Storing the car for the winter

[L8APEX]

The Ford dealership lets them sit outside undriven, sometimes for months. You will be fine just parking it

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[birdog]

May I suggest moving to a better part of the country where you can drive it whenever you want?

 

[BBB]

Do I need a battery tender if I indent to fire it up ever few weeks?

 

[Chameleon]

Do I need a battery tender if I indent to fire it up ever few weeks?

No.

 

[tsunami]

Vindication!

Driving a car in an Ontario winter is brutal - salt and sand just destroy the interior and corrode things like gas and brake lines - and ruin aluminum wheels. I would prefer to park my Mustang for the winter in my garage and drive my beater/DD all winter long.

One issue with storage is the tires - summer tires, due to the compound, can actually crack if you move your car in very cold weather. If you are storing your car in a climate controlled environment, things are easier. I can't speak to the oil change thing but I have the same questions as many here - should I change my oil BEFORE I winter store it, or AFTER? I was planning to do so before I store it, but now I don't know.

Regardless, I'm going to review the research, but when I looked into it earlier this year, it was "there is no recommendation to put your car on blocks like there used to be".

Note that there is a section in the Mustang Owner's Guide on storage, but it doesn't really seem to apply to a typical homeowner storing their car in their unheated garage. However, it has several important notes about starting your car every 15 days and changing the oil PRIOR to AND AFTER storage. Sigh.

This is a good thread for thoughts and opinions. I'm just wondering how much it all really matters when there seems to be so little consensus.

I was literally called a liar in this forum, when I told the story related to me by my dealer. A new Shelby was shipped by rail in the middle of the winter from Michigan to Minnesota. Temps were well below zero. When the car arrived at the unloading dock, the Summer Performance tires were so cracked that it couldn't be driven. Ford replaced the tires.
Several members ranted and raved at me that they drove their Mustangs on Summer tires every winter without ever having problems.
Check with your dealer about driving your performance tires during the winter. It depends on how cold the weather gets in your area.

 

[73MachI]

I was literally called a liar in this forum

Like any other forum on the internet, we unfortunately have our share of tactless, narcissistic idiots here too.

 

[blue15gt]

If you want, send it down to Florida. I'll keep it running and charged, wash it weekly, wax once a month and send pictures after.

It can keep my 15 GT company. Just an option.

 

[Bryce5.0]

What about if my storage unit doesn't have access to power? No lights or outlets.
Do you guys recommend starting it once a week and letting it warm up and charge the battery?
My fear of having the battery die/removing the battery is that the keys will loose their programming. Then I'm stuck towing the car to the dealer and paying to get that fixed.

Of course starting it once a week means using gas, I assume I'll have to fill it up constantly with a spout by hand.

 

[Wvmike]

My fear of having the battery die/removing the battery is that the keys will loose their programming. Then I'm stuck towing the car to the dealer and paying to get that fixed.

Are you sure the key fob programming will be lost if the battery is disconnected?
I don't think so.:ford:

 

[stealthfrc]

depending how long it will be stored.... park car, unplug battery. bring battery home, put on trickle charger every once in a while.

nothing will loose its programming if unplugged.

 

[Bryce5.0]

Well thanks to El Nino..... Mid November to March
Northern MN winters are long :(

 

[moto111]

Store a car what's that lol never!!!!

 

[montreal ponies]

What about if my storage unit doesn't have access to power? No lights or outlets.
you guys recommend starting it once a week and letting it warm up and charge the battery?
My fear of having the battery die/removing the battery is that the keys will loose their programming. Then I'm stuck towing the car to the dealer and paying to get that fixed.

Of course starting it once a week means using gas, I assume I'll have to fill it up constantly with a spout by hand.

I never remove my battery, just put it on a battery tender once every week. Start it until it gets up to temp for 15-20 minutes every now and then and make sure to move it forward or backwards about a feet or so in order not to get flat spots on your tires.
I fill it up with Stabil and don't even use half tank for winter period.

 

[Bryce5.0]

I never remove my battery, just put it on a battery tender once every week. Start it until it gets up to temp for 15-20 minutes and make sure to move it forward or backwards about a feet or so in order not to get flat spots on your tires.
I fill it up with Stabil and don't even use half tank for winter period.

Except my storage unit has no outlets for a battery tender

 

[whysoblu]

Three years ago I lived in cold Cleveland, OH. I would store my car from Nov - May. Every 2-3 weeks I would go out and let car run for about 45 minutes. I would rock it back and forth to not get bald spots on tires and I would use Staybil. I never once disconnected battery or had a trickle charger on it. The car is now 10 years old (2006 GT) and still runs on same battery etc.

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