Mice- put 1 bar of Irish Spring soap on each section of the floor boards. Also put a bar of Irish Spring soap in the trunk. Plus, Irish Spring smells much better than moth balls. Leave all compartments open. (Glove box, ash tray, center console, etc). Mice are less likely to build a nest in a open area. Lastly, put a mouse trap at the base of each tire. 9 times out of 10, Mice will climb onto the vehicle via the tires. If none of these work for you, get an outdoor cat. 🦊
Vermin proof I use for winter storing my boat and car is BOUNTY SHEETS EVERYWHERE, And the best part about it is when you get to it in the spring its all nice and fresh!
I live in Toronto, ON. Canada and this video helped me out a ton! Followed all your steps and tucked the Mustang away for the season. Time to give the 98' Jeep Grand Cherokee 4X4 a go for our long winters! I think it'd be a cool candidate for a "Pimp My Cherokee" series ;) haha. Cheers guys!
Here are some tips that I've learned over the years to store my vehicles for the winter. Be careful about putting steel wool in the openings of your exhaust pipes if the vehicle is not going to be in a climate-controlled environment because moisture can cause the steel wool to rust and will damage your exhaust pipes. Fill your gas tank with non-ethanol gas and add fuel stabilizer. Put a plastic tarp under your vehicle to keep moisture from rusting the underside of your vehicle. Inexpensive tarps are available at Harbor Freight. Remove all paper and cotton towels and rags from the vehicle to prevent rodents from using them to make nests. Disconnect the NEGATIVE terminal of your battery if you can't use a battery tender. You can leave the positive terminal connected all winter. Clean your vehicle's exterior before putting on a car cover and NEVER, EVER cover your vehicle with a canvas or plastic tarp. Keep the car cover a few inches off the floor so mice can’t climb up it to enter your vehicle. Keep the windows slightly open at the top to prevent moisture build-up and mildew inside the vehicle. Put a jar or box of decadent moisture absorbent on the floor inside the car. Dryer sheets and Irish Spring soap don't work very well to keep mice out of your vehicle. Peppermint liquid does reportedly work much better. Put a felt pad soaked with peppermint liquid on top of the engine to keep mice from chewing on your wires or making a nest under the hood. GRANDPA GUS’S mouse repellent pouches also reportedly work very well for the inside of the vehicle. They are available on Amazon. The best way to keep mice out of your car is to kill them before they enter the vehicle. Put mice traps near each time and check them regularly and remove any dead mice. Mice often climb up your tires and enter vehicles through the air vents near the rear tire wells that equalized the air pressure in the car when you close the doors. Put good-quality mice poison packets around the vehicle that will poison the rodents and cause them to go outside to find water and die. TOP GUN rodenticide pellet packs are the best I have found and are used by professional vehicle storage warehouses to get rid of mice and rodents. Here’s a link to the product on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B00DLKGM80?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title I hope this is helpful. Happy Motoring!
Heard it was also a good idea to run the AC for 10min or so on the last drive to get lubrication for all the relevant parts. Also, putting some moisture absorbing packs in the trunk and interior might be good. Have also read that it's good to park on a tarp so the moisture that the concrete attracts, doesn't go up into the underbody. FWIW, I stuck steel wool in the exhaust, and an old t-shirt into my intake. For the S2000, especially if you don't have a hard top, you need to hit the seals with some shin-etsu grease.
I’ve heard that Dryer Sheets are a great way to do various things, but that of which are a Triple Threat, They Abdorb Moisture, Keep Mice Out and of course allow your Car to Smell Amazing
These are great tips. I fill my tires to the max psi on the tires. To avoid flat spots. I just let air out when it comes to Spring. I think it's better not to start the cars during winter storage just because the engine won't get up to temp. Unless you go for a long highway drive. I also put Bounce dryer sheets in the trunk and car to deter critters. And like you said, I fill up the gas tank. I don't like to leave car on jack stands, as I don't think it's good to let the suspension hang like that for months.
This was SO helpful! I was gifted a really nice race car lately and I live in northern Minnesota where the snow is RELENTLESS! I had no idea on how I was going to store it. Such a helpful video. Thank you!
if your storing your car over the winter months call your insurance so you can save money by telling your insurer you only want it under theft and fire only until you start driving it again. If you are getting out of storage remember to call your insurance to switch back to full coverage.
James Byron Dean this morning s storing your car is not driving it for extended periods. You need only to call your insurance company to get partial insurance (fire & theft only) if your not driving your car and then call them again when you take it out of storage. Pretty sure people know not to drive without insurance. Don’t think you understood what I was saying or maybe you don’t understand you can get partial insurance and still get the same rates but you still get cheaper insurance because you don’t need the total coverage when your storing your car.
park in fall and start in spring for 40 years and no issues at all i agree on cold starts unless 0w30 syn oil is used on real cold -30 mornings and 10w30 normal oil it takes aprox 20 secs for oil pressure to show that is 20 secs of not lubed dry run not good
Depends, my 30 year old 500k jeep was driven daily in winter, sometimes as low as -35C. Uses 10w30 (even 10w40 sometimes) did not have a problem starting. It doesn't matter at all, its whatever you feel. Manufactureres factor this in so use good oil and change often and there will never be problems however you store.
You are building up moisture in the engine when you are starting the engine up cold and killing it before it gets on operating temperature. A couple month without running won't kill an engine.
Holy shit I just put stab-bill in my s2000 four days ago and couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to get the main contents into the small container section. Spent fifteen minutes tilting the bottle back and fourth and all I had to do was squeeze the damn thing.
Here in the uk if we have a dry day over winter, the wife's classic Mini Cooper does get started and gets up to temperature and driven up the road and back just to keep everything moving.
