Winter Storage
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 270
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From: N Richland Hills, TX
Winter Storage
I have too many toys and one will have to remain outside this winter. I have to park my car on a dirt driveway. Should I cover the ground with plastic?
Any ideas on how to discourage mice and other vermin from moving in?
Is using Sta-bil enough protection for the gas supply?
If I start the engine once or twice a month is that enough?
Should I put the car on stands?
Am I forgetting anything?
Thanks in advance,
james
Any ideas on how to discourage mice and other vermin from moving in?
Is using Sta-bil enough protection for the gas supply?
If I start the engine once or twice a month is that enough?
Should I put the car on stands?
Am I forgetting anything?
Thanks in advance,
james
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by pfogle
sitting even for just a few months is very hard on a vehicle.
Fill the tank
Change the oil
Change the Radiator fluid
Change the brake fluid (how long since you did THAT huh?)
Wash it
Drive it onto a tarp
Put mouse killer in it (2 in trunk, one on each floormat, and one in each wheel is genrally acceptable)
Set it up on jackstands (if you dont want to flatspot the tires)
Put a GOOD cover on it if you care about paint
Thats all, and thats good advise untill your storing for 2 years+... but dont skimp on the friggin brake fluid plz
~Nate
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 2
I have 2 vehicles parked outside for the winter months(92 and 95 F150s). Before parking them I cleaned them and put a good coat of wax on them to protect the paint. I checked all of the fluids to make sure that they are OK. I put cedar blocks in the interior and under the hood to repel the mice and rodents. I am only leaving about a quarter of a tank of gas in each one, and I will start them a couple of times a month. I won't leave more gas in them because the gas goes bad so quickly, and I've heard both good and bad things about gas stabilizers like Sta-bil.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 0
From: Southern Alberta
Never heard of parking a vehicle OVER a tarp 
I just put my Unibody away for the winter, parked it UNDER a heavy tarp, tightly secured.
before that I :
-Checked the antifreeze.. good to -38
-put mothballs in the cab and inside the air cleaner to repel mice
-nearly ran it out of gas.. when I go to start it in the spring I will put new gas in it
-took the battery out of it
-left myself a note on it's last oil change, and listing the above items. The note also listed what needs to be done to it in the spring.. check fluids,including differential,, check weakish u-joints, etc. Left the note on the seat.
As a side note, I had to move my '72 to make room for the uni. The '72 is not really roadworthy, and kind of in limbo maybe as a parts truck. It had been started once in the last year.
Dumped some gas down the throat of the ol '360 and vroom. Ran right away. Purred like a kitten.
I just put my Unibody away for the winter, parked it UNDER a heavy tarp, tightly secured.
before that I :
-Checked the antifreeze.. good to -38
-put mothballs in the cab and inside the air cleaner to repel mice
-nearly ran it out of gas.. when I go to start it in the spring I will put new gas in it
-took the battery out of it
-left myself a note on it's last oil change, and listing the above items. The note also listed what needs to be done to it in the spring.. check fluids,including differential,, check weakish u-joints, etc. Left the note on the seat.
As a side note, I had to move my '72 to make room for the uni. The '72 is not really roadworthy, and kind of in limbo maybe as a parts truck. It had been started once in the last year.
Dumped some gas down the throat of the ol '360 and vroom. Ran right away. Purred like a kitten.
Last edited by Ringo Fonebone; Dec 1, 2005 at 03:20 PM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,746
Likes: 7
From: Tampa Bay, FL USA
Mice don't like the smell of naptha, or moth *****, so place that in strategic areas (Not the interior, unless YOU like the smell!). Jack stands are preferable to just parking it, and plastic on the ground will help prevent rusting from underneath, not to mention showing you EXACTLY where the leaks are next spring. StaBil, used according to the instructions should be fine, but is no replacment for dry gas, so use some of that, too. Fill the tank. You should put a good cover on it to protect the paint, and that also allows you to crack open the side windows, keeping the interior free from odors and mildew.
"Change the radiator fluid?" I don't bother with that on my stored car. Then again, it IS a Corvair...
"Change the radiator fluid?" I don't bother with that on my stored car. Then again, it IS a Corvair...
Guest
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,988
Likes: 55
From: north west new jersey
when i park a car i do the same as my boat. store and start sabilizer that also lightly fogs the motor internals, clean oil change, pull amost all thee fuel out so it runs dry while foging the snot out of the motor. plus its parked under a canvas shed.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
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I am using cedar blocks instead of mothballs, because the mothballs will stink up the interior. Will the cedar blocks work just as well to repel mice as mothballs?
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6,461
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From: Abilene Kansas
if u can leave the hood up... we do it with all our farm vehicles, the mice dont like to be in the open..
when we are done with something, shields come off hoods go up and doors are left open and it always helps
Matt
when we are done with something, shields come off hoods go up and doors are left open and it always helps
Matt
