storing my car for the winter

[mazda_dan]

i will be storing my ms3 at the beginning of november until the beginning of april. i have a few questions. do i start my car up periodically or don't start it up at all until april? are my tires going to get flat spots on them or should i move my car back and forth every once in a while? any advice or precautions for storing my car. keep in mind it will be in a garage and the garage door will be opening quite often.

 

[Saskatchewan17]

I don't know toooo much about it but I can give you some tips.

Add fuel stabilizer to the tank.
Jack it up on all fours and just remove the tires.
I also believe you should disconnect the negative battery terminal.
And plug up the exhaust pipe.
And cover it.

.... there could be more but I think those are the basics for long term storage.

 

[Hyun]

start up the car every once in a while.

 

[speed3ct]

I keep my car stored for the months of November to April also. Here are some tips that have worked for me the past couple of years.

- Wash/wax before putting it away

- Add Stabil to gas

- Leave car in 1st gear or reverse (don't leave the parking brake up)

- Take battery out and put on a trickle charger (i.e., Battery Tender)

- Get a decent car cover

- No need to put on jack stands or take tires off. I had the car sit without being moved or started for the winter and modern day tires don't get flatspots. No need to over-inflate the tires either

- If you like, start the car up every so often, but run it or let it idle for about 30 minutes (I start mine up about once or twice a month until about late December/early January, then I won't start it until April when all the snow is gone)

- Make sure that your garage has no critters, i.e., mice or other rodents that like to eat electrical wiring. I don't know if this legitimally works or not, but I was told that dryer sheets will keep some pests away. I place a few in the engine bay. (Just make sure to take them out before you start the car up)

 

[noobinacan]

There is another thread on this forum re: storage and has lots of info
at the minimum
- all four wheels off the ground (jackstands)
- replace oil
- add coolant/check level
- turn it up atleast once a month to keep oil from settling in the pan
and let idle for 10-15m ins
- get a trickle battery charger

 

[mazda_dan]

ok ya thanks for the advice but what is a trickle battery charger

 

[Kain]

ok ya thanks for the advice but what is a trickle battery charger

Batteries discharge, even when not in use. A trickle charger recharges the battery at the rate of discharge, so it's always topped off.

 

[mazda_dan]

o ok i have one of those but i am taking the battery out do i still need to hook it up to the charger?

 

[Kain]

o ok i have one of those but i am taking the battery out do i still need to hook it up to the charger?

Batteries discharge, even when not in use.

If the car isn't running, the alternator isn't keeping the battery charged. That's why you hook it up to a trickle charger.