I do the same. I drive for like half hour to an hour then top off the tank and go again the next time, if there is one lol. Most cars if not all of them have been built with cold starting every day in winter conditions. I winter drove my stroker daily and as long as there's decent oil in there and changed the startup effect is minimal.
great video thanks! First time storing a car (ChallengeR) away for winter here in Alberta CA so most were already mentioned by a friend but good call on the tires
Don't store on jackstands because this will place the suspension in droop and will stress the bushings. Either put spare wheels/tires on or bump up the tire pressure to reduce the contact patch. Another tip is if you store directly on unsealed concrete, then to put down a tarp or other water impermeable barrier since concrete can allow moisture through and condensate on the undercarriage.
If you store it on jack stands you can remove the tires to reduce the weight on the bushings. But regardless the weight of the suspension hang is certainly a lot less than the weight of the entire car...
I've also heard negative things about storing on jack stands. They have wheel cradles to drive on or put under after jacking up the car to set on to avoid flat spots, but if you're going to have a nice car like this. cheap oem wheels and old tires are a good option to swap during storage.
Since clean oil is the best at removing contaminants, I would think you'd change the oil and run the car for a while before storage. That way your engine is as clean as possible when you go to start it in the spring.
People keep saying that but oil also degrades over time, that's why the intervals say 5000 miles or 6 months in the manual. That oil is not 'fresh' when you start it in the spring, it's been absorbing moisture and breaking down for 3 months and is half used up with 0 miles on it. I seem to be the minority in this thinking, but I usually just change mine in the spring before the first drive so the oil is actually fresh.
Good quality synthetic oil lasts more than 6 months, that's mainly just marketing. Don't worry about changing oil in spring or before storing. Your oil isn't being contaminated while the engine isn't running. As long as the oil is fairly fresh, leave it in and save your money. Next change, run a bit of seafoam when you flush your oil.
@@chaseketterling6936 if your oil has anything mixed in it before storing it’ll sit on top and could corrode the line at the top of the oil. A good reason to change the oil before storing.
I live in Upper Michigan and it gets cold. My garage isn't heated but is insulated well. I start my Trans Am almost every 2 weeks otherwise I have to use starter fluid in the spring. Never fails. 🙃
I like to run all the systems, AC, heat, etc to give them some love before they sit and can possibly dry up. One I've heard and I like to do is before shutting the car off I turn on the recirculating air to keep the vents closed to outside air, which as for you guys in Ontario and really most of the rest of Canada with wet winters it can likely help reduce moisture finding its way into your car and possibly causing weird smells, and other fungal stuff from growing. Silica gel and other moisture absorbers are good to set inside your cabin and trunk to keep try(in an open container obviously).
So you're saying that trapping air inside a container a car is helps to keep the interior dry more than allowing air to flow through it? I once closed the flaps in one car by accident, the lever is under one of the knobs and you absolutely cannot see it from the driver's seat. It took me a while to figure out, I changed the cabin filter and it was still unbelievably smelly every time I tried turning the A/C on and condensating like crazy in low temperatures. DON'T do that unless you're absolutely certain ALL of the interior is dry as a bone (i.e. probably never). Air flowing through the car, even moist, is way better than moisture trapped inside.
@@pdcichosz really depends on where you live and what you have in the car. If you have a sacrificial item/product to absorb moisture keeping it closed can be better to keep the outside moisture out. If you're in an arid place you would be correct in letting things breathe as the moisture will equalize with the arid outside humidity. When I was storing my cars it was in the Maritimes of Canada which are generally pretty fuckin moist. That's why I chose to close mine and not absorb the smells of the storage unit and allow additional chances for mould and smells to be fed by the outside air. Really just depends on your situation, temps of storage location etc.
Great video. I like to put my track car on crappy roller tires so my sticky summer tires don't harden in the cold. I store my summer tires in my heated basement.
I did that last year and the car was riddled with mice. One even made a nest on the intake manifold out of some bounce sheets....I guess it liked a fresh smelling bed....
@@khestehave I use the Styrofoam for outdoor faucets and use tape to keep them on. I also use peppermint I the garage mice and other vermon don't like it.
Peppermint oil works best to repel rodents ... you can spray the exterior perimeter around the car and put it on cotton balls throughout the car. Works better than dryer sheets and less toxic VOC for you to breathe. (my Father-in-law is an Exterminator and recommended this) I do it when I store my BMW, never had an issue.
My dad's escape is parked on grass by the woods.we put tons of peppermint oil all over the bay and suspension components to avoid mice.it worked since we never see droppings now
im not sure about the jackstand thing. if you have a old car and you store it on jacks the chassis might start twisting. and im dont know if all the suspension components are design for being "hang up" so long. and if the car is parked outside never put a cover on it because it will hold the moist under it.
If it's stored on stands properly, the chassis isn't doing any twisting during storage. The most "twisting" it will do will be getting it on the stands, but it wouldn't twist any more than normal when jacking the car up. There is no effect whatsoever on the suspension as long as it's being stored in the proper environment.
The cover won't only hold moisture. If parked where the wind can blow the cover around, it will "polish" your paint down. I had an older car, parked it up for 3 months with a cover on outside, it wore the corners of the roof down to the grey primer underneath. Luckily it wasn't an expensive car, but still not good.
the chassis won't twist unless the car is lifter properly. But you can really fuck up bushings like that. especially those rubber/metal bushings which you are only allowed to tighten when the car is on the ground.
This might be a stupid question but I’m going to ask anyways… When I go to start my car every two weeks do I unplug the trickle charger then plug it back in after I shut it off??? Thank you!
