Winter Storage
4th Gear Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,498
From: Ohio
Search around, there is a TON of threads on this. But the block will be more then fine, change the oil before you put it away, and after you pull it out, fill all your fluids, put on jack stands if dont want flat spots in your tires potentially, disconnect the battery or put a battery tender on it, if you DO fire it up, get it up to operating temp, dont just run it for 5 mins and shut off.
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 8,883
From: Michigan again!
Not sure why the block would concern you - lots of cars are outside all winter and driven daily. As long as you have anti-freeze in the system it shouldn't present any problems.
I've also read that you don't need to put it up on jack stands because tires today tend not to flat spot, but do put some heavy cardboard under each tire to keep the crap on the floor from seeping up into the tires themselves and causing cracking. If you put it up on jack stands your suspension is unloaded and could present some problems with a prolonged unloaded storage.
I've never stored my car for the winter, I drive it every day in all kinds of weather - 181,200 on it today.
I've also read that you don't need to put it up on jack stands because tires today tend not to flat spot, but do put some heavy cardboard under each tire to keep the crap on the floor from seeping up into the tires themselves and causing cracking. If you put it up on jack stands your suspension is unloaded and could present some problems with a prolonged unloaded storage.
I've never stored my car for the winter, I drive it every day in all kinds of weather - 181,200 on it today.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 312
From: Michigan
I just put it in the garage with a full tank of fuel, start it every week and run till up to normal temp, and I`ll drive it around the block if the neighborhood roads are decent. Decent means not freshly salted and not too badly rutted. A little snow and ice is good for the soul.
I do drive it if my kids or grandkids have one of the other two and I need to get somewhere. Drives ok.
Oh, ya......cardboard works too.
I do drive it if my kids or grandkids have one of the other two and I need to get somewhere. Drives ok.
Oh, ya......cardboard works too.
3rd Gear Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 695
From: California, Colorado
Im curious in this too. Im going to England for a semester abroad So mine will be in a storage unit untouched for 3 months...
My other question is how to safely disconnect the battery? Id rather not fry myself...
My other question is how to safely disconnect the battery? Id rather not fry myself...
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 648
From: Acworth, GA
I'll give 2 thumbs up for the Batter Tender Plus. My 07 Pony gets cranked about once every 3 weeks. Never an issue since adding the Battery Tender Plus 3 years ago. BTW, I use the cigarette lighter adapter on it.
5th Gear Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,471
From: Ontario,Canada
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19
From: Ohio
If you will keep it stored for a few months, then research some fuel additives that are made to help preserve the fuel for months at a time; I know that Jay Leno has endorsed some on his Jay Leno's Garage website, and Dragul mentioned Stabil which is a good product.
And if you run the car in the garage every few weeks to keep the engine in good shape, then it's worth re-iterating that the garage door should be OPEN. We don't want to see an advertisement for a used 2012 Mustang that says "virtually new, garaged all winter and tested once..."
And if you run the car in the garage every few weeks to keep the engine in good shape, then it's worth re-iterating that the garage door should be OPEN. We don't want to see an advertisement for a used 2012 Mustang that says "virtually new, garaged all winter and tested once..."