What is the prevailing thinking around these parts? Should one do a fresh oil change before storing a car over the winter for 6 months, or wait for the fresh oil change to be done as part of bringing it out of storage?

I’ve read that some do an oil change before and after storage, but that strikes me as a bit crazy/unnecessary. It was some guy with a Corvette somewhere on a forum. That seems a bit much…

 

Before storage is the best plan. You'll get the pH of the oil back, also minimize condensation and fuel dilution. Remember that the chemistry of whatever is in the sump will be interacting with metals for months in storage.

The other bonus, when it comes out of storage you're ready to drive and enjoy.

It's also best to store with a full tank of fuel to minimize condensation in the tank. Think about whiskey bottles that are low, you get more evaporative loss. More air space in tank the lower on fuel.

 

This is what I thought based on the limited reading I've done in the past to this point, makes sense...

The full fuel tank bit probably matters less if the car is in heated storage I would imagine, but I mean, there's no harm in following that advice for sure. Why not fill it up and add some stabilizer to be certain. Good overall tip for sure I think. That's what I plan to do despite having completely climate controlled storage for the vehicle. Why not...

 

Also remember once you put it away, don't periodically start it. It's far better to leave it static than to cold start, then never bring the oil up to temperature.

 

Yup, my car will be dormant for 6 months at a time for sure like you are suggesting. I don't want to be opening the garage door at all during the winter in order to maintain a constant environment etc...That's the idea...

 

The Motor Oil Geek (Lake Speed Jr) says:

 

Fuel quality is a huge problem. At the end of the season we add Marine Stabil to the tank and warm up the oil by running the engine to operating temperature. Then we change the oil.
Marine Stabil treats the ethanol. Regular red Stabil does not. What ever you do, DO NOT add Seafoam. It’s nothing but more alcohol.

 

Interesting. Costco and Canadian Tire premium gas in my parts claims to have 0 ethanol in it. A friend of mine does the occasional spot test to confirm and he says their claim is true. He's a bit ****. That said, I suspect regular stabilizer would be just fine if using this type of gas.

 

Thanks for posting that, nice...

 

That video suggests gas can go bad in a couple months?!?!?! Is that the case? My F-type was sitting on the dealer floor for like six months before I took delivery. One has to wonder if they took the time to stabilize it. I would like to think they did, but it would NOT surprise me at all if they did not.

 

Just think of it as always degrading, like fruit sitting on the counter. After a month it's "worse" than it was at 1 week old. You're probably going to be OK after a month without stabilizer, but like all things "it depends."

 

That’s what makes Walking Dead so unbelievable. I can buy Zombies but there’s no way an abandoned car will start right up. Battery will be dead & the fuel will be turpentine.

 

In theory, yes...in practice not so much.

Even 10% ethanol (which is all we can easily buy in NJ) will still run the engine OK after 6 months.

If your car has other issues tho' stuff can build up and make it difficult to start. And condensation in a less-than-full gas tank is another factor.

Hence, I try to DRIVE our 3 collector cars 30 - 45 minutes weekly, even in winter, on dry sunny days.

 

Fuel degrades from its ideal state very quickly but it still works for a long time, I'm sure we've all pulled a two-year-old can of mower fuel from the back of the garage and used it, the mower still fires up lol. It's not good to use old fuel in critical applications or as a regular source, but a tank of old fuel here and there won't be the end of the world. All cars sit for ages between leaving the factory and being driving from the deal to their new home, don't stress about it

 

Yeah, I suppose, especially when you consider all this “lot rot” being talked about these days…All these expensive overpriced pickup trucks from Dodge and the like just sitting there etc…True…

 

Going back to the subject of storing the car for the winter - do you guys also over inflate the tires before you park it in order to avoid flat spots ? If yes, how high do you go ?

 

I raise the pressure to the low 40s, and have never noticed flat spots in the spring.

 

I think that is a good practice, but like you, not sure how overinflated to go…

 

For winter storage, I have always inflated the tires to the maximum recommended pressure as shown on the tire sidewall.
Never had flat spots or any other problem.

 

Thanks, that's a good tip. No idea why I never thought of that... duh!