Bounty Dryer Sheets in the interior and engine bay of the car keep all the mice and rodents out... it also makes your car smell nice and fresh when you pick it up in the spring ;)
Excellent info. Glad to say I do it all. Dryer sheets inside and a few glue traps under car. Interesting about the charger having a winter setting and cycling the battery. I have Battery Tenders and not sure they cycle. Again fantastic info especially for someone who never stored a car before.
thanks, about to store the chaser outside with a cover. Going to give it a good wash, fill up the tires even a tad bit more PSI, full tank of gas, + fuel stabilizer, will park off the grass for sure. and on cement / concrete blocks..etc, will add moisture asborber packs / box of baking soda in the interior+trunk. and dryer sheets for the engine bay, and than finally silicone spray the rubber seals all around. than just a nice car cover over top and over the winter, of course. wipe off the snow off the car to the best of my abilities.
Kind of embarrassing but my E36 m3 sat in storage for a year on flat pilot super sports and they didn't flat spot. I was amazed!! I did have the mouse issue though :(
Mechanic of 24 years here I develop flat spots on a Volvo S 60 R and I was on Perelli P zero tires I drove it for a couple weeks trying to work the flat spots out to no avail thousand dollar tires were junk now I store my car on flat spot preventative ramps 40 bucks on Amazon eight months later still no problems
Vermin...mice loved my wiring😡. Cotton balls soaked in peppermint essential oil placed around the engine compartment and in the passenger compartment seemed to do the trick.
BMWs seals like to dry up just like Porsches, when I store my E36 I'll start it every 2-3 weeks and let it run for a minute. I try to wait until its not extremely cold if I can, sometimes it gets to -40 C here (Canada).
Hey, that's kind of a bummer to hear... I just got my first BMW (an E46 330CI) and live in MA. Does yours leak if you don't start it all winter? I was planning on not starting mine in the cold.
Top off all fluids and fully inflate tires add fuel stabilizer. I always wondered how it store a vehicle. I would have been dead wrong on fuel. Poo pow never even thought about vermin. Lol👍🏽
Ive has some of those cheaper car covers not last the winter outside here in VA. They start to degrade, they maybe fine for indoor storage but not if it has to be left outside.
1) Is there anything to consider when storing a vehicle on a gravel driveway vs. cement? I've started looking for my first real project, and I have a gravel driveway. It's nothing as interesting as a sports car, but I'd like it to stay nice (If you're interested, I'm actually looking to build a travel van out of an old G10 or G20 Chevy Van/GMC Vandura. I'll probably do a UA-cam series on it just for fun.) 2) If you live where moisture is an issue, go to your local pharmacy and ask for a handful of desiccants (those little silica packets you find in shoes and other consumer goods). We usually have a bunch of them, and they just get thrown out anyways. You may have to ask them to save a day's worth for you, but if you're nice and maybe willing to trade for some coffee or a snack, they might be willing to help you out (pharmacists/techs are busy, and usually stressed, so don't take it personally if they tell you no - but a peace offering may get you what you need). Scatter them through your interior, especially near the vents and doors (on the dash, in the cup holders, door cards, etc.), and they'll help keep condensation down come springtime, and again, potentially combat some of that mustiness DP mentioned. I keep them in my cup holders year round, and it keeps the moisture buildup in cool, wet weather down. 3) Is there anything besides a block heater that will help keep a car that's cold started a lot going longer? -40 and colder is pretty common out here, but I still have to get to work.
I didn't put stabilizer in my tank but I am busing a trickle charger I got from Canadian tire and I have all four corners of my s2 on slabs of wood to avoid direct contact with the floor.
This is really a good video. I plan to store my car but in my driveway outdoors because it won’t fit in my garage w my other cars. Any tips for outdoor storage in NY? I plan to maybe start her up to warm her up once a week? Also would leaving her sitting ruin the suspension? She just got a whole new front end complete change
curious about what you ended up doing last winter and how it worked out! i’m in Buffalo and i’m planning on storing mine in the driveway within the next month or two. i’m not concerned about my tires (replacing them all this coming Spring) as much as the suspension, so i’m most likely going to get some stands. edit: other folks in the comments are saying that older cars aren’t meant to be suspended for that long. i suppose if i don’t care about the previous owner’s dry tires, i can just park on a tarp.
Use deer repellant and spray around your car and in the engine bay. Lasts all winter and keeps small animal based away. Spray especially close to the soy based wires. Available at Canadian Tire for really cheap in Canada
I have been doing winter storage for vehicles for over 10 years. I recommend not starting the vehicle over the winter because it introduces up to a litre of condensation into the exhaust on a full warm up.it also warms up the entire car offering a warm spot for rodents to move in. Dryer or lint sheets offer a good defence against rodents and you can select your bouquet. As you stated, most tires will become round again after storage but if you feel the need to support the vehicle over the winter support it on its suspension. therefore the suspension will not be in full droop , harming any shock/strut members. Hope this helps!
Good advice there regarding condensation. Started the car a few times over the last winter when it was stored but wont be doing it this winter. I usually keep my tyre pressures at 32psi during use. What will you recommend during storage? I raised it to 38psi. Is that ideal?
koolkat969 if the tires were manufactured in the last 20 years you should be fine either way. You can expect to loose a few psi with the drop in temperature but obviously it will return in the spring.
I would have about 4 or 5 electronic mice traps in any garage I was using to store a classic car. This happened to my fathers silver anniversary edition of the Cadillac Seville he loved and had down in the Florida keys. He was near the end of his life and wasn't using the car that much. The interior was so screwed up by mice we had to sell the car to someone who restored auto interiors for a living, which REALLY annoyed me. The only traps worth having to protect an important asset are the ones that use a light beam to detect anything that short circuits the beam to trigger the trap. I'm not aware of any other mouse trap that works the way the trap below works ua-cam.com/video/sVkEazzdn54/v-deo.html&lc=Ugw6yeu9Ig54OzEqLb14AaABAg.8svYhrxA5-M9VnI1_JUjGC I discovered this trap via Shawn Woods who runs the Mouetrap Monday youtube channel. He gave it the excellent review above and I also concur. The trap is made by a very small business in Iowa. It costs $40 but it saves you a ton of time not having to check and sometimes replace bait that mice have been able to steal without triggering old fashioned traps. It's impossible for mice to steal the bait from this trap. All you have to do is set the traps' pulsating green light in a position that can be viewed from a distance and you can check multiple traps via a quick glance IFF you position the traps intelligently. Email me at DevilsAdvacat at gmail.com with any questions WRZ 2021-12-30
for my s2000, I remove the fuel pump fuse after 5 months of winter storage, then crank the engine till the oil light goes out. Put the fuse back in, then start the car.
