How to winterize a car

[whitefrs]

I wont be using my FRS during winter time.
I dont have a garage so it will be in my driveway with a car cover
My question
What do i need to do before i stop using the car?

Thx

[Lee358]

same question here

[SubarooMike]

I know there is at least one thread on this. Ill see if I can find it

[SubarooMike]

I THINK anyway... I remember reading some things on it

[mashal]

Opti coat


I-Tapatalk

[White Shadow]

I've parked my car for the winter with a few different cars over the years. It's only a few months, so there's really not all that much to do. I parked the car with a full tank of gas (to limit condensation from forming inside the tank) and I started the car maybe once every two weeks, letting it run for about 30 minutes before shutting it off.

Others may do much more, but that always worked for me.

[Bluecille]

Originally Posted by White Shadow

I've parked my car for the winter with a few different cars over the years. It's only a few months, so there's really not all that much to do. I parked the car with a full tank of gas (to limit condensation from forming inside the tank) and I started the car maybe once every two weeks, letting it run for about 30 minutes before shutting it off.

Others may do much more, but that always worked for me.

^^^ He nailed it.

[Prava]

can someone explain to me this winterize sensation? i dont understand. maybe because I live in socal i don't understand?

[Voodoo Rufus]

I would suggest quality fuel stabilizer, a battery maintainer, and maybe even putting the car on blocks to not flat spot the tires. It's what I do to my motorcycle.

[LeeMaster]

Where's what I do:

-Fill up gas tank to 99% full + Added Stabil to keep the gas fresh


-Unplugged the battery
-Set gear in neutral and do "NOT" engage the e-brake(You dont want your calipers/brake pads stuck)
-Put some 2x4 wood on the front and back of the tires to keep the car from rolling
-clean interior and vaccum(important....but I didnt do "DOH")
-Waxed the car and cleaned the car before putting it to sleep
-Buy a size 3 car cover to protect it
-Pressed the button that dont let air from the outside to flow inside to keep rodents from coming inside the car.... (What did I just say?)


Optional:

-Change transmission oil
-change engine oil/filter
-Take out important papers/electronics/junks in the trunk etc

EDIT:

Originally Posted by whitefrs

I dont have a garage so it will be in my driveway with a car cover
Thx

Sorry, I didnt read that in the first place. Very important thing to keep in mind is that ANY car cover(regardless of quality) is not designed to keep a car stored outside for a long time especially through winter. Imagine all the dirty things that can get on your car cover and then sneak inside your paint! When it comes time for you to take it off, you have to be extra cautious since those dirt that has been blown by the wind may end up scratching your paint. Now may be a good time to get Opti-coat or a fresh wax if you havent done so already.

It's doable since I personally wont want jealous people to throw ice or snowballs at my precious car thats been sitting outside for months, but just be careful. Cheers

[Natheria]

From what I've read (and my own common sense) putting the car up on blocks is a bad idea. Not only could you possibly do damage to the frame but a car's suspension is not designed to be unsprung like that. I've read pumping the tires up to 40 psi is generally good to avoid flatspotting (or swapping out to junk tires if your really anal/paranoid).

Most of what I've read is, if you're only storing the car for a few months to just disconnect and store the battery someplace warm (NOT on concrete), stuff the intake and exhaust with a rag/steel wool for rodents (if that's something you are worried about) along with mothballs/fabric softner pads left in the interior/anyplace else you might not want uninvited guests. Apparently they hate the smell. I've also heard mention of adding fuel stabilizer and letting it run through the engine before you put the car to sleep. Doing a fresh oil change before you put her to sleep is also advisable so acid contaminated oil isn't just sitting in your car all winter.

I've heard some people advising against intermittent start ups during the winter which i was a little confused about. I'll try and see if i can look up their exact reasoning again, but does anybody know about this/have experience with it? This is also going to be my first winter with my new miata and have never looked much into winterizing before. I've gone and bought a custom fit Covercraft 380 car cover (which looked to be the best cover in my budget) as well and was planning on leaving it parked outside my apartment complex all winter. I've also been looking into fuel stabilizer for the hell of it, will be taking the battery inside and pumping the tires up. I might do the anti rodent bit if I'm feeling up to it.

Edit:

Originally Posted by LeeMaster

Where's what I do:
-Pressed the button that dont let air from the outside to flow inside to keep rodents from coming inside the car.... (What did I just say?)

I've never heard this one before. I'd take it this would be important for any car then? Circulated air closes all the air vents?

[LeeMaster]

Originally Posted by Natheria

I've never heard this one before. I'd take it this would be important for any car then? Circulated air closes all the air vents?

It's something that I made up, theres gotta be a way for the air to get inside the car. Better to be safe than sorry, but thats just me.

[_hollywood]

Im in the same dilema, i was thinking about starting the car every few weeks but honestly cold starts are the most damaging thing that any engine goes thru so ill probably just wait to start it when spring hits, remove the battery, bring it indoors and seal up the exhaust, add some sta-bil and call it a day...

Also a storage unit for 40 bucks a month is better than any car cover, having a cover flapping all winter is going to leave some nice abrasion marks on your paint...

[Natheria]

Originally Posted by _hollywood

Also a storage unit for 40 bucks a month is better than any car cover, having a cover flapping all winter is going to leave some nice abrasion marks on your paint...

This was one of the reasons why i got a form fitting cover. Hopefully it won't be quite as bad. From the pictures ive seen of custom fits they don't look like they could mar the paint too much if you covered the car clean.

Oh and from what i've seen, storage around here is more like 85 a month.