winter store....

[Karl]

I never liked the idea of any of my Corvette's sitting in the garage all winter. Usually I will take the car out and drive as long as the roads are clear of salt and snow.

Car has been sitting in the garage for two Weeks, so I started it today, let it run for about 20 minutes. Got the oil temp to ~160° & coolant to ~200.

I also keep the battery connected to a battery tender and move the car so not to get a flat spot on the tires.

Anything I am missing with storing this car for the winter?

[Dynomite]

Title should be winter storage sorry!

I disconnect my negative battery cable if the Z will not be driven for a week or more (8mm ratchet box wrench).

Keep Mice out of engine compartment using Bounce ;)

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll142/dynomite007/Maintenance%20ZR1/3b990d08-7c4c-4ec6-b45f-432749da9a22.jpg (http://s287.photobucket.com/user/dynomite007/media/Maintenance%20ZR1/3b990d08-7c4c-4ec6-b45f-432749da9a22.jpg.html)

[XfireZ51]

Karl,

I agree w warming up the fluids and getting joints moving during the winter. Helps keep the tires from flatspotting. I try waiting till temps are at least in the 30's so the oil flows a bit easier. Also, I agree with Dyno about disconnecting the negative cable on the battery.

[Paul Workman]

Also, I agree with Dyno about disconnecting the negative cable on the battery.

Better, perhaps to disconnect than not to, due to parasitic current draw (PCM & maybe the CCM too = 'keep alive'. But, a lead acid battery will sulfate and loose a few % of the plate surface area every month. There are several "smart" chargers on the market now, and personally I like the little 800mA Battery Tender. It keeps the battery fresh and still provides the "keep alive" current for the ECM, etc.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x220/6PPC_bucket/tech%20files/005_zpsa5d3b06e.jpg (http://s185.photobucket.com/user/6PPC_bucket/media/tech%20files/005_zpsa5d3b06e.jpg.html)

I've had one on Ami's Vette since 2005, still fresh as a daisy, and now I'm getting kinda curious how long it might last! The battery in the Z has been there since 2007; both are Wally World batteries, and it too is fresh to this day.

The EPa was successful in closing down the last lead smelter in the USA just this past fall. I wouldn't expect there to be a "run on lead", as there are mountains of dead batteries and wheel weights still available. However, cost of lead will rise, and the cost of batteries will rise as well.

(The EPA ratcheted up new environmental regulations making it impossible for the last lead smelter to remain in business...in the USA Another US industry quashed...don't get me started!!:mad:)


P.

[XfireZ51]

Anybody ever done the 9v battery in the "cigarette lighter" thing to keep radio and ECM alive but disconnect the battery.

Paul,

I have wondered if pulling the negative battery cable also reduces the amount of electrolysis happening in the chassis and other points?

[cvette98pacecar]

I am a big advocate for a tender instead of disconnecting the battery. My 98 has been on a tender since new. 15 years and I have no had to change the battery.

[Karl]

I purchased a battery tender from O'Riley's autoparts, 12v @ 750mA for $41.99 plus tax. Good investment. After reading the instructions, it says you can use it with the battery connected or disconnected. If connected, ground the tender to the chassy and put the positive line to the battery. I went ahead and left the battery connected and grounded the battery tender to the chassy per the instructions.

So far so good. I put some moth balls in the garage too.

[emmvette]

I put my cat in the garage at night for the winter instead of sleeping outside, so I can skip the bounce!

[WARP TEN]

I never liked the idea of any of my Corvette's sitting in the garage all winter. Usually I will take the car out and drive as long as the roads are clear of salt and snow.

Car has been sitting in the garage for two Weeks, so I started it today, let it run for about 20 minutes. Got the oil temp to ~160° & coolant to ~200.

I also keep the battery connected to a battery tender and move the car so not to get a flat spot on the tires.

Anything I am missing with storing this car for the winter?

I agree with your approach. One extra thing: We have an operation nearby called the Last Detail which sells older cars, does restorations and stores about 100 or more high end specialty cars for people. They have about a dozen of Michael Jordan's cars, for example. One thing they do is put the tire pressure up to 60 psi to prevent flat spotting. Says it works fine and does no damage. I am now doing it with my Z (up on the lift) and they only thing that surprises me is how round the tires look! Very small contact patch. But set them back to 35 or so if you plan to drive it. --Bob