. Even though I don't do anything special like parking on carpet or lifting my car since I'll be getting new tires this next spring because there just wore out. It's in my heated garage.

**Bouvers** · 10-15-2008, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by 4get gto

A stabilier is more for keeping the gas fresh and becoming like varnish over long periods of time. Does'nt matter if tanks are made of plastic or steel.

The reason behind keeping steel tanks filled for long term storage is to keep condensation from forming in the tank and rusting the tank from the inside out. Plastic tanks still condense but naturally won't rust....

thats exactly the point I was making... the only thing is there have been the ol'wives tales that say that stabilizer does more harm then good...

**Bouvers** · 10-15-2008, 07:00 PM

[QUOTE=Frozen WS6;1675848]

Originally Posted by Wesman

Once you flatspot the tires the flat spots are there to stay, it actually deforms the tires permanently. My friend has an '05 STI that he rarely drives, most of the time it sits in the garage. With the low profile high performance tires, they developed flat spots. QUOTE]

I kinda agree here. I watched a supra on a wheel dyno blow the tire apart on a pull. Luckly no one or anything was hurt or damaged. When we looked at the tire you could see where the cords were discolored where it had been sitting. Yes, I know that the dyno will probably load the tire more then just street driving but I still have that experiance in the front of my mind. That its possible. Even though I don't do anything special like parking on carpet or lifting my car since I'll be getting new tires this next spring because there just wore out. It's in my heated garage.

same here... getting new tires all the way around, I guess overall I'm not overly concerned about it this winter... but I just didn't find it necessary...

**Hot Black Trans-Am** · 10-15-2008, 07:14 PM

[quote=Bouvers;1676131]

Originally Posted by Frozen WS6

same here... getting new tires all the way around, I guess overall I'm not overly concerned about it this winter... but I just didn't find it necessary...

Keep the old tires and find some junky rims to have them mounted on for storage.