I will be storing my car for the winter. I am going to get wheel dollies to keep the tires off the ground. What are some other things I can do to make winter storage safe and keep the car in good shape?

 

Wash/wax/cover. I remove the battery to store in heated area, so with our cars you should crack the window before removing since it will not auto adjust. I use Irish Spring soap in the car, supposedly keeps mice away and smells good. I air up the tires more than street pressure, but I prefer leaving the car on the ground in case there is a fire and there was the few minutes to drive the car out rather than it being stuck on stands. I do not start the car all the time, I only did once last year between Thanksgiving & Easter and that was because I just really missed the exhaust note.

 

I do all the stuff listed previously, plus I fill the gas tank completely and add some gas stabilizer. Run the car for a couple minutes to get the "stabilized" gas through the system, then tuck her in for a good night's sleep. Been doing that for the past three winters with no problems.

Also, I put the battery on a "battery tender" to keep it fully charged.

 

Doh, totally forgot the gas stabilizer in my post.

 

I actually use dryer sheets instead of the soap. Just personal preference I suppose, but I put the dryer sheets in the interior, trunk, and in the engine compartment (just remember to remove those if you start it up). My Dad had a critter chewing on the wires in the engine compartment one year, so decided I'd like to keep a few in there just in case.

 

so exactly what is the exact purpose of cracking the window some?? should i change the oil now or wait till spring??

 

Some ppl believe in air circulation... I did not realize you were a 96, the 05+ when you open close the door the window is not all the way up, it rolls up/down into the weather strip because it is frameless. No battery means I'm jamming the weatherstrip.

 

i have a 2009. wish i could change screen name. should i change oil?

 

Agree with the Above, especially increasing tire pressure (+ 5) lbs for storage.
I change Oil just prior to Storage (6 months for me) and then change it again right after
bring it back from hibernation in the Spring.
My Thinking - Oil will pick up acid and other Bad stuff during use, so I
don't leave it in the Car all Winter. also Oil just sitting in the Engine will degrade with
Time, so change it soon after the Car's reappearance in the Spring.

I'm going to try Synthetic next year to see if I can get away with one oil change in Spring
lasting until it's hibernation time(then use Dino oil for storage).

 

My 2 are going to be garaged for the winter, but I'll get them both out & drive them when the roads are salt free. I'll probably be able to drive them until January because we don't normally get snow here in Indiana before then. Fuel stabilizer is good if you're not going to start the car. Dryer sheets are an old RV trick. Pretty cool to see them talked on here! I'm winterizing my travel trailer next week, & dryer sheets are a must to keep the vermin out.

 

I'm trying out the Irish spring trick this season. My 07 GT started to get a weird smell during winter storage. I also use packets of kitty litter (the crystal kind) to help absorb any moisture in the car.

 

Doubt it on teh screen name, but if you go to your "User CP" and fill in your vehicle as an 09 it will help a bit.

As far as Oil, I change it in the spring... depending on where the car is in the fall on an oil change I may do it early but like last year it had ~500 miles on synthetic.

 

Changing synthetic at under 5000 miles is a waste. I usually change the oil in the spring when I begin to drive the car, but I might delay it more this year since I haven't even logged 5000 miles.

 

I just park mine, cover it and connect the battery tender. Been doing this for 25 years and never had an issue. All the rest is overkill.

 

I love my waterproof Battery Tenders. They seem to do a great job maintaining the batteries, so I second that recommendation.

 

I have been using them on all my cars for about 20 years now..

 

Unfortunately, I would need power in my garage in order to use the Battery Tender.....looks like I'll just make sure to start it up once a month or so, so that the battery gets "re-energized".

 

Pull it and stick it in the basement, thats what I do.

 

I had heard it wasn't a good idea to keep them in the house. Can't remember why, but someone had said not to, so I had ruled that option out before.

 

well my car was built in augest of 2008 so say it hit lot in september of 2008. i just bought it in may of 2009 and only put 1,200 miles on it. i am going to run royal purple or amsoil in it. i hate to put dino oil on or spend over $60 on a oil change to have to change it again in the spring. maybe i will just change it with motorcraft synthetic blend and then do the other in the spring when i will be driving it.