My project doesn’t run yet and I don’t have a set location to store it even if it did run anyways and that tarp I bought at harbor freight is just a little bit to short…🏃♂️
Hey brother I need help,, I’m glad I seen this video and it’s a Honda,, great!!! Hey brother I have a Honda civic 2000 k swap I purchased my storage unit a couple of days ago next week I’m gonna tow the car to the storage because It’s not put together it only has the engine and transmission in it,, it’s a project car I’m pretty sure you get it My intent is to store the car and get all the parts for it and then take it to the shop once I’m done buying everything Ik I’ll have to wash it wax it get a car cover and for the inside some baking soda for the smell,, leave the car on mounts so the tires don’t get flat spots
Great video. Thanks for explaining this in detail. It was my first time storing a car for an extended period. I would like to know if there is anything I need to do to take the vehicle off of storage after sitting almost for 4 months. Are there any?
FonicsSuck the first time I tried them is the only time I’ve had mice in our ‘78 mustang. They didn’t work for me. Went back to moth balls and never a sign of them inside the car again.
On my Toyo R1Rs, it's recommended to air them down over the winter or maybe any long term storage - obviously once removed from the car. They also recommend not to use them at 15F or below.
Hey guys, I used to race Formula Vee's and we would pre-oil them on any first start by disconnecting the ignition coil, connecting a jump battery and running the starter until oil pressure was registering on the gauge. I know a lot of piston airplanes have pre-oilers as well. Why don't we do this on street cars? Especially with modern ecu's you could just disable ignition and injectors and crank it to get fresh oil circulated right?
Hey, thanks for the quick tip. I need to store my car for 6 months for the first time, does those tips helps for a period as long as 6 months and what would you recommend ? Thanks
Got flatspots on NS2rs rears with 1.8bar pressure on an NB miata after 4month storage. So the 3bar tyre pressure recommendation in not that unuseful actually.
Letting your car sit does deteriorate seals. I’m not exactly sure if it’s because of the heat or what, but when I worked at a garage, cars that sat always had rear main seal leaks. My Acura has 220,000 miles and has obviously been a daily and the rear main seal has never leaked.
Im from Sweden, and im going to winterstore my car next winter, and this was quite good tips, its going to be my first time storing the car aswell so im quite nervous towards it :P
Question. I have a WB392. I'm in Scar, ONT my building doesn't have power outlets in the underground garage. Is there anything I can buy on the market that can power my trickle charger wirelessly/remotely and keep it in the trunk this winter? I have a portable power bank (capacity 88.8wh,6ah/14.8v output AC 80W/120W) but am unsure of the requirement I need if Its safe or if i can even use it (power bank). Please advise.
I know this is old , RE battery, do you hook it up direct to the battery or can I use the terminals provided under the hood , since my battery is in the trunk?
I don't know why I'm watching this in Australia but hey why not. Great video guys.
you don't know why you're watching car content on youtube? place is irrelevant...
Woosh! @@Ran-dom1 They don't need to store cars for the winter in Australia.
We get hard winters up here in Cairns.😃
Ha! I watch Mighty Car Mods from Canada! :P
Man,am watching from Bahrain...we cover the cars from dust storms and the "natural oven". heck ..."what is a cold start?" 🤣🤣
Mice- put 1 bar of Irish Spring soap on each section of the floor boards. Also put a bar of Irish Spring soap in the trunk. Plus, Irish Spring smells much better than moth balls. Leave all compartments open. (Glove box, ash tray, center console, etc). Mice are less likely to build a nest in a open area. Lastly, put a mouse trap at the base of each tire. 9 times out of 10, Mice will climb onto the vehicle via the tires. If none of these work for you, get an outdoor cat. 🦊
Vermin proof I use for winter storing my boat and car is BOUNTY SHEETS EVERYWHERE,
And the best part about it is when you get to it in the spring its all nice and fresh!
I live in Toronto, ON. Canada and this video helped me out a ton! Followed all your steps and tucked the Mustang away for the season. Time to give the 98' Jeep Grand Cherokee 4X4 a go for our long winters! I think it'd be a cool candidate for a "Pimp My Cherokee" series ;) haha. Cheers guys!
Here are some tips that I've learned over the years to store my vehicles for the winter. Be careful about putting steel wool in the openings of your exhaust pipes if the vehicle is not going to be in a climate-controlled environment because moisture can cause the steel wool to rust and will damage your exhaust pipes. Fill your gas tank with non-ethanol gas and add fuel stabilizer. Put a plastic tarp under your vehicle to keep moisture from rusting the underside of your vehicle. Inexpensive tarps are available at Harbor Freight. Remove all paper and cotton towels and rags from the vehicle to prevent rodents from using them to make nests. Disconnect the NEGATIVE terminal of your battery if you can't use a battery tender. You can leave the positive terminal connected all winter. Clean your vehicle's exterior before putting on a car cover and NEVER, EVER cover your vehicle with a canvas or plastic tarp. Keep the car cover a few inches off the floor so mice can’t climb up it to enter your vehicle. Keep the windows slightly open at the top to prevent moisture build-up and mildew inside the vehicle. Put a jar or box of decadent moisture absorbent on the floor inside the car. Dryer sheets and Irish Spring soap don't work very well to keep mice out of your vehicle. Peppermint liquid does reportedly work much better. Put a felt pad soaked with peppermint liquid on top of the engine to keep mice from chewing on your wires or making a nest under the hood. GRANDPA GUS’S mouse repellent pouches also reportedly work very well for the inside of the vehicle. They are available on Amazon. The best way to keep mice out of your car is to kill them before they enter the vehicle. Put mice traps near each time and check them regularly and remove any dead mice. Mice often climb up your tires and enter vehicles through the air vents near the rear tire wells that equalized the air pressure in the car when you close the doors. Put good-quality mice poison packets around the vehicle that will poison the rodents and cause them to go outside to find water and die. TOP GUN rodenticide pellet packs are the best I have found and are used by professional vehicle storage warehouses to get rid of mice and rodents. Here’s a link to the product on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B00DLKGM80?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title I hope this is helpful. Happy Motoring!
