Storage Advice 2010

[krodkrod]

Need on advice on storing away my 2010 Mustang Gt convt for the winter in a garage. Here is what I've done so far. Car Cover, plastic tarp on the concrete floor to be a moisture barrier , a few old rags in tailpipe to prevent critters from going in their and a battery maintainer hooked up. Any more ideas- such as should I add stabil to a new vehicle ect ect. Any more thoughts or advice would be helpfull. Thanks

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[JDWalton]

wow.... i would have been happy with just having the garage..... I think from where your at you need a voice activated surveillance system, 4 guard towers around the garage, armed guards in the garage, and a bio dome around the whole thing.

[RogerDodger1]

Agreed.

[oldlugs]

Cut up some old carpet and stack it a couple layers thick, then put a stack under each tire to lessen flat spots. Inflate the tires a couple PSI over the recommended pressure. Change oil before you store, and run the engine after changing, but just enough to circulate the fresh oil. Fill fuel tank completely, but first add plenty of "Stabil" fuel stabilizer to keep fuel fresh. Get a battery tender to keep the battery fully charged. If you have a critter problem, I've heard that a couple of Bounce fabric softener sheets inside the car will help to keep 'em out (guess they don't like the smell). Some folks like to do a full wax job before storing. Have a mellow winter.

[dstang10]

You could also put all four corners on Jack stands.

[Nuke]

It's amazing how many times we repeat ourselves in these countless storage threads (amongst others)...

How long are you storing it for? If more than 3 months then include fuel stabilizer in the tank (be sure to run it about 10 miles or so after adding it to the tank and THEN filling up) plus a fairly recent oil change. Raise tire pressure to about 40 PSI. Toss a dryer sheet inside the cabin if you want it to smell nice if you want.

Stuff steel wool or wadded-up aluminum foil in the tailpipes and intake in lieu of rags. Critters will simply get thru rags and use them for bedding.

[VRFlip]

You guys see any problem with a box of baking soda in the car? Assuming its in a plastic container to prevent spills and the such.

[xspsi]

Here's what I have gathered from a few sources on the web concerning winter storage. Hope this helps.

"Winter Car Storage - How to Store Your Car For a Long Period of Time

Change the oil just prior to storage. Oil absorbs moisture (a natural byproduct of combustion) and if old oil is left in the motor, moisture will evaporate out of the oil and condense on the engine internals causing corrosion. Also, oil becomes acidic with use and should be changed for this reason also.

Change oil, start engine and run just long enough for the oil to circulate and warm up to operating temp, then shut off for the season to prevent a buildup of moisture. If planning to change the tranny fluid in the coming season, it's also a good idea to do this now for basically the same reason.

Add Sta-Bil to Gas Tank. Fill gas tank with Fresh, Premium fuel.

Loosen the spark plugs and shoot WD-40 into the sparkplug holes. This will prevent the rings from corroding and seizing to the cylinder walls over the winter. Upon initial startup in spring, oil will burn off in the 1st few minutes.

It is also recommended to lubricate all of the linkages. A good grade of white lithium grease will do. A light coat of silicone spray on the engine and electrical system components is also suggested.

Increase tire pressures to 40PSI. This will prevent flatspotting and leaks. The tire pressure will drop with ambient temp. Some will say to put the car on blocks, but with modern independent suspension, it's not good to leave it 'unsprung' for long periods.

Place a few moisture absorber packs (desiccants) in the car. A couple of bags on the front and rear floors, as well as a few more in the trunk. This prevents mildew from growing and keeps leather from deteriorating due to accumulated moisture. Adding a couple of boxes of Arm & Hammer baking soda will also do the trick.

Mouse traps or poisons placed around the car is also a good idea, BUT be sure that your dogs and cats can't get to it. Place them around the car every several feet. NOTE* Mothballs will repel some pests, but the smell stays in the car for a long time. Don't put them IN your car. Scented drier sheets on the front and rear floors, as well as a few more in the trunk work great and they smell a lot better too.

Wash, polish, and wax the car.

Do NOT treat inside surfaces with Armor-All (or similar) products before storing your car. They contain a lot of water and chemicals that can encourage mildew and mold.

Coat all of the weatherstrips with some type of silicone spray. This will help reject moisture and also keep them soft. Spray it on a rag then wipe it onto each weatherstrip.

Put steel wool or rolled up scotch-brite pads in the tailpipes and also in the air-intake openings to keep rodents from using your car as a food pantry.

Cover car with a quality "breathable" car Cover.

Remove battery from the car and put on a maintainer. When storing a battery you should keep at as close to room temperature as possible and it should be kept off of the floor so that it doesn't discharge. Store it on a wooden shelf or on a large block of wood (a piece of 4x4) several inches off of the floor to keep it from discharging. Be sure to allow plenty of ventilation to prevent Hydrogen Gas buildup.

Always store your car on a vapor barrier like a large piece of plastic sheet, or vinyl sheet. Make sure the sheet extends 2 feet from any edge of the car. Garage floors seep moisture through the winter which can condense on the underside of the car, suspension, etc. causing corrosion. The sheet will also help prevent rodents from finding a nice winter nest."