Storage
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Storage
I'm planning on putting my truck into storage for the winter. It will be kept in my parents garage in Indiana. The garage is unheated so it will suffer through the variations in temperature. Obviously I will make sure the antifreeze is strong enough to stand the cold, but are there any other suggestions?
A few drops of oil in the cylinders? Staybil in the gas? Tires off the floor? Pull the battery ofcourse...
thanks
G Guess
A few drops of oil in the cylinders? Staybil in the gas? Tires off the floor? Pull the battery ofcourse...
thanks
G Guess
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
Putting staybil in the gas would be a good thing, but I don't see a few months messing anything up. If your parents will be around, why not get them to start it for a minute or so about every other week.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
I park a couple of my trucks in a vented barn for the winter. I just put in some fresh fuel and park it. Winters are much drier than the spring/summer/fall months. I wouldn't worry about rust in the motor. Now, if you plan on storing it for say, a couple years while you are off to collage or the Army, then it would be good to pull the plugs and soak the cylinders with some fogging oil. The only other thing you might want to do is let a little air out of the tires. Maybe down to 24 psi or so. Nothing wrong with puting it up on blocks to avoid flat spots on the tires, but it's not needed.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,848
Likes: 1
From: Kentucky
If someone starts it they should at least drive it until it gets up to normal temperature. Letting engines run for just a few minutes in cold temps just creates enough internal heat in the engine /exhaust system to create condensation = rust. jmo
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
More info on storage
Unfortunately, there won't be a lot of people around. It may get started every month or so, but maybe not. I'm thinking of pulling the battery and storing it in the house.
My brother lives about 2 hours away and checks on the house while my parents travel (snow birds).
My brother lives about 2 hours away and checks on the house while my parents travel (snow birds).
More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 629
Likes: 1
From: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Winter storrage
I have been storing my 79 F-100 every winter for about the last 22+ years. I remove the battery and fill the gas tank. The last few years I have had it stored inside. But most of the time it was outside in southern Michigan. No problems yet. Pump the gas a few times in the spring and it starts right up. It's a 300 Six. I do not start it untill I put it back on the road in the spring. It sets from Nov. to April or May.
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 1
From: lino lakes, mn
fill the fuel. put the stable in the gas tank then run the truck for a while to get some treated gas into the carb put some dryer sheets in the cab helps keep the mice out one of the nlocal radio car gurus here says to change oil before you store it so you don't have contaminants in the oil
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Put Away for Winter
I put the truck away over Thanksgiving. I put stabil in the gas...it's a little over a half tank and pulled the battery and put it in the house. I did change the oil and checked the anti-freeze, which is good to -40. There are two schools of thought on gas in the carb. Removing it allows seals and gaskets to dry up - or - it plugs up the passages. I'll take my chance on the latter because I'll probably replace the carb next year.
I've rebuilt it once and it's still not right. The throttle shaft needs to be sleeved, and I didn't do it when it was apart.
Meantime, I picked up a '92 Chevy Caprice to drive in the winter. This car is a 4000 lb. beast with a 350. I was told that it was very similar to squad cars made in that time, even though it was a stock car. It has over 200,000 miles and will still light up the back tires if pressed into action. I am amazed at it.
Even so, I still miss my truck and I won't see her again til April when things thaw out.
I've rebuilt it once and it's still not right. The throttle shaft needs to be sleeved, and I didn't do it when it was apart.
Meantime, I picked up a '92 Chevy Caprice to drive in the winter. This car is a 4000 lb. beast with a 350. I was told that it was very similar to squad cars made in that time, even though it was a stock car. It has over 200,000 miles and will still light up the back tires if pressed into action. I am amazed at it.
Even so, I still miss my truck and I won't see her again til April when things thaw out.
More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 629
Likes: 1
From: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Winter Storrage
Last winter I put Stabil in the gas tank. It started ok in the spring. I didn't notice a lot of difference. However I think the idea about pluging the hole in the Air Cleaner is a pretty good idea, because one year I did have a mouse bed in my air cleaner and also in the heater box. The mice had taken dog food into the heater and when I turned the blower on pices of dog food came out of the dash vents. I also understand that changing the oil is a good idea to. Somtimes I do. If it's been in a while.