Hey guys, I am going to be taking my car off the road or so for the winter. Last winter I decided to drive my car and it was such a hassel. I swear the camaro is a 3 season car. So this winter I'm going to take it off the road, leave it my parents house for the winter. Is there anything in particular I should do for it to prep it for the long sit? Thanks in advance!

- Tom

 

Make sure to start it up at least once a week, and you prolly wanna put in some thinner oil, like 5W-30 if it gets really cold there.

 

try to use as much gas as u can, old gas can pose new problems when returning to the road. i agree with starting it,

will it be stored in a garage? if so, put some deacon in the engine compartment/inside to keep those pesky mice out.

 

My car has been sitting under a cover in my driveway since June. It will continue to be there with the occasional drive around the block because I dropped insurance on it to save more money for mods. I plan on it sitting for at least until next september when I move into an apartment in Philly for school and can register it and insure it in PA. This summer = tons of mods Any suggestions besides the ones stated above? Sorry to take the thread, but it didn't make sense to start a new one.

~Matt

 

I was reading this yesterday. It should be all you need. Take a look.

http://www.askmen.com/toys/cars/51_car_review.html

 

I heard detaching the negative cable on the battery can be a good way for it to stay charged too. Lets be realistic, you are probably not going to start your car once a week like suggested.

 

I have a full tank and disconnected my battery. Unfortunately its got no garage. It'll just be covered and between my parents house and a big fence THanks guys!!

 

you heard right, when we park our buses at our lot in florida, we always tell our drivers to disconnect the cables. We do it on our lot here in ohio too, either that or risk having to charge the battery up when you want to move it.

excellent advice

 

Thanks guys i'll disconnect the neg cable. Also, it's tough for me to start it once a week since my car is an hour and a half away I miss it a lot, but that is a different story. I usually ask one of my parents to do it if they get a chance every weekend. When I am home, I do start it and take it for a spin.

~Matt

 

i'm in college as a freshman. and i can't have a car here, so the 'bird is gonna sit in the drive way with a cover on anyways, i've been having my mom go out and start it, let it idle, rev it a little, and then turn it off, and recover it. she usually does it every 2 - 3 weeks. i just want to make sure everything it going good with the car when I'm away. although, i don't think i'm going to have her disconnect the battery, because it would be a HUGE hassel to ask my mom to uncover the car, pop the hood, reconnect it, start the car, turn it off, disconnect the cable again and recover it ALL IN LIKE 15 degree weather.

 

I was thinking that too Dingley. If I asked too much of my parents, they probably wouldn't do it once a week, haha.

~Matt

 

as for the gas your better off with a full tank so you don't develop condensation. just add a good stabilizer and run the car for a bit to get it in all the lines ect. Make sure your car cover breathes other wise it will destroy your paint if moisture gets under the cover and has no way to evaperate. putting car up on stands is an option too to protect your tires and suspension for siting in one spot for so long. its is alot like putting up a boat for the winter. except i see no need to fog your engine with oil although there may be some school of though on that.

Jeff

ps add a good airfreshner for the interior you be glad ya did in the spring.