Hi all.

Up here in the frosty north (Milwaukee, WI) the weather has gone from decent to frickin' freezing within the last couple of days. It's getting to be time to put the car away and I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for winter storage (aside from a big box of tissues to wipe away the tears). I've read a little bit and have seen advice speaking of disconnecting the battery but haven't really looked hard enough to find anything else.

Questions include:

-Top up or down? Do I want all the stress on the fabric through the cold temperatures? I intend on covering her either way but want to make sure.

-Blocks? Let her sit on the ground?

-Is heated really going to help enough to justify spending money on it? Never really stored a car before...

-There's been reference to starting the car once a month and letting it run with some mention of an argument against it, have I just misread or is this true?

-I've seen products to put in the gas tank to preserve fuel throughout periods of storage, is this necessary/safe for the S2000?

I'm sure that some (if not all) of these issues have been discussed ad nauseum on the forums here; if this is the case a re-post would be wonderful. Thanks for your time, sorry I have to bring this up so early on in the season.

Best regards,
Chazzguitar

 

Here is what I do personally, some people do more, and some do less.

-Wash Car
-Wax car
-Fill gas tank to full
-Change oil
-Detail inside of car
-Remove all junk (cds, radar detector, etc.)
-Stuff a old shop rag in each exhaust pipe
-Stuff a clean towel into the intake
-condition the top (I personally use 303)
-Put a moth ball and dessicant pad on a paper plate and set it in the car
-Release the hooks on the soft top
-inflate tires to 40 psi
-Put the car cover on
-suspend insurance (call your insurance company and tell them you want to store your car for the winter)
-Leave it alone for the winter

You do not want to start the car up unless you plan on driving it, only starting it up in the spring will reduce the metal to metal action that happens when you first start up the car. In the spring, start it up and let it run until if completely warms up and then drive it like a grandma for a few miles. There is more you can do, but I cant find the thread right now. I hope that helps.

-Ian

 

Cover the (clean) car with the top up but not latched.
Putting the car up on stands will keep flat spots from developing on the tires.
As mentioned above plugging the intake and exhaust is an excellent idea.
I would suggest a battery tender hookup if possible.
Run a can of injector cleaner like Techron through the system and then change the oil right before storage.
If you're going to store the car for more than 2/3 months you might consider putting some sta-bil in the gas.