Originally Posted by Down_Shift

blockheater + battery tender <------------


What you should also do is do an oil change before you start the car at all (if it's been sitting for a LONG time).

I store mine for about 3-4 months a year, it's kept outside behind the house. No car cover. (I'm not a big fan of car covers, they trade moisture and particles). The huge mound of snow that covers the whole car is good enough for protection!

I don't think flatspotted occurs that often anymore. It won't happen unless you keep the car parked for a very extended amount of time.I would suggest putting some type of carpet or foam as someone as recommended between the contact patch and the ground.

Make sure you do a complete wash/wax. Coat the paint and put a nice wet layer of tire shine on the tires. The tires tend to get white from the dry winters! If you have time condition the seats.

Baking soda is a must!

I usually do an oil change before I store it, and I do an oil change right after winter, this year I'm going to do all the fluids also.

Car is only driven mostly on weekends and stored for the winter.

Many people have said to start the car for x amount of minutes etc. I believe in this method, but I would rather DRIVE off the carb build up etc if I were to start the car up. Another plus on this is relubing upon startup.

Originally Posted by Msedanman

I like this method best.....since it most replicates continuous usage...more or less....

I'm lucky tho, since my 'stored' rides stay inside and get the battery recharge every week or 2, and prewarm b4 every start.
Taking them around the block on those nice days helps 'exercise' and lube all moving parts too.
In the dead of winter, I'll prewarm my daily driver to give the engine a break, which improves cabin warming and gas mileage a little......

Totally agree on the oil change and waxing, a must.....

C.

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

all good stuff......

FWIW;
One fluid that gets overlooked on a stored car that is *not* used, is brake fluid.

We all know the problem with brake fluid is it's propensity for absorbing water.
That moisture over the winter & brake components.... mmmmmmm, not good.

Originally Posted by bikesbikes

I don't really store mine. I plug in the block heater for a few hours before I start it up. I'll drive it if it's dry. Although you have to be pretty careful. The OEM pilot sports are like plastic when it's colder then -10. I think I'm going to remove my oil catch tank this wimter. It really smells when you're stopped at a light and you have the heater running. In the summer it's not bad since you can recirculate the air with the AC on. but in the winter... yuck...

after driving for about an hour or two I fill the tank back up and head straight into the garage.

Originally Posted by Msedanman

A very good point, Ian, and easily overlooked....The service department contacts I have all say the same thing: that changing your brake fluid out every year or no later than 2 is very important for max braking efficiency and to keep the system 'healthy'........
A good investment....and you'll pay much less in the long run.

C.