I talked with my insurance company and got a huge discount while my VW was in storage. Worth looking into
put stabilizer in an almost empty tank, then put gas in and it will mix best.
Heard it was also a good idea to run the AC for 10min or so on the last drive to get lubrication for all the relevant parts. Also, putting some moisture absorbing packs in the trunk and interior might be good. Have also read that it's good to park on a tarp so the moisture that the concrete attracts, doesn't go up into the underbody. FWIW, I stuck steel wool in the exhaust, and an old t-shirt into my intake. For the S2000, especially if you don't have a hard top, you need to hit the seals with some shin-etsu grease.
I’ve heard that Dryer Sheets are a great way to do various things, but that of which are a Triple Threat, They Abdorb Moisture, Keep Mice Out and of course allow your Car to Smell Amazing
These are great tips. I fill my tires to the max psi on the tires. To avoid flat spots. I just let air out when it comes to Spring. I think it's better not to start the cars during winter storage just because the engine won't get up to temp. Unless you go for a long highway drive. I also put Bounce dryer sheets in the trunk and car to deter critters. And like you said, I fill up the gas tank. I don't like to leave car on jack stands, as I don't think it's good to let the suspension hang like that for months.
Should I place Bounce Dryer Sheets in the Engine Bat as well?
This was SO helpful! I was gifted a really nice race car lately and I live in northern Minnesota where the snow is RELENTLESS! I had no idea on how I was going to store it. Such a helpful video. Thank you!
If you have a big wing and want a cover, you can get a cover for a wagon model and it'll fit a bit better over the wing
If you dont store in heated garage you should save the oil change till spring. Condensation can build up in oil system.
if your storing your car over the winter months call your insurance so you can save money by telling your insurer you only want it under theft and fire only until you start driving it again. If you are getting out of storage remember to call your insurance to switch back to full coverage.
Motoring without insurance, not worth the risk, fines, higher rates.
James Byron Dean this morning s storing your car is not driving it for extended periods. You need only to call your insurance company to get partial insurance (fire & theft only) if your not driving your car and then call them again when you take it out of storage.
Pretty sure people know not to drive without insurance. Don’t think you understood what I was saying or maybe you don’t understand you can get partial insurance and still get the same rates but you still get cheaper insurance because you don’t need the total coverage when your storing your car.
Do another with outside storage, during winter. ;-)
This.
up
park in fall and start in spring for 40 years and no issues at all
i agree on cold starts unless 0w30 syn oil is used
on real cold -30 mornings and 10w30 normal oil it takes aprox 20 secs for oil pressure to show
that is 20 secs of not lubed dry run
not good
Depends, my 30 year old 500k jeep was driven daily in winter, sometimes as low as -35C. Uses 10w30 (even 10w40 sometimes) did not have a problem starting. It doesn't matter at all, its whatever you feel. Manufactureres factor this in so use good oil and change often and there will never be problems however you store.
You are building up moisture in the engine when you are starting the engine up cold and killing it before it gets on operating temperature.
A couple month without running won't kill an engine.
Silicon spray the rubber door seals and such for the cold winter months helps too.
Holy shit I just put stab-bill in my s2000 four days ago and couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to get the main contents into the small container section. Spent fifteen minutes tilting the bottle back and fourth and all I had to do was squeeze the damn thing.
leov36 it literally says right in the directions on the bottle to SQUEEZE
Jay Why hahaha well that’s pretty scary that I didn’t see that hahaha
leov36 1
meh.. it took me less than 30 seconds to figure that out when i used it for first time :P
@Wolf Den your mom stole it from me already
Here in the uk if we have a dry day over winter, the wife's classic Mini Cooper does get started and gets up to temperature and driven up the road and back just to keep everything moving.
I do the same. I drive for like half hour to an hour then top off the tank and go again the next time, if there is one lol. Most cars if not all of them have been built with cold starting every day in winter conditions. I winter drove my stroker daily and as long as there's decent oil in there and changed the startup effect is minimal.
great video thanks! First time storing a car (ChallengeR) away for winter here in Alberta CA so most were already mentioned by a friend but good call on the tires
Don't store on jackstands because this will place the suspension in droop and will stress the bushings. Either put spare wheels/tires on or bump up the tire pressure to reduce the contact patch. Another tip is if you store directly on unsealed concrete, then to put down a tarp or other water impermeable barrier since concrete can allow moisture through and condensate on the undercarriage.
If you store it on jack stands you can remove the tires to reduce the weight on the bushings. But regardless the weight of the suspension hang is certainly a lot less than the weight of the entire car...
I've also heard negative things about storing on jack stands. They have wheel cradles to drive on or put under after jacking up the car to set on to avoid flat spots, but if you're going to have a nice car like this. cheap oem wheels and old tires are a good option to swap during storage.
Since clean oil is the best at removing contaminants, I would think you'd change the oil and run the car for a while before storage. That way your engine is as clean as possible when you go to start it in the spring.
