Winter storage do's and don'ts?

[Ozric-Al]

As some of you know I am shortly to be the (less than) proud owner of a company car which means that Shabash! will be getting a well earned winter break. After Gaydon this year, she will be getting a brand new MOT then coming off the road and hibernating in my garage.
Question is, what sort of precautions should I be taking so that she doesn't decend into a world of problems when she is reawakened in the spring?
I have bought a solar trickle charger to keep the battery alive (garage has skylights) but I'm thinking along the lines of brakes, tyres, engine etc to keep her in good nick while she stands.
Any advice would be appreciated.

"Doctor said to give up Keee-Babs. I said 'No, no-no'"

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[Chris]

This pretty much goes without saying but make sure that at the time the car goes into the garage it is 100% dry.

Preferably pick a time when you haven't washed the car or it hasn't rained for a few days.

 

[Von]

Whenever we do this with one of the bikes we just start it every now and again and run it until the engine warms up. Apart from that we have never had any major problems.

Von

 

[Andy]

If you can get her up on axle stands front and rear, this will stop the tyres deforming

Then as above, amke sure shes tip top (as if she wont be) and that shes totally dry. Check in on her every now and again (as if you wont) start her up once in a while (i do min once a week on my hgt) and have a good poke around under the bonnet checking for the rocker cover gasket hasnt gone nor have any of the cooling system.

when taking her out of hibernation give her a full fluid change and flush (oil and coolant)

Andy_sx

 

[Pro]

I was always told not to leave the handbrake on, just leave her in gear and the handbrake cable can strech after a long time and the brakes could stick on.


Darren

 

[RascaL]

put a good thick layer of wax/polish on it so when it comes back out just wipe off and you have a shiney car again.

 

[Jay]

Some things i got from my biking days

I was always told to keep the tyres slightly over-pressured as they will lose their pressure (do what andy says and this won't be such an issue)
also treat the tyrewalls with a tyre silk to prevent the rubber going hard (i think simoniz do a good sort)

Cover your exhaust with a bag (and any other open holes...oi oi!) to prevent anything getting in, sounds daft but you'd be surprised what you'll find! It doesn't need to be airtight just block the holes basically.

Try and leave the bare minimum amount of fuel in her. Just leave enough to get to a garage and perhaps a couple of warm ups during the winter. Fuel does degrade and tends to corrode stuff too so best to have as little in there as you can get away with...i have read elsewhere to fill it up though but to use a fuel stabiliser...best to look into this!

Spray some exposed connectors with WD40, not sure whether it's entirely necessary if the garage is dry but it might help...

Silicone Lube (oi oi!) for the rubber seals as well will prevent them from perishing

Make sure all the hinges and locks are properly greased so they wont seize

Leaving it in gear is usually a good idea too. Not that you'll need to but as other people have said...don't leave the handbrake on

might be worth considering getting some silica packs (like the ones in shoe boxes) for the interior too, you'll be surprised how damp they get even when stored dry

Think i've got most things covered...I don't want shabash getting messed up almost as much as you!

http://www.geogreeting.com/view.html?zes3Jepv+vO3jHJy+!8mAXb+OD

 

[Ozric-Al]

Lots of top tips there. Here's some more: -
Young Mums: -
Don't let your baby sleep in your bed as you could turn over in the night on top of the child and OUCH - you'll put your back out.
Child choking on an ice cube? Don't panic! Simply pour boiling water down the childs throat and hey presto, blockage removed.
I'll get me coat.

"Doctor said to give up Keee-Babs. I said 'No, no-no'"

My Members Page

 

[Andy]

Its not so much lying accross the child, its more the fact that they can take up 3/4 of a double bed far too easily! and when theres 2 bigger people in there it doesnt leave much room!

