Outside storage tips ??

Topic: Outside storage tips ?? (Read 1029 times) previous topic - next topic

Outside storage tips ??

October 06, 2005, 07:15:39 PM

My project car is currently at my parents home and I am doing the work when I can afford to and free time (life comes 1st and all ) but i would like some tips for proper outside storage (we get snow here) so save as much rot as possible. I dont have a garage and I'm currently live in town in a apartment with only 1 alloted parking space.

Re: Outside storage tips ??

Reply #1 – October 06, 2005, 07:30:31 PM

Well one leaving a car on grass is a bad idea.
2 if there are trees over tree sap sucks.
Leaf or 2 on the car will not look bad but hold water good, Fall is here and gess what will happen next.

Flat tires makes the car lower and helps it rust more when on grass.
U should close the hood some one might take stuff.
Leave window down a crack so heat and get out and u dont get that I been sitting for a year Smell in there.

Re: Outside storage tips ??

Reply #2 – October 06, 2005, 07:46:16 PM

Speaking from experience of not having a garage, its a tough battle. I use a car cover, but if the car just sits, the mositure and rodents tend to take their toll. I even found mold growing on the steering wheel and plastics, so definitely try to get some air circulation when you can.

I think even if you can get someone to start it (if it runs) every now and that would be good just to keep critters from making it their permanent home.

They do sell car "bubbles" that use a small fan to inflate a plastic bubble around the car, but they probably would be destroyed by lots of snow.

Re: Outside storage tips ??

Reply #3 – October 06, 2005, 07:55:27 PM

its mostly road salt that rusts the hell out of them. if its not on the road and its cleaned and has a coat of wax on it i think youd be alright. its a pain but keep it clean and if it runs, run it up to temp and run the heater awhile... snow will be alright if you clean it off with a snow brush. id get a car cover and a few tarps. i usually lay out a big tarp and place plywood on top of it in the space my car would take up. i put flat block or planking under where i put the jackstands and i get the car up off the suspension. i put a car cover on and then roll up the tarp thats left over from around the plywood. another tarp over the top and i run bungies or rope around the base.

i keep the tank mostly full, and i use fuel stabaliser. i disconnect the battery or remove it completely. i also leave the windows down about an inch. i deflate the tires a little. dont know if any of this realy helps but i feel better doing it. i also make sure i start and run the car up to temp at least once a month.

ive seen people use bags of (salt?) in cars to help with moisture. a couple blocks of wood might help...something to help with moisture...

i didnt do it last year, and i wont be doing it this year either. last year was neglect. this year hopefully ill get to tinker with it...

Re: Outside storage tips ??

Reply #4 – October 07, 2005, 12:29:45 AM

Most people find it hard to believe, but in the 14 years I've owned my car it's only been stored in a garage since '99....every year prior to that it was stored in my parents driveway outside during the cold winter. What did I do to store it?

My yearly ritual was a follows:

1) Had the car oil sprayed every other year

2) Fill fuel tank completely (prevents condensation forming inside the tank)

3) Wash and wax

4) Oil and filter change (dirty oil has contaminents that can attach themselves to bearing surfaces when left for extended periods)

5) Put the car up on jackstands (6 ton jobs that get the car up good and high) Support the car by it's suspension, don't place the stands on the frame rails. The idea is to simulate the vehicle sitting on the ground on it's wheels.

6) Remove wheels/tires. Cover brakes with plastic bags and tape them up as good as possible to keep moisture off the brakes.

7) Remove battery

Verify coolant condition so it can deal with the low temps and prevent freezing.

9) Drop on my Wolf, Evolution 4 car cover and never touch it again 'til mid April. I never start the car either but what I will do is turn the engine over by hand every couple weeks. I do that to prevent fatiguing the valve springs as some obviously are compressed when the engine is shut off. Rotating the engine will alternate which springs are compressed over the winter as I've always been told it's never good for the valvesprings to be at rest under compression for extended periods of time.

Now that I have a garage I still do everything on that list except the oil spray and removing the wheels and tires.

Re: Outside storage tips ??

Reply #5 – October 07, 2005, 11:49:59 AM

put it up on jack stands and when you do get a chance start it every once in a while also try to keep the leaves off it and as mutch snow as you can. if you don't whanna do that just invest in a car cover. i had to do that for my cougar over the winter myself.

Re: Outside storage tips ??

Reply #6 – October 07, 2005, 04:34:52 PM

I actually skipped the car cover. I covered the car with a couple old sheets and then covered them with a couple tarps. Tied the tarps tightly around the car and called it a day. Works great for spring, summer and fall. Don't know about winter yet... I have a feeling I'll be getting a good car cover. :rolleyes:

If you don't put the car up on stands, just make sure it's sitting in a spot that isn't pr0ne to standing water.

Re: Outside storage tips ??

Reply #7 – October 07, 2005, 07:38:42 PM

I've stored my car in an open shed by my dad's house for the last 2 winters. It's actually not all that bad, it has a gravel floor and it's on a slight slope so there's no problems with water acspoogeulating. All I do is change the oil and wash the car real good, then park it in the shed and put a car cover over it, that's it. I generally leave it sit there for 6 months and I don't touch it at all. Then when spring rolls around, I unhook the coil and crank it for a bit to circulate the oil, and then fire it up. Never really had any major problems. However, this winter I'm gonna have to watch out...a few years ago when we had some real heavy snowfall, a couple of the boards in the rafters of this shed split and/or broke. I know they're predicting quite a bit of snow this winter so I may be moving my car a little early :disappoin

BTW- shame302, the stuff you're thinking of is the silica gel packets, it absorbs water.