We had our first significant snow fall this morning (about 1" on the roads) and I wasn't going to take it to work but didn't feel like getting dropped off, picked up blah blah...so everything's cool until I pull into the Sunoco to get gas. Turning right into the parking lot and needed some momentum to get up the snow covered entry...lucky the coast was clear because I turned the wheel and did a 180 on the balding F1's. Woohoo..man was that fun...but clearly a signal to me to get things going on the whole winter storage thingie. So I did it, said I was never going to.... but did. Bought a 2003 Pontiac Minivan...couldn't pass up the deal for the mileage. Always said I'd get another SUV for the fam but fate stepped in. Anyways, this will be the last day the car ever sees snow again. I got some tips from a colleague about proper winter storage for his vehicle but don't know how well it applies so I need some advice from those who know or have seen snow... (I sense the Florida/Cali/Southern members are salivating and thinking of their responses now...:harhar I'm intending on 1) taking the wheels off and putting her up on jack stands (4 is good?) 2) Full tank of gas with some fuel stabilizer in it (thoughts?) to avoid condensation building up in the tank and stuff. 3) Fresh oil change and wax if I can find the weather for the wax job. 4) Using a trickle charger (battery tenders) from like a marine shop to keep the battery healthy..Starting her up once every 1-2 weeks to run for a few minutes. 5) Some sort of light car cover but don't know if I need one or not. My garage is also heated. Thoughts?
That sux Milan. I'm sure you'll miss driving your beast. A heated garage huh? Us SoCal boys don't know crap about that. Taking the wheels off, jack stands, car cover, trickle charger are all good. I actually thought your best bet was to drain the oil and such to. I'll let someone more knowledgeable chime in.
That first point is why my car will NEVER move from my house while theres snow on the ground hahaha...I bought the Ram 4x4 for that :thumb: NOOOOOOOOOOOO NOT A MINIVAN!...thats a sad day in a mans life when he has to purchase a minivan hahaha...even if its not his first...every day of his life that a minivan is purchased is a sad day hahaha and I think that you have covered all the basis...the temperature controlled garage is key and will help with the battery as well...as long as you run it a little bit every now and then i think all is well! Just dont let that bad boy fall off the jack stands when you start it up with the wheels off hahaha :rofl2:
well that cool. the minivan will serve you well thill the spring but im accually looking forward to the snow my car is an all weather car. on snowy days i go to the mall parking lot in the morning and put up 2 orange cones and do some figure 8 slides :grin:
Cool thanks bro...I figured that...except for the fuel stabilizer thingie....don't know much about that so I'll reserach it a bit. And yup, broke down and bought a minivan for the winter...lol...on the bright side, all the seats fold down if I need to haul some dead carcasses somewhere, it should come in handy... it's got ABS and traction control...um...that's it. Pretty boring I know. But hey! It's RED! (just for you Stevo) And a front wheel drive! Maybe I can do some snow slides and catch it on video! WOohOooO! :drool:
hahahah that would be a pretty sweet video of you goin nuts in a mini van... and red rocks!..i bet its TorRed even though its a pontiac right? hahaha i couldnt even imagine driving the SRT up here in VT...more than a foot of snow and its :cold:...that would suck...
Milan... move South. That's the only advice I can give. I lived in Buffalo, NY for 28 or so years... I know snow. For 6 years I've been in San Diego... can't say I miss the weather... room temperature here means its cool outside, grab a sweatshirt.
Once the oil is changed don't start it again till spring.The reason for changing the oil before storage is so all the contaminants and acids are out of the motor before the car is stored......if you start the motor it will defeat that purpose.A little fogging oil sprayed into the throttle body before you shut the car off for the last time will coat the cylinder walls and keep them perfect. Store the wheels on their sides on a piece of card board and stack them with a piece of cardboard between each one. Use some bounce dryer sheets in the interior and in the trunk......this will keep mice out of the car without the stench of mothballs.
Thanks guys...good to know about the start-up schedule too Erik since I have heard different stories. One guy said start it once a month...someone else said, once every 2 weeks...so this is good to know from the man. And Jason, you don't know how much I would love to move south but the wife and I have two good gigs going on here that are relatively safe jobs and then there's evryone we know and love here. However, I do keep trying to egg the other Jason (SRT8bby) to do the winter Home exchange program for 6 mths and even offered up my nanny to him free of use...He was tempted...but no cigar...CR*P!!!!!
yup last december i lost my front plastic splitter, u know the one that always scrapes, to the snow whats great is the skiing and snowboarding :good:
Milan, your best bet for winter storage is to have your car shipped to me while you deal with the white puff. I promise you'll get it back in one piece - although tire and brake wear may vary - no guarantees.
now...when you say "offered up my nanny to him free of use"...what kind of "uses" would that be speaking of hahahahaha :drugs:
