Short term storage

[John Boothby]

If you were to store your car for a period of 6 mos, which would be best:

Remove battery?
Remove battery and put on trickle charger?
Leave battery in car, put on trickle charger?
Leave battery in car without trickle charger?

Thanks.

By the way, it is a brand new battery.

[JimZRyd]

I keep mine in the garage on a Battery Tender year round. Sometimes it sits for a month or so before I get to do anything with her (actually its been parked since I returned from a show in May). If you are for sure its going to be 6 months or longer I'd add, top the fuel tank off and put in a fuel stabilizer like Sta-Bil 360. Some might say add extra air to tires but I've never done that. I'm sure others will chime in with some great advice!

[John Boothby]

Thanks. I am doing this for a friend that lives down the street. She has an '85 and a '06. She is going back to Florida for the winter and I am going to look after her cars for her. I am going to start them up once a month. I told her to top the tanks and to add fuel stab. I would just put a battery tender on them between startups. She said she wanted to remove the battery from the '85, so I was just checking around to see what would be best.

[Demps]

JB,
Make sure the fuel stabilizer is ethanol compatible.

I've found it easier to "Battery Tender" tend the battery. Others have failed me...for which I would disconnect the battery.
Ted

[ghlkal]

Originally Posted by John Boothby

Leave battery in car, put on trickle charger?

I leave my battery connected with a battery tender junior on it.

[John Boothby]

Originally Posted by Demps

JB,
Make sure the fuel stabilizer is ethanol compatible.

Stabil?

I've found it easier to "Battery Tender" tend the battery. Others have failed me...for which I would disconnect the battery.
Ted

She just went out to buy a second Battery Tender.

[JimZRyd]

Checked the label on my Sta-Bil bottles in the garage...I've got a couple of the 360 and they say compatible with all gasoline and ethanol fuels. Not sure about the other ones they carry.

[Dynomite]

Originally Posted by John Boothby

If you were to store your car for a period of 6 mos, which would be best:

Remove battery?
Remove battery and put on trickle charger?
Leave battery in car, put on trickle charger?
Leave battery in car without trickle charger?

Thanks.

By the way, it is a brand new battery.

I am the odd ball
I leave the fully charged battery installed and disconnect the negative battery cable from battery (5/16 ratchet combination wrench). And....I do the same for Trucks, Tractors, ATVs, Lawn Mowers......and have for many years. Everything fires right up after sitting all winter long.

I do NOT use battery tenders (trickle charger) for the simple reason I like to turn electricity OFF where vehicles are stored. I also do NOT want any chance for spark or short during long term storage of vehicle.

I do fill fuel tanks before storage and use NO fuel stabilizers.
I do NOT start cars (Trucks, Tractors, ATVs, Lawn Mowers) periodically during that winter storage. If you do start the cars, make sure you get full engine temperatures to minimization condensation within a cool engine

[Vetman]

I have owned a 55 chev BA 265 PP stick and OD since 1967. Past 30 years often not started for up to 6 months. I have always kept the tank filled, in garage no additives and never had problem. In 2004 at 258,000 miles I removed the tank and sending/fuel lines and the inside of the tank was spotless, very shinny. My motor cycles and mowers have always had tanks filled over the winter and no additives. Have thrown gas guard in occasionally after a long winter. I feel gas stabile is unnecessary. I do live in a very dry climate. Also very cold winters.

[Jim Nolan]

Originally Posted by JimZRyd

Checked the label on my Sta-Bil bottles in the garage...I've got a couple of the 360 and they say compatible with all gasoline and ethanol fuels. Not sure about the other ones they carry.

Make sure the Sta-Bil is fresh also. Once opened it has a shelf life also, read the small print.