Winter Storage Tips
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,471
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From: Flintstone GA
Originally Posted by Chazmo,Mar 16 2010, 10:23 AM
Better yet, don't store it! 
vintagers!
vintagers!
How ya been Chaz? Long time no hear.
And Rob - good to hear from you too!
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 8,211
Likes: 135
From: Euclid, OH
If you followed the steps listed at the start of this thread, then no oil change is necessary. Many of us believe that it's best to change the oil before winter so that the contaminants that are in used oil don't sit in the engine all winter. So, you should have nice, fresh oil already there in the spring.
As to procedure, I first undo all the things like stuffing rags into the exhaust, intake, etc. Charge the battery (if needed) and install it, turn on the radio & reset it if necessary. Locate all the mothballs/peppermint/whatever you used to keep mice away. Deflate the tires back to normal pressure.
Finally, I use a trick I heard on this board some years ago. Pull the fuse for the fuel pump (check your owner's manual), then crank the engine for 10-15 seconds. That will get the oil flowing without starting it. Then, put the fuse back in & fire her up. I let her idle for at least a minute or two to allow time for the oil to finish cuirculating and warm up at least a bit.
For the first few miles, drive gently, work the brakes, shift the gears, let the various rubber parts soften up.
Then let 'er rip! That will pu t a big grin on your face, and remind you why you bought this car in the first place.
Or, you can be a little less pedantic, and you cvan just do the first part, then drive.
JonasM
As to procedure, I first undo all the things like stuffing rags into the exhaust, intake, etc. Charge the battery (if needed) and install it, turn on the radio & reset it if necessary. Locate all the mothballs/peppermint/whatever you used to keep mice away. Deflate the tires back to normal pressure.
Finally, I use a trick I heard on this board some years ago. Pull the fuse for the fuel pump (check your owner's manual), then crank the engine for 10-15 seconds. That will get the oil flowing without starting it. Then, put the fuse back in & fire her up. I let her idle for at least a minute or two to allow time for the oil to finish cuirculating and warm up at least a bit.
For the first few miles, drive gently, work the brakes, shift the gears, let the various rubber parts soften up.
Then let 'er rip! That will pu t a big grin on your face, and remind you why you bought this car in the first place.
Or, you can be a little less pedantic, and you cvan just do the first part, then drive.
JonasM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,204
Likes: 42
Today I have been cleaning under the hood and the K&N air filter. Tomorrow is waxing time and spraying some Son of a Gun on the plastic and rubber. After that I jack the car up on the "skates" and finally the car cover. The trickle charger is already plugged in.
