Winter storage

Jim P · 09-11-2009, 06:23 AM

I live in upstate NY and will be storing my Solstice for the winter. What do I need to do before I put the baby to bed?

rich71 · 09-11-2009, 06:43 AM

lots of threads on this already, search is your friend :-) - I'm in central new york too.... but basically, i fill the tank with fresh gas and Stabil, drive a few miles to work it through the system, change the oil and filter, put a few extra pounds of air in the tires, hook up a battery tender, put a car cover on, set up some mouse traps around the car, stick some steel wool in the tailpipes, close the door and walk away until spring. I check the traps regularly as i have found seed in my airbox and under my engine cover before.

TRIBALMASTER65 · 09-11-2009, 08:32 AM

thru all the threads i have been reading no one seems to be putting the cars up on jack stands. I have done this with my cars in the past... and plan on doing it this winter unless there is a good reason not to with the sol...
lots of good info in the threads...

rich71 · 09-11-2009, 08:52 AM

from my understanding putting xtra air pressure in the tire has the same effect. I had 10 pounds of pressure in one tire due to a leak and you couldn't tell. Our low profile tires have such a short sidewall that you don't have to really worry about flatspots. just extra tire pressure is all that is needed. if you like to take some weight off the suspension you can put it on stands, but isn't really needed on our platform - imho.

blackdog · 09-13-2009, 04:48 PM

I've stored my 06 Solstice over three winters. The evolution outdoor cover protects the paint. I wait until it is really cold out, Thanksgiving here in Connecticut, so that the mice already have a home for the winter. Oil changed, gas full and mothballs on the ground under the car (don't know if mothballs really help but I have had no mouse damage). Each spring I take off the cover, start it up and away I go.

Best of Luck,

Blackdog

Seldom Home · 09-30-2009, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich71

lots of threads on this already, search is your friend :-) - I'm in central new york too.... but basically, i fill the tank with fresh gas and Stabil, drive a few miles to work it through the system, change the oil and filter, put a few extra pounds of air in the tires, hook up a battery tender, put a car cover on, set up some mouse traps around the car, stick some steel wool in the tailpipes, close the door and walk away until spring. I check the traps regularly as i have found seed in my airbox and under my engine cover before.

What type of battery tender are you using? I have one for my motorcycle batteries but don't know if it is sufficient for the car.
BTW when I store the bike I stuff dryer anti static sheets (bounce) in all the orifices. Apparently mice do not like them.

Radio Doc · 10-01-2009, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seldom Home

What type of battery tender are you using? I have one for my motorcycle batteries but don't know if it is sufficient for the car.

As far as I know, "Battery Tender" and "Battery Minder" are brand names for devices sold by the auto chain stores -- PEP Boys, Auto Zone, etc.

If it's good for a motorcycle battery, it will be good for a car battery. They only put out a few milliamperes (a fraction of an amp) in either case. Basically what used to be called a "trickle charger", but with "intelligence" (won't over charge or boil dry).

Seldom Home · 10-01-2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radio Doc

As far as I know, "Battery Tender" and "Battery Minder" are brand names for devices sold by the auto chain stores -- PEP Boys, Auto Zone, etc.

If it's good for a motorcycle battery, it will be good for a car battery. They only put out a few milliamperes (a fraction of an amp) in either case. Basically what used to be called a "trickle charger", but with "intelligence" (won't over charge or boil dry).

Thanks Radio Doc.
I was going to buy another battery "maintainer" and wanted to make sure it would be OK for the car battery. I'll wait for a sale.

nubwon · 10-02-2009, 03:45 AM

I never do anything to mine and have never had any problems with storing it over the winter.......but then again i think winter for us last year was on a Wednesday!!!

rich71 · 10-03-2009, 06:21 AM

mine is the brand battery tender plus....your cycle is 6v correct? that charger may not work on a 12v car batt..

Night Hawk · 10-03-2009, 12:43 PM

Jim P. As another upstate New Yorker, I store my cars the same way as Rich 71 suggests and do a couple of more things. I laid a tarp over the concrete garage floor where the car is to be parked and add a bag of moisture absorbent crystals (Griot's garage is where I purchased mine) in the interior and trunk. If you don't like to have mouse traps under the car, in case you have a small pet, fabric softener sheets have deterred mice away too.

I have left my cars from November 1st til April 1st and never had a starting problem. If you feel more comfortable starting it up once a month and backing it out of the garage. you can do that too, but make sure you get the engine fully up to temperature so as to minimize condensation build-up. I know some folks don't like doing this, but I've done both and had never experienced any long term issues with the engine, transmission or exhaust. Hope this helps

Seldom Home · 10-03-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich71

mine is the brand battery tender plus....your cycle is 6v correct? that charger may not work on a 12v car batt..

12v same as the car. (however the maintainer is switchable between 6v and 12v)

kwtoxman · 10-03-2009, 05:54 PM

As has been mentioned there are lots of good threads previously. I'm not big on starting a car over winter and explain it in earlier threads. My experience finds it's better for the engine. To each their own.

Someone could always bump an old thread as a reminder.

rlhammon · 10-05-2009, 06:11 AM

Yes... search is a friend for this topic, without a doubt.

As for the question about jacking up the car... I seem to recall the downside to this was you expose areas of the suspension (the struts) which normally are not exposed as the tires are hanging now. The thought is they can corrode over the winter, and lead to seal issues later on down the road. If the only reason you want to do this is to prevent flat spots on the tires... well, just add a few PSI to the tires so when the cold temps come and your tire pressure drops you aren't sitting low on PSI. That's all you need. Today's tires are much better than in the past, and jacking up the car to save the tires isn't needed.

Tarps under the car if your surface sweats. My garage is epoxy sealed, and only sweats in that mid-March thaw we seem to get. I simply remove my car cover for a few days until it's over, and put it back.

Dryer sheets do work. I draw a diagram of the car, and mark where I put the sheets, and include a list as well. Leave this on the drivers seat. Last thing you want to do is melt a dryer sheet in your exhaust because you forgot you put it there 6 months ago.

I also disconnect my battery. My garage is insulated and never really gets below 40 degrees even with the cold winters here in Michigan. If your storage place gets really cold, use a charger or move the battery inside and keep it warm. I do not start the car over the winter, and use Stabil in the gas as well. The car has started up in the spring first try like I had out earlier that morning. Never seen an issue at all.

boobazonka · 10-07-2009, 03:34 AM

All I do is store it in my unheated garage, fill the tank with gas add fuel stabilizer, change the oil, disconnect the battery and let her sleep. In the spring she comes to life with one turn of the key.