Advice Laying up for winter
#1
Advice Laying up for winter
I intend to take it off the road for around 3 months for the main winter months and salt treated roads.
any advice for keeping everything in good condition?
i've got the battery trickle charger on!
How often should I start it? How long should I leave at idle to get nice and hot? Set air con to ice cold? Aircon can suffer can't it when not used.
i guess also a good idea to reverse out he garage just to use the brakes. Is it worth putting extra pressure in the tyres as sat on the same spot?
Anything to lubricate? Garage is warmish as the heating boiler is in there.
Cheers
any advice for keeping everything in good condition?
i've got the battery trickle charger on!
How often should I start it? How long should I leave at idle to get nice and hot? Set air con to ice cold? Aircon can suffer can't it when not used.
i guess also a good idea to reverse out he garage just to use the brakes. Is it worth putting extra pressure in the tyres as sat on the same spot?
Anything to lubricate? Garage is warmish as the heating boiler is in there.
Cheers
#2
Tyres to 40 psi, when I used to lay my mgc up I'd also apply lithium grease to the rubber.
Intelligent trickle charger yes, also a dehumidifier in the cabin...one of those crystal based ones
No need to start it at all, unless out of curiosity
Ensure it's washed thoroughly dried and with a nice coat of wax...car cover optional. And minimal fuel in the tank as this degrades by a couple of points a month.
Sweet dreams!
Intelligent trickle charger yes, also a dehumidifier in the cabin...one of those crystal based ones
No need to start it at all, unless out of curiosity
Ensure it's washed thoroughly dried and with a nice coat of wax...car cover optional. And minimal fuel in the tank as this degrades by a couple of points a month.
Sweet dreams!
#3
Tyres to 40 psi, when I used to lay my mgc up I'd also apply lithium grease to the rubber.
Intelligent trickle charger yes, also a dehumidifier in the cabin...one of those crystal based ones
No need to start it at all, unless out of curiosity
Ensure it's washed thoroughly dried and with a nice coat of wax...car cover optional. And minimal fuel in the tank as this degrades by a couple of points a month.
Sweet dreams!
Intelligent trickle charger yes, also a dehumidifier in the cabin...one of those crystal based ones
No need to start it at all, unless out of curiosity
Ensure it's washed thoroughly dried and with a nice coat of wax...car cover optional. And minimal fuel in the tank as this degrades by a couple of points a month.
Sweet dreams!
So no need to run the aircon? Someone told me about the seals can shrink if not used? When I bought it, I had to have it re-gassed as it wasn't blowing cold but they tested it first and seems fine.
Its got the 6 pot Alcon brakes, would 3 months not be a problem for the calliper pots sticking?
#4
You'll lose a percentage of gas whether used or not, just the nature of the AC beast.
I'd just drive it a couple miles on nice dry days. You guys do them on occasion during the winter right? Blown cars love cold weather.
Cold doesn't bother them unless the windows freeze to the doors. Then the car thinks the glass is down when it's up and you need to unhook the battery to get them to reset correctly. PITA...
I'd just drive it a couple miles on nice dry days. You guys do them on occasion during the winter right? Blown cars love cold weather.
Cold doesn't bother them unless the windows freeze to the doors. Then the car thinks the glass is down when it's up and you need to unhook the battery to get them to reset correctly. PITA...
#5
You'll lose a percentage of gas whether used or not, just the nature of the AC beast.
I'd just drive it a couple miles on nice dry days. You guys do them on occasion during the winter right? Blown cars love cold weather.
Cold doesn't bother them unless the windows freeze to the doors. Then the car thinks the glass is down when it's up and you need to unhook the battery to get them to reset correctly. PITA...
I'd just drive it a couple miles on nice dry days. You guys do them on occasion during the winter right? Blown cars love cold weather.
Cold doesn't bother them unless the windows freeze to the doors. Then the car thinks the glass is down when it's up and you need to unhook the battery to get them to reset correctly. PITA...
May well just take it for a short spin!
#6
3 months is nothing- my car frequently does that in summer (more cars than time)
However there is one thing that even die-hard morons have come to realize- gumming of delicate injectors and such, at least the possibility.
So if you want to be extra careful and avoid compounding, use a fuel system cleaner like techron before turning off for last time. As a added bonus, many of these fuel system cleaners are also excellent fuel preservers.
However there is one thing that even die-hard morons have come to realize- gumming of delicate injectors and such, at least the possibility.
So if you want to be extra careful and avoid compounding, use a fuel system cleaner like techron before turning off for last time. As a added bonus, many of these fuel system cleaners are also excellent fuel preservers.
#7
When you say dehumidifier, you mean the moisture absorbing crystals in a tray like you put in caravans?
So no need to run the aircon? Someone told me about the seals can shrink if not used? When I bought it, I had to have it re-gassed as it wasn't blowing cold but they tested it first and seems fine.
Its got the 6 pot Alcon brakes, would 3 months not be a problem for the calliper pots sticking?
Forgot to say deep feed your leather so it can all get sucked in (As opposed being removed by your butt).
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#8
#10
Tyres to 40 psi, when I used to lay my mgc up I'd also apply lithium grease to the rubber.
Intelligent trickle charger yes, also a dehumidifier in the cabin...one of those crystal based ones
No need to start it at all, unless out of curiosity
Ensure it's washed thoroughly dried and with a nice coat of wax...car cover optional. And minimal fuel in the tank as this degrades by a couple of points a month.
Sweet dreams!
