How To Winterize A GT

TweekedGT

New Member

Jul 22, 2004

1,274

0

0

Alberta

Oct 28, 2004

#1

• Oct 28, 2004

• #1

Hey Folks! This is the first year that i am actually going to fully winterize my GT when i park for the winter. What exactly are the best things to do for a car if you can't get it into a garage for the winter? Mine has to stay outside. i bought a car cover this year so that should help. i am planning on taking the battery out to keep it from going dead. What else do you need to do? Should you have a full tank of gas so the tank won't rust? Do you keep the tire pressure the same? Do any of you do anything special to your cars? Please help.

 

StangGrrLy

Miss StangNet 2003

Founding Member

Sep 25, 2002

1,330

0

0

Regina, Saskachewan

Oct 29, 2004

#2

• Oct 29, 2004

• #2

I'm not sure if any of this applies to storing a car outside, but here are some of the things I know people do when they store inside:

- fuel stabilizer
- really good wash/dry/wax if you have time
- car cover
- put it up on stands
- take out the battery
- put something on the inside to keep mice out (people use all kinds of different stuff)

I'm sure there are more things, but someone will chime in.

 

bigsparky

New Member

May 14, 2003

334

0

0

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Oct 29, 2004

#3

• Oct 29, 2004

• #3

Last year all I did was pull the battery, lock the doors, and walk away. You don't REALLY need fuel stabilizer, fuel stays "fresh" for quite a while.

 

CanadaStang

New Member

Sep 7, 2003

2,093

1

0

Mb

Oct 29, 2004

#4

• Oct 29, 2004

• #4

Fuel remains stable for a much longer time in colder temp. than in warm [winter storage vs summer] but you may as well dump some fuel stablizer in there anyway as it's pretty cheap insurance. I allways like to take the weight off the suspension and tires by jacking up and blocking the frame.
One thing to check for though if you are storing it outside, is to make sure your cover fits good and snug, otherwise the wind can make the cover flap like crazy and resulting in dull spots on your paint where the cover has been flapping.[first hand experiance ] Also, are you keeping the car registerd over the winter? In Manitoba, we can get storage insurance just incase something happens to your beast while it's enjoying it's winter slumber. Something to check into.

 

R

Red2000GT

Founding Member

Sep 10, 2000

2,450

0

46

Regina,Sask.Canada

Oct 29, 2004

#5

• Oct 29, 2004

• #5

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

TweekedGT

New Member

Jul 22, 2004

1,274

0

0

Alberta

Oct 29, 2004

#6

• Oct 29, 2004

• #6

Thanks for the tips everybody. I do have insurance when the car is parked just in case. I keep it on my jeep when I'm driving the stang during the summer. Thanks for the tip about the car cover Canadastang. I never would have thought of that. We're pretty lucky right now. i live in Medicine Hat it has been about 12C everday for about 2 weeks. We had 1 day of snow and then it melted. I hope to keep the stang on the road for the next few weeks but it's looking pretty grim. Thanks again everybody!!

 

OD

Founding Member

Aug 18, 1998

323

0

0

Calgary, Ab Canada

Oct 30, 2004

#7

• Oct 30, 2004

• #7

i just tucked mine away for the winter today... man oh man.. its gonna be a long winter with out her...

 

aete2

Founding Member

Nov 23, 2001

554

3

19

Nov 1, 2004

#8

• Nov 1, 2004

• #8

OD said:

i just tucked mine away for the winter today... man oh man.. its gonna be a long winter with out her...

Click to expand...

Thats for sure !!! 6 months with out it sucks.

 

OD

Founding Member

Aug 18, 1998

323

0

0

Calgary, Ab Canada

Nov 1, 2004

#9

• Nov 1, 2004

• #9

we need to start a support group or something...

 

D

DELUXE MW

New Member

Dec 31, 2003

105

0

0

Melville Saskatchewan Canada

Nov 2, 2004

#10

• Nov 2, 2004

• #10

you can fling mothballs allover the inside of the car to try keep mice out whether it works I dunno but I never get mice in my car you can get better smelling mothballs and they dissolve over winter so there are no ill effects to sticking them down your defrost ducts

 

aete2

Founding Member

Nov 23, 2001

554

3

19

Nov 3, 2004

#11

• Nov 3, 2004

• #11

OD said:

we need to start a support group or something...

Click to expand...

LOL

 

M

mwdguy

I gave my car a rim job!

Founding Member

May 27, 2002

504

0

0

Edmonton, AB Canada

Nov 10, 2004

#12

• Nov 10, 2004

• #12

car covers are usually meant for indoors,

also when you put it up on stands make sure the weight is still on the suspension. Dont forget steel wool in your exhaust tips.

 

Dustin 86GT

Member

Mar 2, 2002

49

4

8

Canada Eh

Nov 10, 2004

#13

• Nov 10, 2004

• #13

Whenver I have stored cars I have placed some cardboard or an old blanket under the car. It can help to prevent frost from forming on the bottom of your car (if you are storing outside). Obviously it can also catch any stray leaks that may form. I also open the window a 1/2 inch during the late winter to release any moisture that may become trapped in the car.

Dustin

 

S

Silvr04GT

Founding Member

Feb 4, 2002

1,131

0

37

San Jose, CA

Nov 10, 2004

#14

• Nov 10, 2004

• #14

I stored my car a few weeks ago and this is what I did:
-took out the battery
-put a box of baking soda in (keeps the air from going stale)
-put it on jack stands (again make sure the weight is on the suspension)
-Stuff cloths in the tailpipes (I've never heard of the steel wool in there before, is there a reason that'd be better than a cloth?)
-Car cover

As far as mice if the car in off the ground would it not be kinda hard for a mouse to get in your car?

Oh and as far as late model car covers, I bought a ford one and there are two models, indoor and outdoor. The indoor one is listed as the three ply and outdoor is listed as single ply. It's super nice, has a Mustang logo on the front and little holes all over to let it breathe. I got it for $350 taxes in, regular price is $350 plus tax.

 

Putter

New Member

Dec 5, 2002

147

0

0

Calgary

Nov 10, 2004

#15

• Nov 10, 2004

• #15

The steel wool instead of cloth is to keep the mice from eating the cloth. They won't chew steel wool, but they do like to nest in rags laying around and it could actually attact them to your exhaust.
Some people (others say it doesn't work) like to grate up a bar of Irish Spring soap to repel the mice also. Put clumps in stategic places where they may be trying to climb up.

 

CanadaStang

New Member

Sep 7, 2003

2,093

1

0

Mb

Nov 10, 2004

#16

• Nov 10, 2004

• #16

DELUXE MW said:

you can fling mothballs allover the inside of the car to try keep mice out whether it works I dunno but I never get mice in my car you can get better smelling mothballs and they dissolve over winter so there are no ill effects to sticking them down your defrost ducts

Click to expand...

I heard the mothball thing worked so I tried that with my snowmobile. When I went to check on it, mice had gathered up all the mothballs and incorperated them into the nest they had made under the hood.

 

D

DELUXE MW

New Member

Dec 31, 2003

105

0

0

Melville Saskatchewan Canada

Nov 17, 2004

#17

• Nov 17, 2004

• #17

mmmm well so much for that idea the little buggers probably eat them

 

OD

Founding Member

Aug 18, 1998

323

0

0

Calgary, Ab Canada

Nov 17, 2004

#18

• Nov 17, 2004

• #18

no i dont think moth balls will work well.

looks like soap is the way to go