Winter Storage

[Glen C.]

I've still got a month or two before I have to store the Corvette for the winter. I've never had a car that I took off the road for the winter season so this is all new to me. Any tips as to what steps to take for the winter?

Thanks,

Glen

[Paul H.]

Re: Winter Storage

Glen, you put them away for the winter in Georgia? Up here in the Northeast I have always changed the oil before prolonged periods of sitting. I give it a good detailing/polish and put on a battery tender. I've never used Stabil and I usually find a couple of days during the winter months when the roads are clear and dry and give them some exercise.

[Tom H.]

Re: Winter Storage

I don't do much special. I do pump the tires up a bit over pressure to keep from flat spotting. I crack the windows a bit, plug in the battery tender, cover it up, fire up the furnace, kick on the dehumidifier and wait for spring. I do ad some Stabil to the fuel. I have seven cars that I have stored for years with no issues using this technique.

Fresh fluids and a warm dry environment and battery tenders are your best friends.

[Pat M.]

Re: Winter Storage

I sure don't put 'em away in South Louisiana. What passes for our "winter" is my favorite time to drive my cars!

[Duke W.]

Re: Winter Storage

Not a whole lot to do - fresh oil, pump up the tires, several options on the battery... This subject has been discussed extensively over that last 10 years, so you might want to check the archives.

Duke

[Paul J.]

Re: Winter Storage

Glen:

I don't understand why you'd store it, heck I ride my bike throughout the winter. You're looking at what, 30-45 days in mid January through February? Even then there will be some nice days the temps will go into the 60's. Put some Stabil in it and if you're really concerned run it around the block every other week.

Paul

[Michael W.]

Re: Winter Storage

Glen:

if you're really concerned run it around the block every other week.

Paul

Short trips just for the sake of short trips are not a good idea. Let sleeping dogs (Corvettes) lie.

[Paul J.]

Re: Winter Storage

Short trips just for the sake of short trips are not a good idea. Let sleeping dogs (Corvettes) lie.

Your opinion. You would assume that he'd warm it up. Spiritied driving for 15 or 20 miles will more than eliminate any condensate in the exhaust. There's nothing wrong with trips like this...my opinion.

[Duke W.]

Re: Winter Storage

"Short trips" are a "few miles" - the engine doesn't fully warm up or is only fully warmed up for a few minutes.

Over the typical life of an engine, 80 percent of wear occurs during cold start and warmup, so don't start it up and "warm it up in the garage" during short term storage, and avoid "short trips".

When an opportunity arises to drive the car during "storage" drive it for at least 30 minutes.

Duke

[Tom H.]

Re: Winter Storage

This is just my opinion but I agree to let 'em sit. No sense to warm them up just to let them cool off again. JMO !

[Michael W.]

Re: Winter Storage

Your opinion. You would assume that he'd warm it up. Spiritied driving for 15 or 20 miles will more than eliminate any condensate in the exhaust. There's nothing wrong with trips like this...my opinion.

Yes, but your first post said around the block. 20 miles is better than a short trip of a mile or two, but there's no need to start the engine or drive the car while supposedly 'stored'.

[Steven B.]

Re: Winter Storage

Glen, I used to live north of Atlanta and I maintained mine there for winter as I did for summer, fluids up and fresh, tire pressures up, etc. The weather was such that I could drive for about an hour every week or two. They were stored in my garage under the house with a little heat and dehumidifier along with car covers. I used battery tenders.

Steve

[Rick S.]

Re: Winter Storage

Around the block in the city is less than .5 mile while around the block in Texas could be 100 miles.
Rick

[Glen C.]

Re: Winter Storage

Thanks everyone for the information. I know I'm only dealing with a couple of months here in Georgia but I didn't want to miss anything obvious.

Glen