Winter Storage

[Zilverado]

Need some hints here.

It looks like with the impending move to our new house, I won't have a place to park the truck during the winter. I usually use it as a second vehicle all year round, even during the winter, but until I make some changes to the new yard next summer, I don't have room for it. And during the winter up here, street parking can get tricky during snow clearing time.

So, my Father-in-Law has offered me to park it on their yard out of town. I am intending to drive it out there following our move (early December) and leave it parked until spring (March or April).

Are there any special precautions I should take before letting it sit that long in the cold? It can get to -35 Celcius up here.

Also, do you guys recommend anything for keeping the mice away. The truck is pretty tight, so I don't know if they'd get into the cab, but just in case?

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Oh, BTW, this is not a performance machine, just a good condition daily driver.

Thanks.

[Scrub]

Put lots of anti-freeze in it. Fill the gas tank all the way up to prevent condensation. You might think about draining the washer fluid and filling it with anti-freeze also. I would disconnect the battery.
You don't want to leave the parking brake on for all that time as the shoes will rust to the drums.

If you want to be real anal, jack all the wheels off the ground an let the air down to about 10 pounds. That way you don't get a flat spot in your tire, but it is overkill for 4 months.

Good luck

[bigblock73]

Here is what I do...

1. wash vehicle (dirt will scratch paint if covered with a car cover)
2. change oil
3. fill up gas tank and add "stabil" (sp?)
4. remove battery
4. flip down sunvisors (to prevent mice from building a new home)
4. you can add moth balls or dryer sheets under seat(I don't do this)
5. put on some old tires and rims
6. clean out ALL junk from vehicle (especially inside)
7. cover with good quality car cover

Hope this helps some.

-Jeff

[mjsmith1223]

Originally posted by bigblock73
Here is what I do...

1. wash vehicle (dirt will scratch paint if covered with a car cover)
2. change oil
3. fill up gas tank and add "stabil" (sp?)
4. remove battery
4. flip down sunvisors (to prevent mice from building a new home)
4. you can add moth balls or dryer sheets under seat(I don't do this)
5. put on some old tires and rims
6. clean out ALL junk from vehicle (especially inside)
7. cover with good quality car cover

Hope this helps some.

-Jeff

And to this I might add fogging the cylinders with some good fogging oil unless you can get there once a month or so and let it run awhile. This might sound obvious, but after removing the battery, take it home and put it somewhere it won't freeze. What's above and the fogging are essentially all the things I do to the engine in my boat for winter storage.

Mike
Grand Haven, MI

[Russell]

My 76 has been sitting outside in the open for over 20 years, we put a bucket of grain in it and let it sit. This is with no rear window (got a bale of hay through it) It still sits there today and is in reasonably good condition inside, even with all the rain and snow on the bench seat and stuff. The floor didn't do very well, I sat down in it yesterday and the seat fell through the floor, lol (that scared the crap outta me...) basically, if you put it outside for four months it will be just fine

[RockHQ]

And remember, don't overdo the glycol/water ratio. Did you know that pure glycol freezes at a lower degree than a 50/50 glycol/water ratio which should do -35 C degrees and anything over that will have worse results?