Good afternoon,

I have an '04 g35 6MT and I'd like to put it in my girlfriend's underground parking garage for the winter (to save it from the horrid Canadian winter). I imagine I have to do some special things to it first? Someone mentioned stabalizer? do I need to put it on blocks or something? Do i start it up every few weeks?

I'll be bombing around this winter in a '98 Lumina!! BAM!

plus.. I wouldn't mind getting a new paintjob in the spring as a celebration of her return from hibernation. Is this a lot of money? will it look as good as it was when it was new? the stone chips drive me crazy when i stare at that thing in the sun

thanks for all the help

 

fuel stabilizer is a good start. putting it up on blocks to save the tires from flat spots isn't a bad idea.


as far as new paint jobs go, you're looking at a couple g's (unless you go the maaco cheapo route which is crap)

 

paint job will be a few G's.. i dont think you'll need one if you're planning on keeping it in a parking garage though.

 

I'm not sure about stabilizers or whatever, but you probably should turn it on and drive it around for a little while when the snow is gone or light, if you don't the battery will die and you'll get flat spots in your tires.

How safe is the parking garage? You may wanna invest in a car cover with a lock to deter theft and keep the paint job clean. Also a new paint job is gonna run you about 3-5k if you want a decent one and not an extravagant color.

 

Add stablizer to the gas tank and run it for a few miles to get it thru the fuel system, make sure the oil is clean, remove or disconest battery and charge it every month OR use a trickle charger on it. Pump the tires up to ~40 psi. Do NOT start the car and run it for a few minutes every week/month, this causes big damage. Once its put away leave it alone.

 

what color are you looking towards getting

 

Yea listen to this guy instead of me.

 

The best advise I can give is to put Seafoam in the gas. I use SeaFoam in everything I own that has a spark plug. Great gas stabilizer/conditioner (Minnesota has ethenal in the gas!!). After putting it in the full gas tank,being carefull not to spill it on the paint, run your car on the freeway to totally warm it up, removing moisture. Remove the battery as said above, and put it on a trickle charger several times during the winter. In a shared garage a car cover is almost a must to protect the paint, dirt in a large garage, theft, etc,etc.. I have not had problems with leaving the tires on, in a heated garage. Oh yeah, a good wash and wax job. My 300ZX was stored every winter this way for years with no problems. You don't have to start it till spring. If you start it every week you will just put more moisture thru the motor and exhaust. Let it hibernate.

 

Thanks for the help

I'm putting it away this weekend since the snow has already started but 2 last questions

1) I don't think I'm going to have time to change the oil. I just had it changed in Sept (about 2500km ago). At the rate of oil breakdown I would be due for a change in Feb. Since I'm not taking the car out until around april will this make much a difference? basically I'll have "old" oil in there for about 2 months (but it will just be sitting there)

2) I really wanted to get it rust proofed before storing it as well but again I'd have to brave the elements in the g to do this. Do you highly recommend the rustproofing before putting it away?

3) I bought a trickle charger but don't really have anywhere to place that thing in my apartment for 4 months. Can I just store that and my battery in my closet disconnected then bring it out for a few days once a month?

I do have the stabilizer and I'm pumping the tires up to 40psi.. oh and I'll be putting a cover on it and filling up the tank too

thanks again for all the help