Intelligent trickle charger yes, also a dehumidifier in the cabin...one of those crystal based ones
No need to start it at all, unless out of curiosity
Ensure it's washed thoroughly dried and with a nice coat of wax...car cover optional. And minimal fuel in the tank as this degrades by a couple of points a month.
Sweet dreams!
I personally would fill it.
#11
#12
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Queen and Country (11-26-2018)
#13
Apologies on the fuel advice, I've not overwintered a car since the 80's (MGC) and such things as fuel stabilisers weren't available in the UK back then
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STA-BIL-F...YOTY:rk:4:pf:0
Looks like good stuff, and also you'll need the full bottle as treats 75l
On rodents I've noticed the evidence of a few up until a few years ago when I bought one of those ultrasonic things, no signs of any in 2yrs, and weirdly no spiders either!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STA-BIL-F...YOTY:rk:4:pf:0
Looks like good stuff, and also you'll need the full bottle as treats 75l
On rodents I've noticed the evidence of a few up until a few years ago when I bought one of those ultrasonic things, no signs of any in 2yrs, and weirdly no spiders either!
#14
I used to store my old Ferrari as it was prone to rust and being the engine required 20W-50 weight oil it was not conducive to starting in cold weather. As for the Jag I don't do anything different as I do get breaks in the weather where I can drive it. The only thing I keep an eye on is tire pressures and battery condition. At time my car would sit for 2-4 weeks on the lift in an unheated garage. Usually though the garage temps don't fall below 20*F and I have various rodent control methods to keep the critters out. As for fuel I always have it topped up and will still add a fuel stabilizer as a safety measure. I have read that with our 10% ethanol here gas is good for 90 days before it starts to gel. Even though I don't have it down for that long it is a good safety measure to add the stuff. So my simple approach may not be optimum for all but suits my needs. If you search the net you can find many methods people use.
#15
#16
I put my car up from Nov 1 to Apr 1 each year. This is what I do (not necessarily in order):
Hook up battery maintainer
Tire pressure to 40 lbs (even though I read somewhere that radial tires are not susceptible to flat spots like the old bias tires were)
Oil change (I only put around 5k miles a year on the car. I like to change the oil annually)
Dehumidifier crystals (kit for RV) on front floor
Dryer sheets to keep spiders away (I've also heard this does not do anything, but I've done it for years on my boat)
Marine grade Stabil in gas (Marine grade helps with possible ethanol problems) There is some controversy as to filling the gas tank or not. It don't,.
Wash and dry car
Vacuum
Make sure rotors on disc brakes are dry and clear of any surface rust
Dust cover
I've heard that running your car for short periods of time in the winter does more harm than good, I leave mine alone until Spring
I also keep the car on a rubber mat in the garage year round.
Hook up battery maintainer
Tire pressure to 40 lbs (even though I read somewhere that radial tires are not susceptible to flat spots like the old bias tires were)
Oil change (I only put around 5k miles a year on the car. I like to change the oil annually)
Dehumidifier crystals (kit for RV) on front floor
Dryer sheets to keep spiders away (I've also heard this does not do anything, but I've done it for years on my boat)
Marine grade Stabil in gas (Marine grade helps with possible ethanol problems) There is some controversy as to filling the gas tank or not. It don't,.
Wash and dry car
Vacuum
Make sure rotors on disc brakes are dry and clear of any surface rust
Dust cover
I've heard that running your car for short periods of time in the winter does more harm than good, I leave mine alone until Spring
I also keep the car on a rubber mat in the garage year round.
#17
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+1 on tire pressure, be sure to check your tires max limit first. Mine have a 51psi max, so I pumped them to 42psi in the cold, to allow some expansion when the temps rise again.
I’ve also read that getting the tires off the concrete/cement garage floor is as advisable, so I park on some 3/8 inch thick plywood squares.
+1 on the ‘smart charger’ over the winter, and I never start it unless I need to move it.
Never had a problem with gas going bad (lawn mower sits all winter, snow blower sits all summer), and other cars have sat for extended periods of time, so I skip the gas treatment.
I’ve also read that getting the tires off the concrete/cement garage floor is as advisable, so I park on some 3/8 inch thick plywood squares.
+1 on the ‘smart charger’ over the winter, and I never start it unless I need to move it.
Never had a problem with gas going bad (lawn mower sits all winter, snow blower sits all summer), and other cars have sat for extended periods of time, so I skip the gas treatment.
#18
Another thing that's changed since is the leather.
You said " deep feed your leather so it can all get sucked in "
It no longer gets 'sucked in'*
Caution: you are adding moisture to the car- the very thing you want to remove before storing. So you would have to do this on a warm day.
However, you are not going to feed something that is clear-coated like modern leather is.
*Try it, take a drop of distilled water and see if it gets absorbed, it wont.
You said " deep feed your leather so it can all get sucked in "
It no longer gets 'sucked in'*
Caution: you are adding moisture to the car- the very thing you want to remove before storing. So you would have to do this on a warm day.
However, you are not going to feed something that is clear-coated like modern leather is.
*Try it, take a drop of distilled water and see if it gets absorbed, it wont.
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MarkyUK (11-26-2018)
#20
Not much to add. Consider parking it on poly. Moisture will leach up through the concrete. If you run the car but don't drive it, condensation will collect in the exhaust so run it long enough to burn off the moisture. Mothballs around the outside will deter mice if you have them. Rags in the tailpipe for the same reason, just don't forget you have them in there.