This morning I woke up lying half out of the bed with one leg on the floor and the other in bed, and one arm on the bedside table! its no wonder i bloody ache atm

 

[Wimmy]

Welcome to parenthood Andy Try it with 2 kids in the middle.
Al - just keep popping in and firing her up leaving her running for a few minutes. that temptation will be awful just to take her out for a quick drive.
Another top tip - make your own tea bags. When having after eights collect all the outer sleeves. Rip open a tea bag and empty in the contents. Staple across the top and pierce several times. Voila - you own tea bags!
Anther top tip for empty tea bags - they make ideal sleeeves for after eight mints.

 

[Allan Wall]

re

back on track slightly,

i'm sure i read someone say they drained all fluids out of the car to store it, i thought was a terrible idea lol.


but one of those car bubbles to prevent conditions effecting it

http://www.carcoon.co.uk/

 

[Shaun Cook]

thats brilliant alan, might have to invest in one, always good to have something like that

Its a 1.4 Chassis, 1.6 Engine and 2.0ltr Brakes and half a Marea

Follow My Project
Updated: 06/07/2008

 

[stephen]

Oz how long will the HGT be off the road at a time? what you doing about insurance and tax?

most of the above seems good info

 

[Ozric-Al]

She'll be off the road 6 months a year, basically from just after Gaydon so Oct - Mar. I'm gonna SORN her whie she's off the road and putting her on ultra-low mileage insurance. She'll be 10 years old next March so classic policies come into play. Been told I could get her fully comp for less than £150 a year on agreed value and sub 3k miles.

 

[Anonymous]

A lot has been said about running the engine periodicaly. Most of the wear in an engine occures during starting, It is recommended the battery be fully charged and removed from the car. As stated put the car on stands if possiblegive the car a full underbody wash to get rid of mud which traps water.

 

[Buzz]

A very very very thorough clean and polish before storage is a must. Get the old pot brush out, get it into those wheelarches, and spray a hose underneath the car for ages, in at the brakes and calipers, etc etc. Try and clean the engine bay, then wipe the bay down with a very lightly oiled rag to help prevent rust spots. Dont be scared to use plenty of copper grease etc on door hinges, and bonnet springs etc, and put it on axle stands to save your tyres from deforming. You could even take the wheels off, give them a good clean and polish, and store those off the car. (What better theft deterrent than not having wheels on it!)

Buzz
The champion of the Bravo 1.4
& now ex owner of a Bravo 1.8

 

[Carroll]

All good advice here, my only point is that the brake cylinders/calipers are often the first things to seize on a laid-up car, so pump the brake pedal every so often, even if you remove the wheels.

My Daihatsu is 'resting' at the moment. I just over-inflated the tyres a bit, start it up, let it warm-up at differing revs, (around the 1500-2500 RPM mark best) turn on/off everything electrical inside whilst waiting and then shunt forwards/backwards a few times once a month.

Always worked OK for me

 

[stephen01]

Oz where you get the insurance details from? oh and is she in storage yet?
TY

 

[BRAVO_CT]

Here you go Oz, I don't know whether Shabash has gone in yet.

http://www.quillertriumph.co.uk/Quiller/_Temp/Calender%20effected/winterstorage.htm

http://www.techguys.ca/howto/winter.html

Chris


Fiat Bravo 1.2 80sx -- 97,125 miles - Full tank of fuel!!

 

[Ozric-Al]

Thanks guys.
@ Stephen - I have a man in the know who comes on here and I'm sure if you post something up he'd get in touch.
She's effectively in now as the CC has finally arrived and I've only driven her twice in the last 4 weeks despite having done 8000 miles in that time (not in Shabash! mind you. ).
Have got a week off coming soon so I'll get her MOT'd and serviced and then prep her up for hibernation. I'll post a piccy of her sleeping for those that feel "Mumsy" about cars and love to see a sleeping baby.

"Doctor said to give up Keee-Babs. I said 'No, no-no'"

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OI! Road safety nutters!! George Orwell ment '1984' to be a warning, NOT a template!