winter storage
October 8th, 2007, 06:16 AM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: hamilton ont canada
Posts: 38
winter storage
hello all
im going to be putting my car in storage in the next few weeks and im wondering what i should do to the car before parking it.
its going in to a warehouse that is heated.
i can stop by once or twice a week to start it. but not sure.
im going to be putting my car in storage in the next few weeks and im wondering what i should do to the car before parking it.
its going in to a warehouse that is heated.
i can stop by once or twice a week to start it. but not sure.
October 8th, 2007, 06:59 AM
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Shiremanstown, PA
Posts: 84
Hey BonesBMX,
I asked around about this last year. Some of the feedback I got is below:
- Disconnect the battery so there's no drain. Since the warehouse is heated, you should be okay to leave it in the car. If it was cold, you should take it out. Cold is apparently bad for batteries.
- Put Stabil (gas stabilizer) in the gas tank to keep the gas gasey.
- Putting the car on 4 jack stands was recommended to me. This is so the tires don't develop flat spots. It also gives the suspension a rest for a while.
- Changing the fluids (oil, coolant) right before you box it up was also recommended to me.
- If the warehouse floor emanates moisture, you may want to park the car (or wrap the bottom of the car) on plastic sheeting to discourage rust. You can get this reasonably cheap at any hardware store.
- If pesky rodents are a possible problem, you may want to block any holes (tail pipes, etc).
- Put a desiccant (silica, baking soda, yearone has one) inside the car to keep it dry. This sucks up the moisture that causes mildew and yuck smells.
- A clean car in storage is a happy car.
You may not need to do all this stuff since you're in a heated space, but I hope this helps!
Russ
I asked around about this last year. Some of the feedback I got is below:
- Disconnect the battery so there's no drain. Since the warehouse is heated, you should be okay to leave it in the car. If it was cold, you should take it out. Cold is apparently bad for batteries.
- Put Stabil (gas stabilizer) in the gas tank to keep the gas gasey.
- Putting the car on 4 jack stands was recommended to me. This is so the tires don't develop flat spots. It also gives the suspension a rest for a while.
- Changing the fluids (oil, coolant) right before you box it up was also recommended to me.
- If the warehouse floor emanates moisture, you may want to park the car (or wrap the bottom of the car) on plastic sheeting to discourage rust. You can get this reasonably cheap at any hardware store.
- If pesky rodents are a possible problem, you may want to block any holes (tail pipes, etc).
- Put a desiccant (silica, baking soda, yearone has one) inside the car to keep it dry. This sucks up the moisture that causes mildew and yuck smells.
- A clean car in storage is a happy car.
You may not need to do all this stuff since you're in a heated space, but I hope this helps!
Russ
October 8th, 2007, 07:36 AM
#3
Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Edmond, OK
Posts: 15,890
I stored my car for about a year in a storage unit. When I started the car after a year I found that the brake master cylinder didn't have any fluid in it. I started the car and drove it around the parking lot only to find that I didn't have any brakes. 
I stopped by shifting into neutral and using the E-brake. I guess the fluid leaked out of the master cylinder or just evaporated if I didn't have a good seal on the master cylinder. After putting fluid in it and bleeding the brakes everything worked like a charm.
I stopped by shifting into neutral and using the E-brake. I guess the fluid leaked out of the master cylinder or just evaporated if I didn't have a good seal on the master cylinder. After putting fluid in it and bleeding the brakes everything worked like a charm.
October 8th, 2007, 09:01 AM
#4
IT'S REALLY A 78
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 50
when I drove my project out of the shed it had been in for 4 years, it also had zero brakes. I installed a reman master cylinder for the previous owners prior to it being parked due to no reverse in the TH 200 trans. so I assume the rubber inside it had deteriorated. on a good note, the 1/2 tank of gas in it was still ok, I drained it, and ran it in my suburban with no problems
Last edited by jeffs 89 cutlass salon; October 8th, 2007 at 09:09 AM.
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