I'm going to be parking my car outside for the winter within the next month probably. Is there anything I should do when I put it away? As in so the fuel doesn't break down or anything of that nature. This is my first car and my parent's cars come first for the garage. Does anyone have any tips at all from past experience with leaving a car outside? I could use even common sense things as I forget these things A LOT . Also, I am looking into car covers. Good ones are around $200? Thats way too expensive for me. I found a couple cheap ones for like $30...universal cover. I'm guessing they will be really thin but I was thinking maybe put a tarp over that? Wouldnt scratch the paint if I have the cover over it...just bungey-tie it down. Thanks for any suggestions or tips.

 

Do you know exactly how long the car will be parked? I think that will help determine how much you should do.

I would suggest Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer, for one, it helps the fuel not break down. I think a universal car cover should work just fine. I think it may also be a good idea to disconnect the battery. Now I'm no expert on storing cars, so hopefully someone else will chime in on this.

 

Just my $.03...
If you're going to be storing it outside, I'd DEFINITELY put a car cover over the car AND a good thick tarp over that w/ bungy tie-downs to keep the wind from blowing it all over the neighborhood.

And... I'd park the car ON TOP of another tarp, to prevent the moisture from rising up and getting to the undercarriage of the car.

Definitely disconnect the battery, or better yet... remove the battery completely and bring it inside, so it doesn't freeze and get ruined.

This next step is PARAMOUNT... drain all the coolant from your radiator to prevent the engine block from freezing/cracking/blowing out a few freeze plugs. I'd pull the bottom radiator hose and drain everything into a semi-deep collection pan.

Also, I'd either drain the fuel from the fuel tank OR use a fuel additive stabilizer (like previously mentioned).

Critters/Varmints have a tendency to crawl up into the car during the lean months (engine compartment, cabin, rear hatch) and generally make a mess of things. Check every month (or so) to see if it's infested w/ them... you'll be pissed if you come out in the Spring and find a HUGE hole chewed in your driver's seat by vermin OR a nest in your engine bay.

Rust Never Sleeps - Neil Young & Crazy Horse

 

The car will probably be parked for 5-6 months. I asked my dad and he said he wouldn't worry about a cover or a tarp, but its up to me. He also said to just use Stabil, dry gas, make sure atleast 1/2 tank gas, and disconnect the battery. He's parked many cars like this over the winters w/o problems he said. I'll try to do all the above things mentioned though since this is my first car and plan on keeping it a while. Thanks for the detailed tips guys...I think with this info it might make it through the winter .

 

not half tank, go fill it up i mean as full as you can get, then add the stabilizer.

that way no moisture getsinto the tank, drain the engine of coolant completly

and everything else that was stated

 

I parked mine outside one winter and this is what I did


Filled the gas tank full and added fuel stabalizer

Took the battery out and stored it in my house

Bought cedar moth ball blocks from walmart and put them all inside and out to keep the mice out

Put a car cover and tarps over that just make sure you tie the tarp because if a good wind gets under it and blows the bungy you dont want it scratching the paint on the car.

Also I threw blankets over my dash pad because the cold can crack them too.

When I got it out after winter I had no problems at all and I live in Wisconsin and we know how winter is here.

 

This is how I stored mine during the snowy winter


First run the car until the tank is almost empty, then put stay-bil in (I used the full bottle) and then fill it all the way up just before parking it so it mixes well with the gas and the short trip home will get the stay-bil filled gas into the fuel lines to the fuel metering device (prevent moisture forming on the inside tank from condisate when totally filled)

Second I got a full thing of baking soda and a bag of charcoal opened them both up and placed them on the floor in the back seat(and yes still in the package or in a tupaware container). The reason for this is the charcoal pulls in the moisture and baking soda (the stuff you use for the fridge) is to keep the muskey smell down.

Third change oil and filters and remove the battery

Fourth Give it a good wash and Wax fill the tires till the max OR park on those cheapy gardning pads so you prevent flat spots on the tires.

Fifth I usually do since I always forget If its fuel injected pull the fuses for the injectors so when you go start it up after storage you crank over for 5 second intervals until you get the proper oil pressure then place the fuses back in and start.

Sixth place the car cover on top and bungie down you should be good to go, I never placed the tarp under the car but thats not a bad idea.


The only thing I disagree with is the draining of the anit-freeze if you do I would fill it up with more anti-freeze rather than a water diluted soultion. The reason being is that its ANTI-FREEZE meaning its NOT going to freeze If you drain the anti-freeze you start to for RUST on the inside block in all the water jackets since when a cold object hits warmer air (like the dew on the grass which is the dewpoint or the air temp where the humidity of the air condenses) the same thing will likly happin in the engine and small particals of water form then form into rust. I would suggest you flush the cooling system and add something with a higher consentrate of anit-freeze to water rather than nothing to protect the inside of your block. Your protecting everything but the engine guys?

Oh and get a decenct car cover, more than $30 you get what you pay for. Look of one all weather and allows the car to breath so any moisture will escape, I have a Wolf Automotive cover and am ver pleased with its results.

 

Do you have a job?

If so, then find yourself a climate controled storage unit to put the car in. If you truely love your F-body, you would want to admire it all year long. You really can't do this with tarps draped over it.

Those units can run about $50.00 a month depending on your location.

 

I was told if you park on cement you won't have to use a tarp under the car, but if it is going to be on grass or dirt you need a tarp under it, Ive seen a very nice truck turn into a rust bucket after a year of sitting on dirt with out a tarp.

 

thats what I used to do when I had to store mine outside for winter...it worked great. But MAKE SURE that the tarp is secure! One time...I had the car cover on...and the tarp over the car cover. Well, the car cover blew off and the tarp stayed on....and scratch the hell out of my paint....because it's a way rougher material than a car cover. I had to wetsand and buff the whole car

 

wow a beautiful car like yours was stored outside, i would slap you Shawn for doing that

 

For storage during a single winters time the only thing really needed is a full tank + stabilizer and some sort of rodent deterent. I use bounce fabric softener because it is proven that rodetns hate the smell. It works. I do not recomend dissconnecting the battery. If your car is in a building and it catches fire you want your car to get out. Who cares if the battery is dead in the spring. My battery always makes it though the winter. Sure it is a tad slow, but it starts. My car has been stored in this mannor for every one if its 14 years of existance and I and the previous owner have never had a problem.

 

Dont drain the radiator, just make sure you have a good mix of anitfreeze, you dont want to promote rust in the engine block, and you also dont want it to freeze, just keep it protected like you would if you were driving it.