[artey34]

I know we dont like to think about it here in Michigan....but I need to start to buy things to winterize my SS 1LE. I have never stored a car before so I do not know where to begin or what I should purchase. I will store for around 6 months.

The car will be stored inside on the ground (not heated). I was looking to get the OEM outdoor cover on it, then put it inside a CarJacket (https://www.carbag.com/carjacket/). Or should I get the indoor cover? Both? Thoughts?

However, with this I cannot connect the battery. Should I remove the battery? If I remove it, should I still plug it in?

Do the Goodyear 1LE tires need to be removed? Or will they be safe when storing.


Do I need to put something in the gas tank?

Like I said, I dont know where to begin so any info will help!

[MSU120]

I’m in the same boat.....I plan to let her sit, in the garage. I’ll start once a week and let it warm up. Not doing anything special.

[Rock-It Man]

So, there have been many threads on this. You can go back to the Camaro5 forum as well, where people have been discussing storing cars for years now.

My 2010 is stored every year for 6 months. The garage is unheated but it is on the first floor of a two story house, and the temp is always above freezing.

I would do everything possible to keep the battery in the car and connected to a battery tender. That is much more important than putting the car in a bubble. When you say "on the ground" do you mean a dirt floor? That doesn't sound great for moisture, but I've never done it. Maybe a tarp on the ground? Hopefully someone with experience will comment.

You should put in a bottle of gas stabilizer and fill the tank. Also change the oil some time shortly before storage.

The other big deal is rodents. I have a professional pest control service maintain bait boxes in the garage and throughout the house. This has been effective. I've only had rodent problems in cars left outdoors and used daily. Mice love a warm engine at the end of the day.

[ZED SLED]

Should be plenty of info in these threads. If you need more just type 'winter storage' in the search function top right of bar. Use google search though, posts and threads search sucks.

https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=254887

https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=179476

https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23114

https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112228

https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=320252

[Rock-It Man]

Originally Posted by MSU120

I’m in the same boat.....I plan to let her sit, in the garage. I’ll start once a week and let it warm up. Not doing anything special.

Starting once a week is exactly the WRONG approach. It's not enough to maintain the battery, and the exhaust will never get hot enough to evaporate all the water that condenses there when the pipes are cold. Also moisture will build up in the crank case. Get a battery tender and don't start the car unless you intend to drive it.

[laynlo15]

Well said rocket man

[nelsont]

Originally Posted by Rock-It Man

Starting once a week is exactly the WRONG approach. It's not enough to maintain the battery, and the exhaust will never get hot enough to evaporate all the water that condenses there when the pipes are cold. Also moisture will build up in the crank case. Get a battery tender and don't start the car unless you intend to drive it.

[VinnAY]

for 6 months i might expect flat spotting of the tires, might need overinflated or put up on blocks.

[ChevyRules]

Originally Posted by Rock-It Man

Starting once a week is exactly the WRONG approach. It's not enough to maintain the battery, and the exhaust will never get hot enough to evaporate all the water that condenses there when the pipes are cold. Also moisture will build up in the crank case. Get a battery tender and don't start the car unless you intend to drive it.

If you are to drive it, how long should it be driven? Last winter I always made sure it was driven for 40 minutes constantly running and moving when I took it out.

[Frankie18SS]

I've never winterized a car until now so this is my plan based on everything I've aggregated from this forum:

• Changing the oil and filter.

• A bottle of Stabil in the tank before last fill-up. Drive for 15 minutes or so to get the treated gas through the system.

• Connecting a Battery Tender to the terminals under the hood.

• Pumping the tires up to 42-44 psi.

• Vapor barrier (thick tarp) on the floor under the car. Going to the carpet store and buying thick berber remnant to place small piece of carpet under each tire.

• Steel wool in the tail pipes with a reminder on the dash to remove it when starting.

• No parking brake.

• No starting until Spring.

Since it will be in the garage that I'm using, the door will be up every day so I don't want a cover on it that will billow and scratch the paint. The CarBag is intriguing but I worry about the same thing (plus it doesn't say anything about it being connected to a Battery Tender while in the CarBag) so I'm going to just leave it uncovered. It might be a little dusty in the Spring but nothing that can't be hosed off.


Everyone has their opinions about the best way to do this and I'm sure that no matter what you do, 99% of the time, the car will be fine. My plan might not be perfect but I guarantee it's better than driving it in the salt for 6 months.

[artey34]

My father used the Car bag on his 96 Corvette. He just disconnected the battery, used an indoor cover, and in the car bag it went with a few things to absorb moisture. Then there is no need for the carpet pieces or steel wool in the pipes. I was thinking to do the same but take the battery fully out and keep it charged outside the car. The car bag works really well when you have a cover on the car as well

[dohvb1]

Luckily, my days of Michigan winters are long gone. But for those braving the cold up there, I would also suggest mousetraps around the garage.

[Snowbird12]

From what I am told by hot rodders in the north
Mice will not walk on plastic tarps, they dont like the feel and noise
I put high pitched rodent plug ins and dyer aheets under and in the car
I stored my vettes with 50 pounds of air in the tires on plywood
I always took the batteries out as I am in the south for 6 months, never had an issue
My last Vette was a 2010

Just my 2 cents. 1/5 cents canadian

[Cmax]

Originally Posted by Snowbird12

From what I am told by hot rodders in the north
Mice will not walk on plastic tarps, they dont like the feel and noise
I put high pitched rodent plug ins and dyer aheets under and in the car
I stored my vettes with 50 pounds of air in the tires on plywood
I always took the batteries out as I am in the south for 6 months, never had an issue
My last Vette was a 2010

Just my 2 cents. 1/5 cents canadian

Snow bird....
What’s up with using plywood under the tires? Dryer sheets? I have a vert with leather interior and will store it from first frost to mid March. I am paranoid mostly about rodents getting in my attached garage, but not too worried about a dead battery...
I had a 67 Camaro that I had been storing two winters, and in both spring start ups, it fired right up.