Tips/Advice On Storing a Car Over Winter

[Hepar]

As a few of you know, I used to have a 1964 Lincoln Continental convertible. Sadly, I got rid of it at the end of last summer. There's been a void ever since. Recently picked up a "new" vehicle. It's a 1948 Chevy convertible. With the Lincoln, I really didn't worry too much when I kept it inside over the winter. It was old and not anywhere close to show shape. However, this Chevy is a bit of a different story. It has had a pretty extensive restore along with a 383 stroker V8. Just wondering if you guys have any tips or advice on storage. I hopefully will be running it at least once a week until the weather turns back to decent. Also know to keep a full tank to keep the condensation down. It will be garaged and covered.

Thanks!

 

[02SE]

I would wash and wax the car, change the oil, fill with fresh gas and add fuel stabilizer, hook up a battery charger/maintainer like a 12v Battery Charger, Battery Desulfator, Battery Maintainer, Charger

Put it up on jack stands so the tires don't flat-spot, and then not start it until you want to drive it again in the Spring. If you really want to start it periodically, get it out and drive for a half hour at highway speeds, so any condensation in the engine oil, etc. evaporates.

If you intend to just start it and let it idle for a few minutes, that is worse than not starting it at all.

 

[Hepar]

I would wash and wax the car, change the oil, fill with fresh gas and add fuel stabilizer, hook up a battery charger/maintainer like a 12v Battery Charger, Battery Desulfator, Battery Maintainer, Charger

Put it up on jack stands so the tires don't flat-spot, and then not start it until you want to drive it again in the Spring. If you really want to start it periodically, get it out and drive for a half hour at highway speeds, so any condensation in the engine oil, etc. evaporates.

If you intend to just start it and let it idle for a few minutes, that is worse than not starting it at all.

Thanks for the tips. Do you think it's better to just store it up for spring or to drive it occasionally, weather permitting?

 

[nevada]

I would wash and wax the car, change the oil, fill with fresh gas and add fuel stabilizer, hook up a battery charger/maintainer like a 12v Battery Charger, Battery Desulfator, Battery Maintainer, Charger

Put it up on jack stands so the tires don't flat-spot, and then not start it until you want to drive it again in the Spring. If you really want to start it periodically, get it out and drive for a half hour at highway speeds, so any condensation in the engine oil, etc. evaporates.

If you intend to just start it and let it idle for a few minutes, that is worse than not starting it at all.

good advice.

as he said, IF you feel you must start it, make sure and run it for a bit, to burn off the condensation.
but, really if its to be parked for the winter, leave it until you're ready to drive it again.

 

[Hepar]

good advice.

as he said, IF you feel you must start it, make sure and run it for a bit, to burn off the condensation.
but, really if its to be parked for the winter, leave it until you're ready to drive it again.

I think even in the spring/summer it would probably get driven around 2-4x a week.

 

[Hepar]

And would you add a fuel stabilizer only if it's going to sit the whole winter?

 

[02SE]

The gasoline available today, doesn't last as well as gas without ethanol did. If the gas will be in the tank longer than say a month, I'd add fuel stabilizer.

Especially in an old car that has a gas tank that isn't sealed as well as a modern vehicles gas tank.

The ethanol laced gas absorbs moisture from the air. If that goes on long enough, the ethanol will reach it's limit of water absorption, and will phase separate. Then what you will have is separate layers of now lower octane gas on top, a layer of ethanol below that, and finally water on the bottom.

An engine won't run on that mix, not to mention the corrosion the water can cause over time.

 

[Hepar]

Thanks for the tips. Looks like today is going to be the last day to drive it for a while. Going to go out, fill up the tank and grab some stabilizer.