Tips for Storing your Car this Winter

by **69_RAG_TOP** Thu Nov 17, 2011 1:44 pm

Originally published in the Phoenix: Charter Oak Firebirds Newsletter Volume 6. Issue 3, November 2008

Short and Long Term Car Storage

Since extremely high and low temperatures, precipitation, freezing and thawing, sunlight, soot and other conditions found outdoors have very detrimental effect on a car in dead storage, outside locations should be avoided. An inside storage place should be selected having a reasonably cool, even temperature, a minimum of dirt in the air, and anabsence of direct rays from the sun, which might cause uneven aging of painted surfaces and upholstery and accelerate de-terioration of tires and rubber parts. If it is necessary to store cars near
windows, sunlight may be effectively reduced by painting the window pains black or blue. Avoid
storing in a place where coal, smoke, ammonia or other detrimental flumes are present.

STORAGE FOR LESS THAN 90 DAYS

Wash vehicle exterior completely to remove surface dirt. Check engine coolant level and, if
necessary, increase “antifreeze”protection. Check battery and charge if below 1.255 specific
gravity to avoid freezing and deterioration . Both battery cables should be disconnected to prevent
gradual discharge, and the possibility of fire due to short circuits. Check tire pressure. If low, inflate
to recommended pressure. Vehicles are best stored in clean, dry, closed or roofed area If vehicle is subject to corrosive fumes or bird droppings, vehicle should be covered

If the vehicle is to be stored where the wind might move the cover extensively, the cover should be
tightly secured to prevent rub through on paint. Run the engine until completely warmed up before turning off the ignition (at fast idle for a minimum of fifteen minutes). Be sure that all windows are closed. Leave parking brake in the “off” position. If car is equipped with a manual transmission, the lever should be placed in reverse. Check trunk and glove compartment for personal items that might freeze or deteriorate with time.

STORAGE BEYOND SIX MONTHS OR OVER A YEAR

Exterior Finish Body and Sheet Metal Finish: Before storage, the car finish should be
checked over for any foreign substances that might have accumulated on the finish, such as grease
spots, oil, tar, splotches of mud, etc. which may possibly have a detrimental effect on the finish of a
lacquered surface if allowed to stay on. The car should be thoroughly washed and waxed prior to storage. A cloth or paper cover should be put over at least the roof, hood and front fenders to keep them free from dust accumulation and as a precaution against foreign matter falling onto the paint, through windows or other openings.

BODY

Front floor mats should be left in their normal position on the floor. Apply body wax to the inte-
rior chromium plated parts. Precautions should be taken to keeprats, mice or other vermin from
reaching interior. Exterior Chromium Plated Parts Clean all exterior chromium plated pans with chrome cleaner and polish, and apply body wax or GM chrome guard as a protective coating. Petroleum can be used as a protective coating, but it collects dirt and is therefore troublesome to clean off when the ear is removed from storage.

ENGINE

Start and run engine until completely warm. Drain engine oil and replace filter element, refill with fresh oil. After oil has been replaced, remove air cleaner and pour one-half to one pint of l0 W or lighter oil into carburetor air intake with engine running. Pour slowly at first, then rapidly using last quarter to stall engine. Replace air cleaner. If vehicle is equipped with air conditioning, the unit should be operated during this final engine warm-up to lubricate compressor seals. Remove the spark plugs and squirt oil into the spark plug holes. Replace the spark plugs finger tight. When preparing the car to run, remove the spark lugs and crank the engine momentarily to assure that any excess oil is removed from the combustion chamber. Place paper bags over the carburetor air cleaner, crankcase ventilator valve outlet, and tail pipe, securing them in place with twine. This is especially important when storing cars in locations near the seashore, where salt air might enter the engine or exhaust system. Move the generator toward the engine as far as possible to relieve tension on the fan belt If car is to be stored morethan one year, remove the cylinder head and coat all internal parts of the engine (cylinder bore, combustion chamber, valves and seas, valve stems, etc.) with cap grease. Your local Pontiac dealer can assist you in performing this operation.

COOLING SOLUTIONS

Drain the coolant from the radiator, cylinder block and the heater. Disconnect the hose at the
heater to drain it completely; then, reconnect the hose. If the coolant is to be left in the engine, make sure that enough antifreeze is in the cooling system and heater to insure adequate protection from freezing

BATTERY

If freezing temperatures are expected, the battery should be removed from the vehicle and stored
in a cool dry area at above freezing temperatures. Caution: As part of the normal function of an automobile storage battery, hydrogen gas is produced through chemical action. This gas is toxic and extremely combustible when mixed with air. Do not store battery where it will be exposed to sparks or open flame, nor where it is exposed to children

TIRES

Place the car in the location where it is to be stored and support on jacks or stands at all four wheels
to relieve weight from tires. Six conditions should be observed in connection with the storage of tires,
either on or of the car. 1. a cool place; 2. under no load; 3. a darkplace; 4. a dry place; 5. no air current 6, no contact with grease.Normal seepage will soon relieve pressure. Under no conditions should direct sunlight be allowed to reach the tires. If this cannot be avoided, then some sort of light-proof covering should be placed over the exposed tire. If tires have picked up oil or grease on the tread, the accumulation should be cleaned off with a cloth wet with alcohol. DO NOT USE KEROSENE, GASOLINE, CARBON TETRACHLORIDE, DUCO
THINNER OR ANY OTHER PETROLEUM PRODUCT.

GAS TANK

Drain the gasoline tank. Run the engine until it stops, using up as much as possible of the remaining
fuel. Disconnect the carburetor gasoline line at the air pump to allow gas to drain from this line.
Disconnect tank to fuel pump line at fuel pump and blow line out with air. Crank engine over five or six
times to empty the pump. Reconnect both gasoline lines.

RUBBER

All rubber weather-strips such as are used around doors, deck or trunk openings, and window ventilators, as well as rubber gaskets with exposed edges around tail lights, cowl ventilator lid gaskets, etc., should be painted with silicone grease.

INTERIOR

All upholstery and floor coverings should be thoroughly cleaned. Front floor mats should
be left in their normal position on floor. Apply body wax to the interior chromium plated parts. The
entire interior should be sprayed with a stainless moth preventative, i.e.. dichloricide. Apply a high quality furniture wax to the decorative wood inserts in the interior. It is also recommended that doors be left closed, and that the trunk and deck lid be locked to prevent rats, mice and squirrels from destroying the upholstery.

CONVERTIBLE CARS

The tops of convertible should not be collapsed. Care should be exercised to keep oil or grease of any kind from either top or leather upholstery. Put paper cover over top to prevent dust and din from penetrating the fabric. Coat folding top plated parts with body wax. Do not store in sunlight or near heat. Observe precautions
concerning rubber weatherstrips as listed under Rubber.

MISCELLANEOUS

DO NOT DRAIN THE ENGINE OIL. Remove the windshield wiper arms and blades and store in vehicle.
PLACING THE CAR IN SERVICE

It is especially important to take every precaution and make sure that the tires, battery, engine and other units especially prepared for storage are properly attended to before the car is put in service. We therefore suggest that you mount the tires and wheels on the car, put in fully charged battery, then have a qualified mechanic thoroughly check your car.

Other Winter Storage Tip

If you park your car outside on the driveway this winter please remember to pull the windshield wipers up and away from the windshield so that they do not freeze to the glass.

by **mr71transam** Thu Nov 17, 2011 2:55 pm

Larry thanks for posting this. It's the perfect time of the year for it.

Tips for Storing your Car this Winter

Tips for Storing your Car this Winter

Re: Tips for Storing your Car this Winter