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Silver03SRT
10-12-2009, 10:09 AM
So this is the first time I am actually storing a car and not driving it for a few months. What should I do. Ive read that I should wash/wax the car, change oil and put it up on blocks. What if I dont have anything to put it on blocks with? Can I buy some mats or move the car every couple weeks. I wont be able to drive it since I am taking the insurance of it and just keeping comprehensive.
johnny--2k
10-12-2009, 10:37 AM
Wash, Wax, car cover, get a box of moth balls, divide into four sections in plastic baggies, keep the baggies open, put one under the hood, one in the front passenger footwell, one in the rear drivers footwell, one in the trunk to keep rats/mice/insects out, battery tender (I never have, but many reccommend it) and a nice warm or at least insulated garage.

I just take the battery out completely and keep it in the house where it's nice and toasty all winter.
07ROUSHSTG3
10-12-2009, 10:43 AM
i clean them, wax them, top off the tanks, and remove the batteries. i litter a bunch of dryer sheets around the car inside and out, and put some rat/mouse traps around each wheel.

I put the roush on jackstands the first year but it was such a pain in the ass i will never do it again. everyone has their own way of doing it.

use dryer sheets over moth balls. does the same thing and they smell much nicer.
SLOWC5
10-12-2009, 10:45 AM
I never had a "flat spot" with radials on our cars...
CPonyGo
10-12-2009, 10:49 AM
bias flat spot- radials dont - thats why they developed them...I wash and clean- gas it and park it..they are not parked all that long..
07ROUSHSTG3
10-12-2009, 10:54 AM
i have also heard not to start the vehicle and let it run for a few minutes, like some do. creates moisture and condensation.
johnny--2k
10-12-2009, 10:55 AM
correct, don't start it, just let it be. Dryer sheets are also a better idea than moth balls, never even thought of that one, nice call!
Burgandy85SS
10-12-2009, 10:57 AM
I clean it up, put a battery tender on, full tank a gas, and cover it up that basically it. Just last year I put stabil in the gas but never did it in the past either way never had a problem with the gas.
Mine sits from Usually the day after thanksgiving to April 1st.
Do any of you guys start them durring the time there stored?
CPonyGo
10-12-2009, 10:59 AM
never had problem....15 years of storing and the doing the same m.o.

hell cars are parked sometimes longer on lots...with minimal start ups...
DirtyMax
10-12-2009, 11:03 AM
Wash, wax, put a can of Seafoam in the gas tank, go for one last ride to get it thru the entire system, top off tank, park, do the dryer sheets thing, take battery home to put in basement, look forward to nice weather.
OxmanWI
10-12-2009, 11:07 AM
Make sure to cover up the exhaust tips, last year some mice made a home and the next thing you know a shot gun of mice when I started her up!
jbiscuit
10-12-2009, 11:46 AM
2 capfulls of stabil in the tank, a fresh coat of wax and a cover and lock it up. Remove the battery and bring it in the house if the garage/storage is cold. Don't start it or anything. Just let it sit till spring. Always helps to crack a window just a minor amount to relieve pressure on the seals also. Never understood why people put cars on stands. If you are worried about the cold/damp floor, throw a tarp or plastic sheeting down and drive onto it
Dr.Buick
10-12-2009, 12:50 PM
I drive mine to my shop park it in the corner and leave it,I do nothing and starts every year np, bet it is heated to 70 degrees.
CPonyGo
10-12-2009, 01:57 PM
can I use your shop ;)
lilws6
10-12-2009, 01:59 PM
I usually just pour some stabil in the tank and run it for a while to get it in there but i'll be using seafoam on the bike and car this year I won't use a cover and i usually don't wash it because its dusty in my garage i wait until spring to wash it. I've never put it on stands. I don't start it while its parked. i havent' pulled the battery out but this year i will be because it died on me last year. (stupid alarm) pretty much the same wheni park the bike except i can pull my bike in the basement and keep it warm.
Yooformula
10-12-2009, 02:12 PM
I 2nd the seafoam, stabil is nothing more than ethanol....dont they put enough of that crap into the gas already? I wouldnt think you would need any of that for how short of a time it sits.
GTSLOW
10-12-2009, 02:13 PM
Make sure to cover up the exhaust tips, last year some mice made a home and the next thing you know a shot gun of mice when I started her up!

:rolf
jakedrew
10-12-2009, 02:57 PM
my thing with putting the on blocks is what if there is a fire or something in the garage and you have to get the car out quick.

