Winter - Help!

[Dmustang82]

So I personally and unfortunately, do not know a ton about cars. I live in Milwaukee, WI and, luckily, I am a whopping 1 mile from work. When I first bought my 2021 Mach 1, I thought I would throw some winter tires on it and drive it in light snow, etc. I was quite inspired by the fact that Car and Driver got through thousands of miles of a Michigan winter with snow tires on a Bullitt. But, honestly, I love the car more than I thought I would and there is no reason to subject it to snow. I do not need a car in the winter, I can easily get to work through public transportation.

I have a house with an attached two car garage, unheated. In Milwaukee, we can get down to negative temps and the garage can get pretty cold. Can I leave my car in there with a filled up gas tank, car cover, and a batter charger, or should I find heated car storage? I hate to pay for storage when I have a covered garage space, but I do want to keep the car in the best condition I can. What else should I do to the car to prep it for winter? Are there car storage places that will do all that type of prep work for me if I drop it off in Nov and pick it back up in March?

Any thoughts would be awesome and appreciated.

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[CJJon]

Cold is fine, moisture is the killer.

 

[NoVaGT]

So I personally and unfortunately, do not know a ton about cars. I live in Milwaukee, WI and, luckily, I am a whopping 1 mile from work. When I first bought my 2021 Mach 1, I thought I would throw some winter tires on it and drive it in light snow, etc. I was quite inspired by the fact that Car and Driver got through thousands of miles of a Michigan winter with snow tires on a Bullitt. But, honestly, I love the car more than I thought I would and there is no reason to subject it to snow. I do not need a car in the winter, I can easily get to work through public transportation.

I have a house with an attached two car garage, unheated. In Milwaukee, we can get down to negative temps and the garage can get pretty cold. Can I leave my car in there with a filled up gas tank, car cover, and a batter charger, or should I find heated car storage? I hate to pay for storage when I have a covered garage space, but I do want to keep the car in the best condition I can. What else should I do to the car to prep it for winter? Are there car storage places that will do all that type of prep work for me if I drop it off in Nov and pick it back up in March?

Any thoughts would be awesome and appreciated.

Just keep it at home, and drive it when the roads are clear. Temperatures don't matter.

And when you do drive it, drive it for real. Don't just start it and go around the block, get it out there and drive it, get it warmed up fully.

 

[Dmustang82]

Just keep it at home, and drive it when the roads are clear. Temperatures don't matter.

And when you do drive it, drive it for real. Don't just start it and go around the block, get it out there and drive it, get it warmed up fully.

Thank you. Even when roads are clear, there can be quite a bit of salt. Would it be good just to start it once a week and let it sit for like 15 mins or so running?

 

[NoVaGT]

Thank you. Even when roads are clear, there can be quite a bit of salt. Would it be good just to start it once a week and let it sit for like 15 mins or so running?

No. Absolutely do not start it once a week and leave it idling. That's terrible for the car. Just wait until the roads are clear, and drive it. If that's once a month, that's fine.

The car can sit for months and be fine. Driving it occasionally when the roads are clear is better.

Consider a battery tender to keep your battery in perfect condition.

 

[Shawn2018GT]

Humidity turning to moisture is the main issue. I would say take it out once every 30 days and drive it until the engine gets fully hot, and drive it for another 15 minutes. This boils off the water that has collected in the engine and oil. Then plug it in to a battery maintainer in your garage. Should have NO problems doing that.

 

[Kevindust]

Based on your profile picture, it looks like your car would have come with the Michelin PS4S tires. Be very careful if you will be driving the car occasionally in sub zero weather. I also recommend that you verify with Michelin about storing the PS4S below freezing temperatures. I know that the Michelin SC2 (that come on the PP2 and Mach 1 with Handling Package) are not even meant to be stored in cold, cold temperatures.

 

[ice445]

Your car will be fine. Low temps won't hurt it (although you shouldn't drive on those tires under 40F).

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