Hi Guys,

I'm about to pick one of these puppies up (still torn about whether to get the NAV or not) and I'm wondering if anyone on these forums stores their cars over the winter?

I'm in the Blistery North so Storage is pretty much a neccessity. I'm keeping my '92 Chev Z24 (fun little car) for the winter.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Should I put it on car jacks?

Thanks!

 

I'm going to store my z as well for winter.
Just going to clean it up really good, change oil, and use a Covercraft Evo car cover. That's it for me.

 

I am also planning on storing mine this winter. It has been recommended by friends that do this on a frequent basis to put something under the car (indoor/outdoor carpet, celetex) to keep the exhaust system from rotting. Will also be attached to a trickle charger, and adding fuel stabilizer to the tank.

 

Besides the Stabolizer and cover, remove the battery and take it inside. I always mist each cylinder with oil. Then in the Spring remove the FI fuse and plugs then turn over the engine until oil pressure is indicated. Reinstall your plugs and fuse and you're off. I also try to relieve the weight on the tires by lifting the vehicle slightly.

 

FI Fuse? What's that? Also, how do you get to the cylinders?

 

FI is fuel injection fuse; this way when the engine is turned over to get the oil flowing in the Spring no gas is brought into the cylinders. I haven't removed the plugs yet, but I just read my service manual. It mentions removing the cosmetic cover, the strut tower bar, the intake manifold collector upper, then each spark plug coils. Apparently when the manifold collector is removed a gasket should be replaced (??) Man, this sure will be more time consuming than just taking off the plug wires on my Miata! I think it's worth it for a long nap though.

 

When I used to store the Cavalier (I had a mechanic who would get me winter beaters all the time) I would just run the engine once a month and make sure I turned on the heat/AC/etc...
The garage used to be set back from my old house... In my new house the garage is integral so I'm going to have to get one of those dryer type hoses to run the exhaust outside...

 

I guess it's always best if the car is started periodically, but I tried that one year, and one week turned into two, two into four, and I ended up starting the car once. And after a long sit, it took a while to get oil in the engine, so it turned over dry for a while. The safest and surest way is to prepare to store it all winter.

 

I have a great solution for everyone ... send your cars to me in sunny South Florida. No Snow, always sun. I'll happily alternate between cars every week to make sure they all get driven and don't sit idle for extensive periods of time. I figure if 15 people send their cars south to me for the winter, I can drive them twice a month to keep the fluids going.

 

Hum ... but how do you turn the engine over if no fuel is being brought into the cylinders? Odd ... I don't get it?

Thanks for the info though!

 

I think "Crank" the engine is what was meant.. "Turn the engine over" usually means to actually start it which wouldn't be possible.

 

So just turning the key will get you positive oil pressure?