What must be done to park 4 Winter???

[Needle]

I want to park my 97 Cobra for the winter. What must be done? Full tank of gas, or little gas? Start it every day, once a week or less than this? Any advice could help. Thanks

 

[GONEN60]

I would like to know also

 

[StangYellow]

Full tank of gas.... Condensation will build up in your empty tank while going through temperarature changes, so its best to have the tank full. Remove the battery: You car will be dead by next spring from it sitting there, so bring it inside and hook it up to your battery charger. If you bring it to a garage for the winter, they require that your battery be removed for fire safety. I also stick some old rags in the tailpipes. Ive heard of animals finding their way in there. I have also had some mice living in my dirtbike, and eating away my whole foam air filter one season. So cover those pipes! Try to park the car on an asphalt surface, having moisture under a car, teamed up with dirt = rust. Get a breatheable car cover. Breatheable meaning the car cover can let air and moisture escape. Some of those expensive, heavy car covers trap water under there ALL winter long.... imagine what its like to have water marks embedded all winter long. Also.... if the car is outside, try and clean off the snow for this reason (moisture). When you get your car running in the spring, do an oil change as soon as you decide to put it on the road.

Thats all i can think of.

 

[Saleen201]

I have heard of two other things i will be doing.

1) putting moth balls under the car will keep rodents away dont know if it works but i guess it is worth trying, it isnt that expensive.

2) put a thing of baking soda inside the car to keep the musty smell out.

-Mike

 

[rpayne20]

I have mine stored for the winter now in my garage.....the suggestions above are very good. along with those i also put dryer sheets under the hood ( rodents hate the smell of dryer sheets) I also cracked the windows slightly so the seals dont get deformed from being crushed all winter long. I have also put carpet under the car to keep the moisture from coming up under the car. When ya fill the gas tank up don't forget to put something like Sta-bil in the gas to keep it fresh......

 

[rays1999cobra]

If you have an extra set of cheap wheels/tires, I would take the good ones off to prevent flat spots. I'd fill the tank and put some Sta-bil to keep the fuel fresh, I'd change the oil with some cheap oil right before you store it and replace it with whatever good oil you normally use when you take it out of storage. I just put two small paper bags with rubber bands over my tailpipes and it seemed to work o.k. Remove the battery and put it on a trickle charge. Get yourself a decent car cover as well. All of the above recommendations are just as good though.

 

[myponyrocks]

double post

 

[myponyrocks]

full tank, a bottle of Heet, mouse traps... I had mine up on jacks and left it at my dads when I went to the desert for a few months, came home and the whole trunk lining was a giant mouse nest

Oh and my dad never even started it after 4 months she started right up, I had the battery disconnected the whole time.

I would recomend running it at minimum 1 time every 2 weeks for about 10 minutes or at 3k or above RPM for a minute just to blow the gunk out

 

[Sellout]

The paper bag or rag in tail pipe is a no no in most cases. Mice make there nests out of that material. I use tin cans that fit perfectly over my 2.5 inch pipe.

 

[myponyrocks]

if mice crawl into the exhuast wont you just fry em and blow em out?

 

[Sellout]

There has been times where they plug the exhaust completely and then you have to take you pipes apart b/c your car won't start. And it can suck some debrise(sp?) into the engine.

 

[merc123]

Would it be alright to park it in a garage and every week or two my dad goes and drives it around? That would be alright, no? No need for special gas treatment etc.

 

[Saleen201]

Would it be alright to park it in a garage and every week or two my dad goes and drives it around? That would be alright, no? No need for special gas treatment etc.

In that case you wouldnt need to do anything. When i was in the military and was always getting deployed, my dad would take my car for a spin every now and then (once every other month or so). I never did anything special to my car except turn the car of and lock it. I would come home and it would start right up.

-Mike

 

[wolax39]

I beleive the ford mannual says to turn on your vent, i would check, but mines been in storage for 3 months now. for the past two years, put a good car cover on it. full tank of gas, changed the oil, and started it up when i could. no problems so far. and who has had a mouse go in the tail pipe, it would have to be like mighty mouse.