People keep saying that but oil also degrades over time, that's why the intervals say 5000 miles or 6 months in the manual. That oil is not 'fresh' when you start it in the spring, it's been absorbing moisture and breaking down for 3 months and is half used up with 0 miles on it. I seem to be the minority in this thinking, but I usually just change mine in the spring before the first drive so the oil is actually fresh.
Good quality synthetic oil lasts more than 6 months, that's mainly just marketing. Don't worry about changing oil in spring or before storing. Your oil isn't being contaminated while the engine isn't running. As long as the oil is fairly fresh, leave it in and save your money. Next change, run a bit of seafoam when you flush your oil.
@@chaseketterling6936 if your oil has anything mixed in it before storing it’ll sit on top and could corrode the line at the top of the oil. A good reason to change the oil before storing.
What about when you have to unfortunately store your car outside? My climate mostly rainy. During the winter. And where i live is a bit windy.
I live in Upper Michigan and it gets cold. My garage isn't heated but is insulated well. I start my Trans Am almost every 2 weeks otherwise I have to use starter fluid in the spring. Never fails. 🙃
I like to run all the systems, AC, heat, etc to give them some love before they sit and can possibly dry up. One I've heard and I like to do is before shutting the car off I turn on the recirculating air to keep the vents closed to outside air, which as for you guys in Ontario and really most of the rest of Canada with wet winters it can likely help reduce moisture finding its way into your car and possibly causing weird smells, and other fungal stuff from growing. Silica gel and other moisture absorbers are good to set inside your cabin and trunk to keep try(in an open container obviously).
So you're saying that trapping air inside a container a car is helps to keep the interior dry more than allowing air to flow through it? I once closed the flaps in one car by accident, the lever is under one of the knobs and you absolutely cannot see it from the driver's seat. It took me a while to figure out, I changed the cabin filter and it was still unbelievably smelly every time I tried turning the A/C on and condensating like crazy in low temperatures. DON'T do that unless you're absolutely certain ALL of the interior is dry as a bone (i.e. probably never). Air flowing through the car, even moist, is way better than moisture trapped inside.
@@pdcichosz really depends on where you live and what you have in the car. If you have a sacrificial item/product to absorb moisture keeping it closed can be better to keep the outside moisture out. If you're in an arid place you would be correct in letting things breathe as the moisture will equalize with the arid outside humidity. When I was storing my cars it was in the Maritimes of Canada which are generally pretty fuckin moist. That's why I chose to close mine and not absorb the smells of the storage unit and allow additional chances for mould and smells to be fed by the outside air. Really just depends on your situation, temps of storage location etc.
Great video. I like to put my track car on crappy roller tires so my sticky summer tires don't harden in the cold. I store my summer tires in my heated basement.
Just in time to store my own s2000 for it’s first winter in it’s new home. Thanks guys!
Bounce sheets work great for keeping mice out and smell better then moth balls
How many do you use, where do you put them, and do you need to change them throughout the winter?
I did that last year and the car was riddled with mice. One even made a nest on the intake manifold out of some bounce sheets....I guess it liked a fresh smelling bed....
@@khestehave I use the Styrofoam for outdoor faucets and use tape to keep them on. I also use peppermint I the garage mice and other vermon don't like it.
CTEK for life. Love it
Peppermint oil works best to repel rodents ... you can spray the exterior perimeter around the car and put it on cotton balls throughout the car. Works better than dryer sheets and less toxic VOC for you to breathe. (my Father-in-law is an Exterminator and recommended this) I do it when I store my BMW, never had an issue.
I just bought an S2000 last week, I'm not ready to winterize it yet!
My dad's escape is parked on grass by the woods.we put tons of peppermint oil all over the bay and suspension components to avoid mice.it worked since we never see droppings now
im not sure about the jackstand thing. if you have a old car and you store it on jacks the chassis might start twisting. and im dont know if all the suspension components are design for being "hang up" so long. and if the car is parked outside never put a cover on it because it will hold the moist under it.
If it's stored on stands properly, the chassis isn't doing any twisting during storage. The most "twisting" it will do will be getting it on the stands, but it wouldn't twist any more than normal when jacking the car up. There is no effect whatsoever on the suspension as long as it's being stored in the proper environment.
The cover won't only hold moisture. If parked where the wind can blow the cover around, it will "polish" your paint down. I had an older car, parked it up for 3 months with a cover on outside, it wore the corners of the roof down to the grey primer underneath. Luckily it wasn't an expensive car, but still not good.
the chassis won't twist unless the car is lifter properly. But you can really fuck up bushings like that. especially those rubber/metal bushings which you are only allowed to tighten when the car is on the ground.
Just put my car away last weekend. Definitely helpful!
This might be a stupid question but I’m going to ask anyways… When I go to start my car every two weeks do I unplug the trickle charger then plug it back in after I shut it off??? Thank you!
Bounty Dryer Sheets in the interior and engine bay of the car keep all the mice and rodents out... it also makes your car smell nice and fresh when you pick it up in the spring ;)
Have you had results with that? About how many sheets would you say to use? Pop the top and leave the full box??
Why does it keep them away and not make them want to use them for bedding ?
I don’t know if it works in cars as I never did it. But bars of irish spring soap in the trailer works a1 keeping those little critters away.
Thanks guys. Just in time for my move to a four season area and this will come in handy.
Excellent info. Glad to say I do it all. Dryer sheets inside and a few glue traps under car. Interesting about the charger having a winter setting and cycling the battery. I have Battery Tenders and not sure they cycle. Again fantastic info especially for someone who never stored a car before.
thanks, about to store the chaser outside with a cover. Going to give it a good wash, fill up the tires even a tad bit more PSI, full tank of gas, + fuel stabilizer, will park off the grass for sure. and on cement / concrete blocks..etc, will add moisture asborber packs / box of baking soda in the interior+trunk. and dryer sheets for the engine bay, and than finally silicone spray the rubber seals all around. than just a nice car cover over top and over the winter, of course. wipe off the snow off the car to the best of my abilities.
