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Winterizing

1671 Views 6 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  Andrew
Can anyone give me tips for winter storage of my 1979 308GT4. I Live in NY so it will be out of commission most of the winter, with some possible forays out during no-snow/ice conditions
Thanks! :)
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Welcome Don,
Specify the type of storage. Heated? Climate controlled?

Mine is kept in the basement of my house. Tempuratures never go below 55f. I put a coat of wax on it and keep a car cover on it.

Change the oil right before you put it in storage. You don't want the contaminants and acids in the crankcase all winter. Try to drive the car a minimum of once a month. Drive it for at least an hour to get all of the oil temps up and to burn off all of the condensated moisture from inside the engine and exhaust system.

Make sure you have good coolant/anti-freeze in the system for COLD winter driving. You can freeze your radiator solid before the thermostat opens if you start driving before the engine is fully warmed up and there is no anti-freeze in the system. I warm my engine with the front bonnet open so I can check the radiator tank for warmth. Then I know it's ready to go.

Don't forget to check your tire pressures before you drive. Cold weather reduces the pressure in your tires, even after you have been driving for a while. They will NOT attain the same pressure as driving on a summer day..

If the car is going to be kept in an area of high humidity you may want to visit an outlet for RV supplies and pick up a dehumidifier for the storage space or one for inside the car to stop mold.

When spring comes, change the oil again, especially after numerous cold starts with chokes. The rich fuel mixture will contaminate the oil again.

I think that just about covers it.
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