I just roll mine foward a little here and there.
Feature Pony
10-12-2009, 03:21 PM
Or you can do all of the above like topping off the fluids and then putting the car in a bag. Thats where the cobra is going in 1 week, it will come out looking like when I just put it in!! http://www.carbag.com/
Waver
10-12-2009, 03:34 PM
I just wash the car, fil it up with premium, and park it in the garage......I do start it occaisionally.....and then drive it if the tires are a little low on air to the gas station down the block from where i store it
PureSound15
10-12-2009, 04:57 PM
Nick you must have something that resembles tread on your tires. I wouldn't make it a block in winter with my car.
Waver
10-12-2009, 05:04 PM
Nick you must have something that resembles tread on your tires. I wouldn't make it a block in winter with my car.

Last year I only had like 10,000 miles if that on the tires....this year, a bit more....I dont know if I am going to do that again.
xxtremeteam
10-12-2009, 05:43 PM
i wouldnt take my car out in the salt just to put air in a tire but thats me
Waver
10-12-2009, 05:53 PM
I didnt do it when it was salty eric....this was after we had that 3 week time period where it had started to thaw and there wasnt any salt on the ground. Besides, you know as well as me that the first time that car saw salt was when I brought it home from the dealership
A B4C Z
10-12-2009, 11:38 PM
Half tank. Looses octane as it sits anyway so why have a full tank. Dont use moth balls your car will smell like crap. dont change the oil. You need to change it when you take it out cause no matter what you will have mositure. If you dont belive it pull the oil cap off when you pick it up it will have some, so its in the oil. Staible/heet what ever dont use it just leave it at half tank and run it out and fill it in spring. Tires dont flat spot. Maybe if left for long time.

Wash it/wax it and throw a cover on it and call it a day.
RanJer
10-12-2009, 11:42 PM
Half tank. Looses octane as it sits anyway so why have a full tank. Dont use moth balls your car will smell like crap. dont change the oil. You need to change it when you take it out cause no matter what you will have mositure. If you dont belive it pull the oil cap off when you pick it up it will have some, so its in the oil. Staible/heet what ever dont use it just leave it at half tank and run it out and fill it in spring. Tires dont flat spot. Maybe if left for long time.

Wash it/wax it and throw a cover on it and call it a day.

You forgot "call Late Model Throttle to store it in a heated atmosphere for you"
TheRX7Project
10-13-2009, 02:52 AM
I never had a "flat spot" with radials on our cars...

I did. I let my old V-Dub sit on a flat over winter and the next year, shimmy shimmy shimmy all down the road. Come to think of it, the original tires on my 17's on my Escort were flat spotted from just sitting a few weeks on a flat.

Me? I disconnect the battery and toss a tarp over it (outside) or... just disconnect the battery if it's going indoor.

Last year the 7 stayed outdoor with just a tarp over it and the battery d/c'd and it fired right up when I went to get it.
michelle
10-15-2009, 06:09 PM
Well if the tire is flat to begin with, it would make sense to have a flat spot.
If you have an inflated tire and it doesn't sit for all that long, I think you are okay.
Obviously if you have slicks on and they are super super hot (a good, long heat cycle) and then you throw the car in storage, expect flat spots depending on the compound.
SLOWC5
10-15-2009, 08:39 PM
You forgot "call Late Model Throttle to store it in a heated atmosphere for you"

Damn Kyle!!!!!
T-Bag
10-15-2009, 09:41 PM
Always change the oil before storing, used oil becomes acidic and eats away at the bearings while it sits there.
PB86MCSS
10-15-2009, 11:31 PM
Half tank. Looses octane as it sits anyway so why have a full tank.

I plan to start doing this with mine this winter, I don't think there is that much moisture that builds up in the tank to cause rust but I am certain the gas starts going bad and after 5-6 months of sitting, it stinks to run it down anyways to get fresh gas in....kind of a waste with gas prices. I used mothballs one year and the smell was too much, dessicant bags/dryer sheets work for me. Still use Sta-bil out of habit though, disconnect battery and cover it. Used to take the battery with me and keep it stored in my house but where the SS is stored the temp is in the 50's at least and it's an Optima Red Top so I have faith it will keep over winter. I remove the one in my LS as it sits in my cold garage though.

I also change oil before I put it away but it still gets driven there post-oil change and I change it again but usually not right after bringing it out of storage. I've never had a problem in starting up my cars or storage related issues besides low tires one some cars, combined 15+ winters between them (and my old beater Cav was "stored" for a summer too :D ) . Knock on wood.

Of course have them washed and clean and put a cover on it too.