Winterize Question - Parking Brake, Leave in Gear or Wheel Chocks?

[Ballistica]

Just curious to know what everyone does when parking their manual transmission mustang over a long period of time. Getting ready to put her away for the winter but have heard that it’s not good to leave the parking brake engaged for a long stretch. Could leave it in gear but not sure what impact that would have either. Other option is to chock the wheels.

What do you guys suggest? Thanks in advance!

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[EFI]

In neutral no parking brake, tires over inflated a bit and hooked up to a battery tender.

If stored outside or in a barn, maybe something to absorb humidity in the car and rodent repellent in the engine bay. But mine is in a tight heated garage so no need for all that.

 

[Ballistica]

In neutral no parking brake, tires over inflated a bit and hooked up to a battery tender.

If stored outside or in a barn, maybe something to absorb humidity in the car and rodent repellent in the engine bay. But mine is in a tight heated garage so no need for all that.

Great, thanks. Assuming that you use wheel chocks then to keep it from rolling? Or just let it sit in neutral with no parking brake?

 

[Skye]

- 1st gear neutral
- no parking brake
- no wheel chocks
-- Edit: from experience tapped here, later put the car in neutral and chocked the wheels
- battery tender
- full tank of gas
- stabil
- cleaned
- fresh coat of jet seal
- covered (inside insulated garage)
- over-inflate tires

The car sits still in neutral, so I left in gear. I can appreciate leaving in neutral with wheel chocks though, to keep any tension off the drivetrain.

I didn't like the idea of using a parking break for that long. Just didn't seem right. That, and I'd just washed it. The brake would have been, well, set, by Spring. LOL.

 

[EFI]

Great, thanks. Assuming that you use wheel chocks then to keep it from rolling? Or just let it sit in neutral with no parking brake?

Even with my slightly sloped garage floor it doesn't roll in neutral. To be safe yeah put a wheel chock or piece of wood right behind the wheels to catch it if it does roll.

 

[KingKona]

Just leave it in first.

Although leaving the parking brake on won't hurt anything either.

 

[Crew4991]

My winterizing is putting snow tires on and having fun on the way to work! Weeeee..

 

[jpalmerino]

Neutral, no gear, wheel chocks on a very flat garage.

FWIW, I also run non-ethanol 90 in the car for the last few tanks or so to flush out any remnants of 93. Store it with a full tank of the non-ethanol 90 as well (no stabil), battery tender and covered, no issues so far in 2 winters.

 

[Johnnybee]

I always left my British cars in neutral with a wheel chocked, no parking brake. I have found when washing my car and I just roll it back into the garage that the rear brakes will stick on the parking brake if I apply it with the rotors wet. I only did that once, and thereafter just left it on the park pawl in the A10.

 

[m3incorp]

Ok no cars on dealer lots these days, but what did they do with cars that set there for a year or so? Not saying they did the right thing. I park my mine for weeks (not months) in reverse or 1st gear with the parking brake on; no slope. Now if I was storing for months, I might add the chock blocks and just maybe put it in neutral. Earth's rotation or earthquake could cause it to move otherwise.

 

[RagmopInKona]

Ok no cars on dealer lots these days, but what did they do with cars that set there for a year or so? Not saying they did the right thing. I park my mine for weeks (not months) in reverse or 1st gear with the parking brake on; no slope. Now if I was storing for months, I might add the chock blocks and just maybe put it in neutral. Earth's rotation or earthquake could cause it to move otherwise.

Dealers might have a car on the lot for months, but they start them and move them around. I would think the risk of a car popping out of gear and rolling into another or out of the lot, trumped worrying about the parking brake sticking.
Any Manual I've owned, I park it, leave it in N and chock the wheels, if it is going to sit for weeks/months . Now I put any vehicle that will sit for the winter on stands, So I can start it and run it in gear. Found I am less likely to have a seal leaking this way, than when it sit, 3-4 months without use. Might not be an issue with new low mile vehicle but not all of my cars are new.

 

[DougS550]

My winterizing is putting snow tires on and having fun on the way to work! Weeeee..

Hell Ya!! Even though my Car has not even seen rain yet, and stored during the winter I appreciate people like you. Your the man/woman for driving the Stang 24x7x365 a year. My Hats Off to You

 

[Zooks527]

- covered

Not if it's outside. Dust blowing underneath, strap contact points, and the cover flapping in the wind will do a real number on the paint over the course of months.

 

[Skye]

Not if it's outside. Dust blowing underneath, strap contact points, and the cover flapping in the wind with do a real number on the paint over the course of months.

I agree. I'll update my post. She's inside.

If I was considering an outside cover, outside storage, long-term, I'd have to study that further.

From the experience posted in this thread, I'm also going to put the car in neutral and chock the wheels.

 

[skinnyb]

My garage isn't heated but attached to the house so it stays pretty moderate. I simply wash and dry thoroughly and put on a battery tender. In park no parking brake, garage floor is level. Am considering putting on jack stands or using the flat spot stopper ramps. Haven't completely parked it yet, its been too warm here so far but cold is coming.

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