winterizing my Stang

[90]

ok, i live in michigan and winters knocken on my door.. ive talked to hissin a little bit about this but hes in a place that stays 97 when im having frost alerts this moring... so i need help... what do i do with fluids? oil, gas, transmission, the whole deal.. i need befor and after advice. new owner of a stang i wanna do it right.. its going in my garage.. i plan on starting it every week. <-- is that a good idea or no ? i was just wondering so i dont mess anything up if theres anyone that could give me some advise i would be vary thankful~!

 

[68torinogt]

View attachment 437144

 

[90]

View attachment 437142

ok anyone else ???

 

[Flavadave4]

do an oil change, make sure all fuids filled, If its a heated garage buy some of that sticky tape used for catching mice...put it around your tires. Put a tarp under it, open the windows a few inches and put a cover on it.

I have done that for a few years now with no problems

 

[90]

its not heated but i do have mise in it should i still do the tape thing or just run the car for 15 min to kill everything?

 

[Mustang78]

the tape is a good idea, it should keep some spiders and other critters from climbing up your tires and making your baby their new home.. it couldent hurt anyway, a tarp or piece of carbboard under the car will soak up oil leaks, and show you if you have any that youi didnt know about..fill fluids and change oil, start the car once a month if you feel like it, but it really isnt a big deal, but when you start it, let it get to operating temps, not just start the engine and kill it..that will shorten it's lifespan..or wait till a semi-nice day and go drive it for bit

~Mark~

 

[90]

thanks again for the advise...

 

[z2o_what]

id drive it for 30-40 min befor you part it (to get moisture out of exhaust).

put some steel wool in you tail pipes, to keeep rats out

if you dont block it up then roll it back or forward a couple feet each month to prevent flat spots in the tires

 

[90]

if i put steel wool in the tail pipes can i still start the car or do i have to take them out befor i start it ?

 

[sunil6784]

FIll up the tank and put some Fuel Sta-bil in it.
Put some pieces of wood under the tires so that the cold doesnt affect the tire.
Put some soda cans in the exhaust pipes....mice love them.
I use some a can of baking soda in the car to avoid a musty smell and some moth balls under the hood to deter insects/rodents.
Disconnect the battery, and you should be good.


I wouldn't start it without driving it....maybe once every few months and let it get up to operating temp.

 

[88_GT_5_oh]

step one pull motor and replace.... oh wait thats just me

what i ussually do is wash and wax it. then put a sheet over it and call it a day. no need to start it up but if you want to you could, i never do. i put a box of baking soda inside the car and it keeps it from getting musty. fuel stabilizer is a good idea and top it up as full as you can get it. i don't know how cold it gets there but i don't top up my coolant incase it freezes

in the spring time the first start up is more important. i have even heard of guys priming the oil pump to make sure everything is nicely oiled. personally i change the oil filter and oil then top up the coolant then fire it up. from there i ussualy replace my plugs and cap in the spring anyways.

you really don't need to make it too complicated

 

[DMAN302]

Me...battery out, dryer sheets in the interior, stabil in the tank, change the oil. I don't worry about the mice, very unlikely that they'd make it past dumber and dumber, I don't place anything in the pipes..but good idea. I don't start it simply because everything that oil makes contact with in the engine is not only already coated with oil...but will still be in 6 months, and I don't see the point of periodic dry starts on the internals when it offers no benefit what so ever. Seals won't dry out...trust me. I like to roll the car + or - a foot or two every couple weeks.

 

[Flavadave4]

a few years back i had a mouse get in there and leave presents all over the place, not to mention he pissed in the heater vents and everytime i turn on the fan i am blasted in the face with a Mouse Piss Aroma

 

[soontobefastfox]

As DMAN said take the battery out but don't put it directly on the ground but something between it because the battery can die if you leave it right on the concrete

 

[8950HO]

Get the car oil sprayed,(rust proofed),underneath.
Your only defence against rust!!!

 

[Aaron]

Do not start it every week. It's not good on the car. I start mine every 1-2 months and let it run for about 15 minutes then shut it back off again. Everything else (oil, Stabil, etc) seems to have been covered.

 

[jimdrechsler]

for the past 10 years i have:
1)washed the car
2)throw dryer sheets in back
3)disconnect the negative battery
4)kiss her goodbye.

come back months later and she starts right up every time!!!!

 

[z2o_what]

if i put steel wool in the tail pipes can i still start the car or do i have to take them out befor i start it ?

yeah... if you dont it will just blow out.

 

[DMAN302]

OH I forgot...I have been known to pull the cover off half way through winter and spend an entire night installing parts that COULD wait until spring when they can be enjoyed, but no I usually love to tear the car apart somewhere around mid January

 

[Shakerhood]

I found something good in an old car magazine that I tried last winter, put a thick sheet of plastic on the concrete and then 4 Sheets of plywood on the plastic and then park on the wood, it stops any water build up on the underside of the car as the Concrete is porous. I obviously change the oil, put a couple boxes of flow through baking soda inside, cover the car, put a bag of mothballs on the intake, lay a couple bars of Irish Spring Soap Bars under the car as it keeps rodents away! I also use Sta-Bil and I start and run the car up to Operating Temp about once a Month.