Winter Storage

[Luke.Cariveau]

Just wondering if my winter storage will be sufficient.

I will be putting the car away for about 4 months. In a storage unit (Not heated)
I've bought a batter tender (Trickle charge) and will be pulling the battery.
Other than that I've made sure the tires are properly inflated and will be running
some fuel stabilizer through the engine with a full tank of gas.

Just wondering.
1.) With pulling the battery for that long will the ECU be changed at all when I pull it back out?
2.) Is there any other precautions I'm missing?
3.) Recommend that I change any fluids when I take it back out?

Thanks for any input!

[BRZranger]

4 months?! You have a lot of restraint! The only time I plan on storing away is when the snow sticks more than 2”, but there is always that increased risk.

What are you going to drive instead?

[Luke.Cariveau]

Well, With 2 cars I would much rather keep the BRZ like new =)

[DaJo]

Be sure to change your engine oil and flush your coolant system when you decide to drive it after those 4 months.

[ScionRacer]

I usually run my tank almost empty and air the tires up to max tire pressure.I tried the stabilizer years ago and the gas still loses enough that it caused driveability issues. Now I drive em till empty,then throw in 5 gallons of super in the spring. It takes too long to burn through those bad tanks.

I like to disconnect the battery and throw an area rug or carpet remnant under car.Keeps the moisture down from the floor.Plastic sheeting works too.

[DaJo]

Originally Posted by ScionRacer

I usually run my tank almost empty and air the tires up to max tire pressure.I tried the stabilizer years ago and the gas still loses enough that it caused driveability issues. Now I drive em till empty,then throw in 5 gallons of super in the spring. It takes too long to burn through those bad tanks.

I like to disconnect the battery and throw an area rug or carpet remnant under car.Keeps the moisture down from the floor.Plastic sheeting works too.

DO NOT leave the gas tank empty (or even close to empty for that matter) as moisture will build up in there! Moisture = Rust...

Fill it all the way up, add fuel stabilizers, and when it's time to bring it back on the road...
Just power the fuel pump and pump out all the gas into a container (via disconnecting the fuel line) instead of burning it in your engine.

[Miniata]

I store 3-4 cars every winter (including the BRZ now) for 4-5 months. I do occasionally drive them if the roads are completely clear of salt, slush, snow, ice, etc, and the temps are above 35°F. Usually the cars don't get a full tank of gas run through them in that time, and if the weather is bad enough for long enough, they won't get driven or started for 2+ months at a time.

I always fill them up with gas before storing them, slightly overinflate the tires, and that is usually it. If I have a smaller than stock battery in them, I may put on a Battery Tender occasionally, but that's it. Never had a problem with any of my cars this way, and I've been doing it this way for years.

[CircuitJerk]

Originally Posted by Miniata

I store 3-4 cars every winter (including the BRZ now) for 4-5 months. I do occasionally drive them if the roads are completely clear of salt, slush, snow, ice, etc, and the temps are above 35°F. Usually the cars don't get a full tank of gas run through them in that time, and if the weather is bad enough for long enough, they won't get driven or started for 2+ months at a time.

I always fill them up with gas before storing them, slightly overinflate the tires, and that is usually it. If I have a smaller than stock battery in them, I may put on a Battery Tender occasionally, but that's it. Never had a problem with any of my cars this way, and I've been doing it this way for years.

Pretty much same here except I added a step. Had a set of BFG KDW-II's that didn't like being parked more than just a week.
Stabil in the fuel, tender on the battery, over inflate tires a bit and roll the car 4-6 inches forward or back every few weeks or so. Never a problem.
Never had a problem with Stabil either..

[DaJo]

Originally Posted by CircuitJerk

Pretty much same here except I added a step. Had a set of BFG KDW-II's that didn't like being parked more than just a week.
Stabil in the fuel, tender on the battery, over inflate tires a bit and roll the car 4-6 inches forward or back every few weeks or so. Never a problem.
Never had a problem with Stabil either..

If it's that bad, just lift it on jack-stands lol

[CircuitJerk]

Originally Posted by DaJoian

If it's that bad, just lift it on jack-stands lol

Maybe I will, maybe I won't..
LOL

[Miniata]

Originally Posted by CircuitJerk

Pretty much same here except I added a step. Had a set of BFG KDW-II's that didn't like being parked more than just a week.
Stabil in the fuel, tender on the battery, over inflate tires a bit and roll the car 4-6 inches forward or back every few weeks or so. Never a problem.
Never had a problem with Stabil either..

Yeah, I forgot to mention, I do on occasion roll the cars forward/back a half rotation of the tires if they're going to be sitting for more than 2-3 weeks at a time. Pretty much all of my tires get temporary flat spots after sitting for more than a week, but they always go away in the first 5-10 miles of driving.

[Luke.Cariveau]

Thanks for the input guys. Seem's like I just missed a few things.