Winter storage for your SKYLINE!

[nanugtr]

Hey everyone!
Just wondering how do you guys store your skyline over the winter, what steps do you take???
-Putting it on jack stands?
-Turning the car on once a week?
-Put on different wheels so you dont ruind your good rubber?
What do you guys think, or what do you guys do?

[JZ]

-back car into garage on top of plastic tarp (moist floor will wreck tires)
-Fill up the tank, pour in some fuel stabilizer (STP)
-overinflate the tires by 5 psi to avoid flatspotting (jackstands only if I plan to store for more than 6 months)
-unplug the battery and bring batt to cool, dry place indoors (basement)
-leave a little gap in the windows
-plug the tailpipe with rag to avoid critters nesting in exhaust (don't ask me why I know this!)
-put cover on and kiss GTR goodnight until spring thaw

This year I plan to have my car at a couple of places for work (engine and paint) so I won't go through all that, but I will still over inflate the tires and put the cover on.

[GT-Rob]

I dont have a garage at my house so mine is parked about 10blocks from my house.


Its pretty much in there, no cover, battery is out, its pretty roomy in there so I can work on it. Overinflate the tires is a good tip, or take off the tires and put other ones on there. I heard its not very good to leave the car on stands with the wheels on still for long periods of time but thats up to you, I wouldnt worry about it though.


Its funny you mention plugging the exhaust. I rode with no grill for about a month in the summer and you wouldnt believe the things that got in there! lol Never thought about the exhaust though good tip!


Sigh Im going to start a count down untill march (I dont care if theres still snow on the ground in march)

[Ti Pit]

Oh **** the Exhaust!!! ARRRGGGHHHH I forgot about that and both my cars are like 45minutes away damnit I'll have to go back and plug their exhaust

[nanugtr]

thanks for the input guys!!!

[kdwebber]

What about starting the car every month or so? Also I was watching barrett-jackson and the comentators were saying something about rolling your car in and out of the garage just to get all the parts on the car moving. What you guys think?

[JZ]

Nope, not necessary!

Parts are well lubricated for the 4 months of winter storage, in fact starting and stopping it will do more damage I've been told. Rolling the car...not needed if you're only sotring for a short time (ie. one season). The stuff you've been told applies for cars being stationary for years, like in a musuem.

[nanugtr]

Yea i was thinkin about starting the car and moving it like once every 2 weeks. I guess thats not a good idea, shouldent you move it so the tires dont get ruind??? I know you guys said to put more air to eliminate to flat spot is that really enough to save the tires?

[klys]

Ti Pit

Imma probably go back within the next week to get my bumpers

I'll plug our exhausts

[JZ]

I know you guys said to put more air to eliminate to flat spot is that really enough to save the tires?

Yes.

[Ti Pit]

Ti Pit

Imma probably go back within the next week to get my bumpers

I'll plug our exhausts

Yay!

can you plug the one on the MX3 also? It's also streight pipe but doesn't havea turbo in the way to stop the little creatures..

[entelijint]

just to add some info...
my car is on jack stands with kitty-litter underneath (for moisture absorption), steel wool in the tail pipe (rodents love chewing through cloth but will RUN from steel wool), oil changed, coolant flush and fill, windows cracked, seals gone over with oil based cleaner, interior gone over with water based cleaner, cloths under the wipers (eliminates possible sticking), battery taken out, baking soda box WIDE open in the center consol, full tank of gas with Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer (it's the one that was at the gas station)... i think that's all.
I planned on starting her every 3 weeks (or on days that it's warmer out), but not so sure now that JZ mentioned something... i'll read more into it.

Is it all necessary, no. Did i go overboard according to most, yes. I just love my car and want her to be just as bright and shiney as i left her, ready for a lovely unveiling so i can beat the piss out of her for another year :P

[spd-dmn]

Starting your engine isn't recommended unless you're actually going out to drive it for more than 20 minutes.

It takes about 10 mins of operation under load just to get the oil up to operating temperature. That means everytime you start 'er up you are just increasing the number of times the engine goes through a 'cold start'.

Also, random short idling/running of the engine will promote moisture and oil vapours to build up in the crankcase and simultaneously not give these vapours any chance to escape.

You should not start the engine at all or, if you really feel the need, it should be started every day for at least 25minutes.


"If it's up, leave it up. If it's down, leave it down."

[entelijint]

well... it wouldn't exactly be a cold start... i have an industrial heater under the engine bay, i make sure that the whole engine bay is kept at 10 degrees for at least 8 hours prior to starting (let everything warm up)

i guess I'll just let her sit if that's the group consensus though no hearing my baby purr for 5 months? that's going to be hard... what if i just started her once right in the middle, mid-late january say?

[GTR-guy]

I just thought I would bring this subject back up since it is pretty much that time again!