Auto Repair Do It Yourself (DIY) Car Repair Blog

Wayne's tip on car storage for winter

Tweet

 

1. Give your car a good detailing. Power wash all grime and salt from the undercarriage. Give the entire car a good hand wax and leave chromed surfaces waxed until you're ready to remove the car from storage. Lubricate all rubber door and trunk seals. Then vacuum and clean the upholstery; you don't want any hidden food crumbs that might attract mice.
2. Once you have your classic parked for the winter, change the oil an filter. Try to drain the oil while the car is still warm. Oil picks up chemical contaminants and particles which left unchanged can cause problem over the storage period.
3. 
   Fresh grease in the front end and u joints if applicable, apply clean grease on all of the steering and suspension fittings.
4. Drain the fuel tank if you are going to store your car for more than six months. Once you have drained the tank, start the engine and run the rest of the gas out of the lines. Old gas will clog carburetors and cause valves to hang up. If you are only going to be storing your car for a few months you can add a can of gasoline stabilizer to delay fuel deterioration.
5. Check the cooling system making sure the coolant if good for the cold weather. Also check the acidity levels to ensure they are correct.
6. Remove the battery and store it carefully if you want it to survive. Use battery cleaner, then top it off with distilled water. Store it on a shelf in a dry place warm place, not on concrete. Charge it a few times over the winter.
7. Raise the car and place jack stands under the suspension points. Remove the tires and stack them on a rubber mat or card board. Would also suggest a rubber mat under vehicle protecting the frame front rust.
8. Before you encase your classic in its winter cocoon, the last things to do are;
1. Crack your windows to allow for circulation
2. Place opened boxes of baking soda in various places to absorb moisture
3. Put a plastic bag over the carburetor to keep moisture out
4. stuff an old rag up the tailpipe to keep mice out.
9. Now you can cover up your classic car. The most important consideration when choosing a cover for your car's winter nap is selecting the right kind of fabric for your specific storage application. Cotton flannel fabrics breathe and allow air to circulate through them as well as being soft and easy on your cars paint and wax. Cotton/polyester fabrics have poor fluid resistance and trap heat and moisture. Plastic films should be avoided because they don't breathe.
10. Indoor storage is the way to go; particularly for an older vehicle, even if the storage period is summer in the South. If you're going to be away for up to a couple of years, it definitely has to be kept inside. If you don't have the place, find an indoor storage facility--it will be money well spent. In fact, you also should get someone to take out the car periodically for an "exercising" drive. If you can't afford to do long-term storage right, you might have to pay a lot for restoration when you return. If outdoor "storage" is your only choice, don't give up. There's still a lot you can do to minimize the damage, particularly for seasonal storage.