WINTER STORAGE- best thing to do?
 

Hello fellow Honda drivers. It is that time of the year when you have to put that summer car away….really sad times. Now what is the best thing to do? I am asking only the drivers that have some real answers. If you have no serious input and no technical data please save it for your self.

I went to NAPA I asked what is the best thing for me to put in my engine so that during the winter there will be no damage. The storage that I have is not a heated one but it is very dry.

I take the wheels off and put the car on cinder blocks drain the oil and all the other fluids so that there is not contracting and expending in the block or any part of the engine bay.

Is there anything else that I should do?

Either store it with an empty tank of gas, or with a full tank of gas with fuel stabalizer. You don't need to drain the fluids. I would crack the windows a bit, and throw on a car cover if you have one.

So remove all the oil and leave it dry so moisture can build up on the inside of your engine?

Also, put your battery on a trickle charger.

Change oil before storage
Fill up tank and add fuel stabilizer
Fill up tires to avoid flat spots (You dont need to put on bricks)
Take out battery and trickle charge
Make sure car is clean inside and out before storing
Park over tarp to stop moisture from ground
Crack windows alittle
Plug exhausts with rags to prevent critters from getting in
Do not store with parking brake on
Cover car and dont start till youre gonna drive it and call your insurance company to reduce to only fire and theft :)

Sticky'ed

clean everything out of the car, and leave the glove box open or any enclosed space where critters will make a nest i always leave the windows all the way down

I would do the exact reverse as far as the oil level is concerned. I have actually heard of people filling the motor full of oil and then filling the cylinders full and replacing the plugs. Just make sure you never turn the motor over until the oil is removed. I would rather have the metal coated by oil because over the months in storage the oil will drain off the cylinder wall and minor rust can occur.

Pat.

Great thread! Good idea for the sticky. :)

You could always fog the motor with fogging oil by spraying it into the air intake or spray the oil directly into the cylinders via spark plugs. Tis much easier and a less chance of ruining the motor.

This should be in the Maintenance section IMO.

i just cover my car up and twice aweek i start it up, let it run for abit maybe give the car acouple reves if the drive way is clear ill move the car back and forward acouple times just so..i dont realy know why i do it but i never have aproblem aslong as you start it onec or twice aweek threw the winter it should be fine

This is what i did..

1)Full tank of gas with fuel stabilizer
2)CLEAN CAR. WASH CAR AND WAX.. i would suggest doing the CLAYBAR method.
3)disconnect the battery
4)put the car on jacks or blocks.. ull probably get some indentation on the ground b/c its gonna sit for a while. (this is to avoid flat spots on tires)
5)plug ur exhaust
6)crack open the window a bit.. ( i even put baking soda inside)
7)car cover

OHH and not to mention
every couple of months ide go check it out and start it up..

& it looks to me as if majority of the guys on here did the same thingg

- Change oil before storage

- Fill up tank half way and add fuel stabilizer. Fill the tank up in the spring with premium fuel.

- ?? Fill up tires to avoid flat spots (You dont need to put on bricks)??

- Fog the motor with fogging oil, spray directly into the air intake (without the filter) till the motor floods OR spray cylinder walls via spark plugs, then let it crank a couple times (without letting it fire/start)

- Take out battery and trickle charge

- Make sure car is clean inside and out before storing

- Park over tarp to stop moisture from ground

- Crack windows alittle (or leave windows up and place a DampRid or any other dehumidifying agent)

- Plug exhausts with rags (stainless steel cloth) to prevent critters from getting in

- Do not store with parking brake on!

- Cover car and dont start till youre gonna drive it and call your insurance company to reduce to only fire and theft