Storing for the winter

[51Deluxe]

Looking to put up my car for the winter, thought I would share the plan and see what the experts think:

1) Fill the tank (to displace air) with non ethanol gas, then add some Sta-bil

2) put an unvented gas cap on to seal the system

3)Check antifreeze, make sure it is good down to zero

4) wash the car and let it dry

5) Put on a fleece lined car cover

Battery is an Optima which probably doesn't need a trickle charge- but I can do that if needed.

The car will be in an unheated garage, outside temps may get as low as 5 degrees or so here in TN. An alternate plan would be to just cover the car and pull the cover and crank it up once a month.  Any opinions? What do you guys do for the winter season?

[Fid]

Here in MN winter lasts from August till June (ok, that may be an exaggeration but it's getting closer to true every year it seems) and the temps got to 30 below last year and a few other times. I always do everything  you mention and I never had any problems getting them started in the spring. Some times  you get a sticky wheel cylinder which usually frees up on its own but other than that, no problems.

[boatingbill]

51Deluxe: I would do as you said and add the following:

Change oil and filter (don't leave dirty oil in the motor all Winter).

Grease all fittings.

Block car up to take the weight off tires.

I would then start the car several times during the Winter, but if not then do what we did to boat engines
and fog the motor by removing the plugs and spray Marine  Fogging Oil (looks like shaving cream) into the
cylinders and crank the motor over several times and reinstall the plugs. This will coat the cylinders and the
valves with oil reducing chance of stuck rings and valves.

[Logan]

Or just drive it! (Not on salty roads, though.)

[51Deluxe]

51Deluxe: I would do as you said and add the following:

Change oil and filter (don't leave dirty oil in the motor all Winter).

Grease all fittings.

Block car up to take the weight off tires.

I would then start the car several times during the Winter, but if not then do what we did to boat engines
and fog the motor by removing the plugs and spray Marine  Fogging Oil (looks like shaving cream) into the
cylinders and crank the motor over several times and reinstall the plugs. This will coat the cylinders and the
valves with oil reducing chance of stuck rings and valves.

Probably overkill in my climate, since it will only be off the road about 3 months.

[BigDave LM6174]

Ship it out on a car carrier and I will care for it until your weather improves.  It is 75 Here in Los Angeles area.   Fill it with gas before you send it out, gas more expensive here. 

[51Deluxe]

Big Dave, you might have an idea there for an entirely new business model. "Classic Car Winter Re-location". Just $5000 puts your wheels in paradise for the entire season. Someone with a 300SL might actually bite! I can see the ad in Hemmings now... Big Dave's Paradise Hotel for cars... day spa, luxury tire rotation, synthetic oil change while surrounded by cars of the stars....driven a short distance daily by Jay Leno...

[Corsairdeluxe]

A friend of mine used to sell huge plastic bags . You could put your car into one and seal it!

[Aeroman]

So where do I click the "like" button?

[MarkH]

51Deluxe: I would do as you said and add the following:

Change oil and filter (don't leave dirty oil in the motor all Winter).

Grease all fittings.

Block car up to take the weight off tires.

I would then start the car several times during the Winter, but if not then do what we did to boat engines
and fog the motor by removing the plugs and spray Marine  Fogging Oil (looks like shaving cream) into the
cylinders and crank the motor over several times and reinstall the plugs. This will coat the cylinders and the
valves with oil reducing chance of stuck rings and valves.

All good additions.

As a last winterizing step I have read to run a boat engine at idle and spray fogging oil in the carb till it chokes out & dies, which is the method I go for spraying 2 cans at once.

I don't think I'd go with an unvented cap. I leave my boat's fuel fill a half turn from tight to keep the O-ring from sealing. On the years I forgot, in the spring warm up, pressure builds up and burps enough gas out the vent to make a puddle on the floor. Never had a problem with stale or contaminated fuel using stabilizer in a full tank, even with gasohol.