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      12-03-2012, 11:37 AM   #1
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Storage help needed.

I have a 2008 Coupe (not an M) and am looking to store it from now until late spring. Don't want the snow and salt on it (I live in Michigan, where the salt trucks are plentiful)

I have already started doing some things. Have the car cleaned, fluids topped off, fuel stabilizer in.

I have a couple of questions about tires, suspension and battery.

I know I need to get the weight off the tires, but I don't want to leave the suspension uncompressed. I have a floor jack and jack stands but want to know how to get the weight off the tires without leaving the uncompressed and without load.

Now, the battery. I have heard to leave the battery on a trickle or a float charger but have a few questions on this.
1) Do I or should I remove the battery from the car. I think there are components that need constant power and am concerned if I remove the battery, I will need to get it all reprogrammed.
2) If I do remove the battery, is there any special way to do so such that I don't accidently set off the airbags (that would suck)
3) Is one or the other better....trickle or float charger?
4) Is there any fire hazzard with leaving the battery on the charger over long periods of time?

thanks for your help guys.

I love this car.
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      12-03-2012, 01:41 PM   #2
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I store my car every winter. It has never seen snow-salt.
Steps: Wash, change oil, full gas tank with fuel stabilizer, store car after full warm up to get rid of all moisture, remove battery and put on the Tender, pump tires to 45-48 psi (I don't put car on stands), remove wiper blades, drop moth balls on the floor around the tires. Don't set parking brake. In late March undo the above and remember to let the fuel pump re-build pressure before starting. Car starts normally and purrs happily, reinitial windows. Go enjoy. No fire hazard with the tender. Remember to hook up battery venting.
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      12-03-2012, 07:15 PM   #3
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I did the same research a month or so ago, so you'll find plenty of threads covering this topic...and varying opinions. I've never stored a car over the winter, but based on my Dad's opinion (he's stored a variety of Vettes for 40 years; we live in MN) and what I've heard from others here, the only two things I would slightly disagree with are:

1) It's ok to just use one of those cigarette lighter plug-in trickle chargers and leave the battery in.

2) Inflate tires to 35 #. You can always check them during the winter but most seem to think 2# to 5# over-inflated is plenty.

Most people seem to think jack stands are unecessary with modern tires.
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      12-04-2012, 11:04 AM   #4
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I store mine in a heated garage, been leaving the battery in without trickle charger. This year I opted for no fuel stabilizer as last year the engine had a really hard time starting up; threw a cylinder 1 misfire as well
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      12-04-2012, 02:30 PM   #5
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I have been storing mine since I got it in 2007. Slightly over inflate tires (3# is enough), fuel stabilizer and top off, then you can use a TENDER, not a trickle charger, if you want. I did not the first 2 years and my car was fine after a few months, but the last few I have cause I do not want to kill my battery for a mere $20 savings.

My garage is not heated but is insulated. I have not put anything under the tires and it has been just fine each winter. My bike does get stands because those tires warp a lot easier and get brittle. The car HP tires do not in my experience.
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      12-04-2012, 02:52 PM   #6
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Quote:
but I don't want to leave the suspension uncompressed.
Why? If you bought all new parts, it would be uncompressed until you install them.
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      12-05-2012, 02:02 AM   #7
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Mine may end up in storage for 2-3 years...any ideas on what to do with it then?
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      12-05-2012, 07:40 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dammmittt View Post
Mine may end up in storage for 2-3 years...any ideas on what to do with it then?


....I couldn't do that, it would drive me nuts.
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      12-05-2012, 07:55 AM   #9
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....I couldn't do that, it would drive me nuts.
Yeah...well, I'm pretty sure bringing it to Korea is out based on the way they drive...and I REALLY do not want to sell it.
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      12-05-2012, 09:14 AM   #10
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Yeah.... I hear ya.
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      12-05-2012, 09:48 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dammmittt View Post
Mine may end up in storage for 2-3 years...any ideas on what to do with it then?
Is it possible to have someone drive it occasionally?

If not I would pull the battery out of it, drain the gas out (can't see anything good coming of gas that is 2-3 years old). Not sure what you do about tank having humidity in it and possibly rusting.

Also have heard that before you start it after the 2-3 years, pull the plugs, put oil in top of each cylinder (maybe put extra oil in top before you store also?), crank it without starting it, then replace plugs with new ones, new gas, probably new battery and start it. I would probably also flush the brake fluid now and when you get back.

I have also never done a long term storage of a car so I am interested in what others think.
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      12-05-2012, 12:07 PM   #12
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Might be worth asking some classic/antique car collectors. Those guys sometimes store cars for a year or two.
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      12-05-2012, 01:37 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dammmittt View Post
Mine may end up in storage for 2-3 years...any ideas on what to do with it then?
I have a similar dilemma. I'll be storing my car for a couple of years starting next July but I should be able to come back a couple times a year to exercise it. I have considered offering generous payment to my very trustworthy mechanic to go take it out of its bubble every couple of months and take it around the block, get it up to temperature and put it away again. This in addition to having it on a trickle charger, putting my extra set of wheels (with less expensive tires) on with the tires inflated a few extra pounds...and whatever else the experts can convince me to do in the meantime.
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      12-05-2012, 10:16 PM   #14
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Thanks for the ideas. Sorry about the threadjack.
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      12-07-2012, 05:10 PM   #15
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Here are some interesting tips for long term storage:

http://www.dccarcare.com/tipowk/tipowk15.html

Note point #12 regarding the use (or not) or fuel stabilizers.

I think the battery tender is a no-brainer but I was interested to read about insulting the tires from concrete floors with some 2x12s. Now that makes sense(as does adding just a little extra pressure. Certainly his argument against car jacks makes some sense too.

What do you guys say?

Cheers.
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      12-09-2012, 02:39 PM   #16
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I don't believe gas is ok for a year without doing anything to it. Also not sure why you wouldn't add stabilizer to it just to help. Cost is minimal.
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      12-12-2012, 02:57 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by David70 View Post
I don't believe gas is ok for a year without doing anything to it. Also not sure why you wouldn't add stabilizer to it just to help. Cost is minimal.
Stabilizer seemed to be my culprit for engine misfire when I took it out of storage in March 2012. Not using it this time so we'll see how it starts in March 2013. Mine is only stored for about 5 months.
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      12-12-2012, 03:30 PM   #18
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Originally Posted by jman1975 View Post
Stabilizer seemed to be my culprit for engine misfire when I took it out of storage in March 2012. Not using it this time so we'll see how it starts in March 2013. Mine is only stored for about 5 months.
Since it is only a few ounces of stabilizer in 13 gallons (or whatever the tank full amount it) how would you know (or likely) that the stabilizer caused the problem?

This article says the gas isn't the problem but the ethanol in it may be and there isn't much you can do about it - http://www.fuel-testers.com/expirati...hanol_gas.html
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      12-12-2012, 03:58 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by David70 View Post
This article says the gas isn't the problem but the ethanol in it may be and there isn't much you can do about it - http://www.fuel-testers.com/expirati...hanol_gas.html
That was extremely informative, thank you. Appreciate the lesson.
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      12-12-2012, 10:08 PM   #20
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I agree, great info, thanks...
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      12-13-2012, 10:08 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by David70 View Post
Since it is only a few ounces of stabilizer in 13 gallons (or whatever the tank full amount it) how would you know (or likely) that the stabilizer caused the problem?

This article says the gas isn't the problem but the ethanol in it may be and there isn't much you can do about it - http://www.fuel-testers.com/expirati...hanol_gas.html
This is why I said seemed. I'll know more next spring. Good article.
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