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.
How To Winterize A GT
- Thread starter TweekedGT
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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.
- 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
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
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.
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.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
i just tucked mine away for the winter today... man oh man.. its gonna be a long winter with out her...
OD
Founding Member
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.
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
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
Dustin
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.
-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.
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.
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
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.DELUXE MW said:
OD
Founding Member