Kind of embarrassing but my E36 m3 sat in storage for a year on flat pilot super sports and they didn't flat spot. I was amazed!! I did have the mouse issue though :(
You forgot to leave a Teddy Bear inside the car so it doesn't feel alone. 😂
Why not removing the battery from the car ?
I left toy cat in my car for winter storage 😄
Mechanic of 24 years here I develop flat spots on a Volvo S 60 R and I was on Perelli P zero tires I drove it for a couple weeks trying to work the flat spots out to no avail thousand dollar tires were junk now I store my car on flat spot preventative ramps 40 bucks on Amazon eight months later still no problems
Super helpful video, thanks for making it!
Vermin...mice loved my wiring😡. Cotton balls soaked in peppermint essential oil placed around the engine compartment and in the passenger compartment seemed to do the trick.
You should have recommended adding non-ethanol fuel to the fuel tank for regular use as well as winter storage !
BMWs seals like to dry up just like Porsches, when I store my E36 I'll start it every 2-3 weeks and let it run for a minute. I try to wait until its not extremely cold if I can, sometimes it gets to -40 C here (Canada).
Hey, that's kind of a bummer to hear... I just got my first BMW (an E46 330CI) and live in MA. Does yours leak if you don't start it all winter? I was planning on not starting mine in the cold.
Top off all fluids and fully inflate tires add fuel stabilizer. I always wondered how it store a vehicle. I would have been dead wrong on fuel. Poo pow never even thought about vermin. Lol👍🏽
Ive has some of those cheaper car covers not last the winter outside here in VA. They start to degrade, they maybe fine for indoor storage but not if it has to be left outside.
Great tips here! First time parking a car EVER so these tips and tricks are really useful
I just use a cat to keep rodents away. She has a heated bed and a pet door to come and go as she likes. Works really well.
I'd love to have one of these....there is no better deterrent for sure!
1) Is there anything to consider when storing a vehicle on a gravel driveway vs. cement? I've started looking for my first real project, and I have a gravel driveway. It's nothing as interesting as a sports car, but I'd like it to stay nice (If you're interested, I'm actually looking to build a travel van out of an old G10 or G20 Chevy Van/GMC Vandura. I'll probably do a UA-cam series on it just for fun.)
2) If you live where moisture is an issue, go to your local pharmacy and ask for a handful of desiccants (those little silica packets you find in shoes and other consumer goods). We usually have a bunch of them, and they just get thrown out anyways. You may have to ask them to save a day's worth for you, but if you're nice and maybe willing to trade for some coffee or a snack, they might be willing to help you out (pharmacists/techs are busy, and usually stressed, so don't take it personally if they tell you no - but a peace offering may get you what you need). Scatter them through your interior, especially near the vents and doors (on the dash, in the cup holders, door cards, etc.), and they'll help keep condensation down come springtime, and again, potentially combat some of that mustiness DP mentioned. I keep them in my cup holders year round, and it keeps the moisture buildup in cool, wet weather down.
3) Is there anything besides a block heater that will help keep a car that's cold started a lot going longer? -40 and colder is pretty common out here, but I still have to get to work.
I didn't put stabilizer in my tank but I am busing a trickle charger I got from Canadian tire and I have all four corners of my s2 on slabs of wood to avoid direct contact with the floor.
I did everything on the list on my s2000 besides the fuel stabilizer & I removed the battery. Can’t wait for spring 2019....
Chrissy S2K can’t what either. Supercharger cometh spring 2019!
Great video, very informative.
Would you have a similar set of advice for a high temperature/summer storage, and more specifically for an old timer?
I heard dyer sheets keep mice away.
This is really a good video. I plan to store my car but in my driveway outdoors because it won’t fit in my garage w my other cars. Any tips for outdoor storage in NY? I plan to maybe start her up to warm her up once a week? Also would leaving her sitting ruin the suspension? She just got a whole new front end complete change
curious about what you ended up doing last winter and how it worked out! i’m in Buffalo and i’m planning on storing mine in the driveway within the next month or two. i’m not concerned about my tires (replacing them all this coming Spring) as much as the suspension, so i’m most likely going to get some stands.
edit: other folks in the comments are saying that older cars aren’t meant to be suspended for that long. i suppose if i don’t care about the previous owner’s dry tires, i can just park on a tarp.
thank god for this im just looking at stuff to do to save my car right now
Use deer repellant and spray around your car and in the engine bay. Lasts all winter and keeps small animal based away. Spray especially close to the soy based wires. Available at Canadian Tire for really cheap in Canada
Great video! Thoroughly explained and easy to follow. Thank you.
I have been doing winter storage for vehicles for over 10 years. I recommend not starting the vehicle over the winter because it introduces up to a litre of condensation into the exhaust on a full warm up.it also warms up the entire car offering a warm spot for rodents to move in. Dryer or lint sheets offer a good defence against rodents and you can select your bouquet. As you stated, most tires will become round again after storage but if you feel the need to support the vehicle over the winter support it on its suspension. therefore the suspension will not be in full droop , harming any shock/strut members. Hope this helps!
Good advice there regarding condensation. Started the car a few times over the last winter when it was stored but wont be doing it this winter. I usually keep my tyre pressures at 32psi during use. What will you recommend during storage? I raised it to 38psi. Is that ideal?
koolkat969 if the tires were manufactured in the last 20 years you should be fine either way. You can expect to loose a few psi with the drop in temperature but obviously it will return in the spring.
Jay Hayton Cool. Thanks for the reply. Cheers
I would have about 4 or 5 electronic mice traps in any garage
I was using to store a classic car.
This happened to my fathers silver anniversary edition of
the Cadillac Seville he loved and had down in the Florida keys.
He was near the end of his life and wasn't using the car that much.
The interior was so screwed up by mice we had to sell the car to someone
who restored auto interiors for a living, which REALLY annoyed me.
