Preparing for winter and/or storage?

[Emt1581]

When the weather starts to get cold bordering on freezing and when they salt the roads, my GT is going to hybernate in my garage. Now I've never done that with a car. With my bike (86 Suzuki Intruder) I use a batter tender, run the fuel line dry and add sta-bil to what's left in the tank. Other than that it just sits in my shed.

For the S550 I have a few questions that will hopefully ensure the car stays pristine throughout the storage process over the winter.

First off, how do I protect the engine and mechanical parts under the hood? It'll only be in storage for 3 months or so with a mild winter but up to 5 if it's blizzard after blizzard. I do plan on buying a tender for the battery. Do you use any additives in any fluids? Any other regiments?

Next is the interior... I have a base model so cloth seats and no touch screen. Other than a nice interior detail before covering it up, do you do anything else?

On the body, do I want a fresh wash/seal/wax for the cover to sit on or do I want the surface to be sitting in the garage (but not exposed to the elements) for a certain period of time before putting on the cover? It'd suck to do this part wrong only to find that the cover adhered to the paint or dust gathered under the cover and then was embedded over time.

Finally, the cover... again, it'll be garage kept with no one disturbing it. However, on the other side of the garage my wife will be going in and out with her car throughout the cold, salty, slushy winter... what brand/model of cover is preferred and anything else to do in light of the fact that the other half of the garage will see regular activity/moisture?

Thanks

-Emt1581

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[scrubber3]

While I am not the best person to consult about winterizing a vehicle, I can attest to the fact that you will in fact be missing out on lots of cold, dense air that will make your engine produce what feels like a lot more power.

Here in NC when I had my GTO, I just drove it all winter. Granted, I was in Wilmington at the time and I think I may have seen a flurry once in 4 years. This winter I just plan to watch the weather and adjust accordingly. Giving any salt on the roads a chance to clear up before I drive. I figure the longest I will have to keep the Mustang in the stable will be 3-4 weeks. At this point, I feel like just making sure it is clean will suffice. Maybe I will pull out the battery tender, but I doubt I will have to.

 

[BmacIL]

Change the oil, sta-bil in the fuel, put on a battery tender and a car cover. Other than that, not much to it. It wouldn't hurt to add a little more air to the tires, either.

I'd recommend firing it up and driving it a little if you get some nicer days during the winter with clear roads. Get it fully warmed if you do.

 

[Emt1581]

While I am not the best person to consult about winterizing a vehicle, I can attest to the fact that you will in fact be missing out on lots of cold, dense air that will make your engine produce what feels like a lot more power.

Here in NC when I had my GTO, I just drove it all winter. Granted, I was in Wilmington at the time and I think I may have seen a flurry once in 4 years. This winter I just plan to watch the weather and adjust accordingly. Giving any salt on the roads a chance to clear up before I drive. I figure the longest I will have to keep the Mustang in the stable will be 3-4 weeks. At this point, I feel like just making sure it is clean will suffice. Maybe I will pull out the battery tender, but I doubt I will have to.

Problem is, here they use all kinds of nasty shit on the road from salt to cinder to brine....just a cornucopia of rusty death! Even on beautiful cold days, that stuff is still kicking around on the road. So once the cover goes on and until there are 2-3 real heavy rain storms to wash it all away in Spring...no plans to take it out.

That being said, I normally back it in the garage. Over the winter I could front it in so that I can take the cover off, open the garage and let it run for 20-30 min to circulate everything.

Thanks

-Emt1581

 

[Emt1581]

Change the oil, sta-bil in the fuel, put on a battery tender and a car cover. Other than that, not much to it. It wouldn't hurt to add a little more air to the tires, either.

I'd recommend firing it up and driving it a little if you get some nicer days during the winter with clear roads. Get it fully warmed if you do.

Any specific suggestions on make/model for car covers or tenders?

Thanks

-Emt1581

 

[jasonstang]

If you have a garage, just park it and hook up battery tender. I wouldn't worry about cover.
Usually I wash it, then drive her around for about 30 minutes making sure everything is dried up.
Then I fill up gas with a can of seafoam and just park it.
If you have a manual, maybe chock the wheels and leave the transmission in neutral with hand brakes off.
If you worry about interior being humid, you can buy desiccant to keep it dry.

 

[ewitz]

Consider putting it up on jackstands to prevent flat spotting the tires.

 

[cgreen5150]

After reading all of this, I'm very happy I live in California and don't have to go through the pain of not driving my Mustang for months. I feel for you guys!

 

[airfuel]

Way over thinking it.

Full tank of gas with stabilizer run to get in entire system, Battery tender. done.

Resist the temptation to just start the car every week or so.
Pump up the tires a bit if you worry about flats pots but that is old school wives tales.

If you really want a cover, old sheets or any light weight breathable cover will do. Heavy waterproof covers can trap moisture.

 

[wireeater]

Drive the car on days there isn't snow or moisture on the road. The only time I kept it parked was if it was wet or snow out. I live in VA and they treat the hell out of the roads when they call for bad weather. If they lay a lot of the chemicals down then I will wait for a few wet days to help wash the roads off but honestly you probably won't even own the car long enough to EVER see the effects of it. This past winter was mild and you would have to been a fool to not take advantage of it.

This was the furthest I tried taking it down my driveway with snow though LOL.

 

[airfuel]

Just watch those summer only tires in cold temps.

 

[wireeater]

NT555 G2s had no issues grabbing in sub 50 weather, I was quite surprised compared to other summer tires I've owned.

 

[Zelek]

I prepare for winter by turning off the cooled seats and turning on the heated seats.

Am I doing it right?

On a serious note, I would have no idea what I would do in winter conditions. I've driven on ice in summer tires before and it sucked hard.

 

[timd38]

Oil change, fuel stabilizer, and battery maintainer. Cover is optional.

Oil change to get the acids out of the crankcase, others are obvious.

Been doing it that way for 30 years and never had an issue in spring.

 

[jasonstang]

Consider putting it up on jackstands to prevent flat spotting the tires.

Flat spotting is a hit or miss.
I have had tires that would flat spot after a day sitting in the garage.

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