Well I'm not going to be driving my RA this winter. I have a POS mazda that will deal with the road salt.

I was wondering what I would have to do to get my RA ready for storage. Should I lower or drain any fluids? Should I put it on jackstands? Should I do anything to the paint, like wax it a lot? Its going to be in a covered building, but it won't be heated.

Any help would be great.

P.s. I live in Buffalo, and they are calling for a bad bad winter. Temps will easily be in the negatives with the wind. maybe even without the wind.

ok, thanks!
~scott

 

When I store my Mustang here is the process.

Make sure battery has good full charge.
Fill washer fluid with winter juice -40 and full
Check coolant make sure it is rating at -30 or so (50/50 mix is fine) and full
I have never jacked my cars up and haven't ever had a problem with tire damage.
If it is going to be in a unheated sealed building (no wind) a good quality car cover is the way to go. Maybe throw a coat of wax (or what ever you use ie: polish)

I live in Ontario where it gets to -40 some times and haven't ever had problems when following this. My car is usually stored outside as well with out a car cover (the wind caused the cover to move around too much and sands/scratches down the paint in places)

Hope this helps.

 

also i would put some stabil in the gas being left in the tank and run it a bit with the stabil in it.

 

Make sure your fuel tank is as low as possible, then as stated above, put a bit of Sta-bil in what's left to make sure it doesn't go bad. Disconnect the battery (otherwise the battery will die over the winter, since cars use power when off). Don't know if you should drain the oil before hand, but make absolutely sure that before you take it out for the spring that you do a full oil change, otherwise you'll have oil contaminated with gasoline.

 

thanks guys, any other tips?

 

I wouldn't get the gas tank as low as possible, I'd fill it. With 7/8ths empty air, the tank WILL condense moisture, so you'll have a lot of water in the tank when you go to start it again in the spring. With a full tank, you won't get that, and the gas won't go bad in 5-6 months of storage, even if you don't put Stabil in it.

Disconnect the battery.

Make SURE the coolant mix will protect the engine from freezing.

Either put the car up on jackstands, or check the tire pressure and inflate periodically. Flat-spotted tires suck.

Change the oil when you bring the car out of storage.

Use a good coat of wax or a car cover.

Other than that, you should be fine.