The only traps worth having to protect an important asset are
the ones that use a light beam to detect anything that short circuits
the beam to trigger the trap. I'm not aware of any other mouse trap
that works the way the trap below works
ua-cam.com/video/sVkEazzdn54/v-deo.html&lc=Ugw6yeu9Ig54OzEqLb14AaABAg.8svYhrxA5-M9VnI1_JUjGC
I discovered this trap via Shawn Woods who runs the Mouetrap Monday
youtube channel. He gave it the excellent review above and I also concur.
The trap is made by a very small business in Iowa. It costs $40 but it saves
you a ton of time not having to check and sometimes replace bait that
mice have been able to steal without triggering old fashioned traps. It's
impossible for mice to steal the bait from this trap. All you have to do
is set the traps' pulsating green light in a position that can be viewed
from a distance and you can check multiple traps via a quick glance
IFF you position the traps intelligently.
Email me at DevilsAdvacat at gmail.com with any questions
WRZ 2021-12-30
for my s2000, I remove the fuel pump fuse after 5 months of winter storage, then crank the engine till the oil light goes out. Put the fuse back in, then start the car.
My project doesn’t run yet and I don’t have a set location to store it even if it did run anyways and that tarp I bought at harbor freight is just a little bit to short…🏃♂️
If I’m storing a 2022 scatpack should I have to start it or just let it sit
I live in a 2 season climate. Spring and winter
Hey brother I need help,, I’m glad I seen this video and it’s a Honda,, great!!!
Hey brother I have a Honda civic 2000 k swap I purchased my storage unit a couple of days ago next week I’m gonna tow the car to the storage because
It’s not put together it only has the engine and transmission in it,, it’s a project car I’m pretty sure you get it
My intent is to store the car and get all the parts for it and then take it to the shop once I’m done buying everything
Ik I’ll have to wash it wax it get a car cover and for the inside some baking soda for the smell,, leave the car on mounts so the tires don’t get flat spots
Great video. Thanks for explaining this in detail. It was my first time storing a car for an extended period. I would like to know if there is anything I need to do to take the vehicle off of storage after sitting almost for 4 months. Are there any?
Moth balls keep mice out. They stick but they work.
Yup, that's what I do. I put some in the glovebox, air box, under the carpets, etc.
Bounce sheets work too
FonicsSuck the first time I tried them is the only time I’ve had mice in our ‘78 mustang. They didn’t work for me. Went back to moth balls and never a sign of them inside the car again.
On my Toyo R1Rs, it's recommended to air them down over the winter or maybe any long term storage - obviously once removed from the car. They also recommend not to use them at 15F or below.
Great information thank you
I always put my car on jackstands over the winter, change the oil and put it under some blankets.
this is a helpful tip sucks I don't have a car to winterize though lol i can even finish my build! LMAO
This is my first year storing my FRS for the winter, and found this video just in time haha. It snowed this morning...
Hey guys, I used to race Formula Vee's and we would pre-oil them on any first start by disconnecting the ignition coil, connecting a jump battery and running the starter until oil pressure was registering on the gauge. I know a lot of piston airplanes have pre-oilers as well. Why don't we do this on street cars? Especially with modern ecu's you could just disable ignition and injectors and crank it to get fresh oil circulated right?
Hey, thanks for the quick tip. I need to store my car for 6 months for the first time, does those tips helps for a period as long as 6 months and what would you recommend ? Thanks
Storing a 2013 BRZ for winter, anyone have specific tips?
That was a cool bottle for the stabilizer.
I use a container that has mosture absorbing beads in it to prevent musty smells.
How about building an ice racer? Just get a beater with a turbo and stick some long studs on it.
Cat litter in some tubs, sucks up any moisture while stored over winter
Hi, I just brought a 2008 SLK, should I start it up monthly during the winter?
great video mate!
Very informational video, thanks
Got flatspots on NS2rs rears with 1.8bar pressure on an NB miata after 4month storage. So the 3bar tyre pressure recommendation in not that unuseful actually.
Letting your car sit does deteriorate seals. I’m not exactly sure if it’s because of the heat or what, but when I worked at a garage, cars that sat always had rear main seal leaks. My Acura has 220,000 miles and has obviously been a daily and the rear main seal has never leaked.
Im from Sweden, and im going to winterstore my car next winter, and this was quite good tips, its going to be my first time storing the car aswell so im quite nervous towards it :P
Hey lads,
Any particular tips on storing a 2019 Mustang GT? I've never stored a car for the winter before.
Question. I have a WB392. I'm in Scar, ONT my building doesn't have power outlets in the underground garage. Is there anything I can buy on the market that can power my trickle charger wirelessly/remotely and keep it in the trunk this winter? I have a portable power bank (capacity 88.8wh,6ah/14.8v output AC 80W/120W) but am unsure of the requirement I need if Its safe or if i can even use it (power bank). Please advise.
Pull the battery and bring it inside.
I live in Phoenix, but have to give you all the views
The Badass S 2000 is perfect for a Canadian winter. How many cars have a snow plough on the front.🤣
Plow..
@@bsfunk44 Are you correcting my grammar??
4 seasons.... Canada only has 2, winter and construction.
The only coolant that belongs in the S2000 is Honda blue, unless you track it.
Don't have a storage so is it a good idea to have it sit outside with a cover?
No
What about the tires. Do you put the car on jack stands ?
Another thing to do would be to block the wheels and put the E brake down so you don’t stretch the cables.. noted in the owners manual
I know this is old , RE battery, do you hook it up direct to the battery or can I use the terminals provided under the hood , since my battery is in the trunk?
Either or is suitable.
I do all of that plus traat all the seals on my car.
Hey guys what was the dash cam you recommended a while back? I can’t find the video. Thanks!
Great tips, thanks !
Great info guys- appreciate it!