What do you guys think is the best way to store a vehicle for the winter in regards to oil for roughly 5 month's without starting? I always used to change it before storage and dump in some cheap conventional oil,. and then drain it out in the spring. Should I just dump in my Pennzoil platinum and not worry about degration/moisture as it sits, and then run it in the spring? What about just pulling the drain plug and letting it drain all winter long? I hear people say that the acid in the old oil residue could form rust in the cylinders? Any help would be appreciated. -Ponch
Winter storage....oil options...
- Thread starter Ponch
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I would store it with fresh clean oil. First thing would be take it for a ride and get it nice and hot, drain and refill the oil, change out the filter. After the oil is changed get 1 qt MMO take the car to the gas station, dump the qt of MMO, into the gas tank, and fill the tank. The MMO will stop the cylinders and combustion chamber from forming rust, and help prevent the gas from going bad. You can also add some stabil when you're at the gas station filling up.
Take the car for about a 30 minute drive to get it good and hot again, return home and park the car and leave it till spring. You might want to remove the battery, take it inside and store it on wood.
I would never let the oil drain over the winter especially leaving the drain plug out. The PP fill should be fine. I would also block up the exhaust, and air intake so no creatures find themselves a warm home to live in during the winter. Just remove to unblock them in the spring time!
HTH,
Frank D
Take the car for about a 30 minute drive to get it good and hot again, return home and park the car and leave it till spring. You might want to remove the battery, take it inside and store it on wood.
I would never let the oil drain over the winter especially leaving the drain plug out. The PP fill should be fine. I would also block up the exhaust, and air intake so no creatures find themselves a warm home to live in during the winter. Just remove to unblock them in the spring time!
HTH,
Frank D
What i've done the past 7+ years is:
1)Change oil+filter
2)added Stabil to gasoline
3)removed battery after inside of storage area
4)Put some dryer sheets inside of interior to keep it smellin good while closed up all winter
5)Car cover
Come spring time,drop a battery in,drain the oil and change filter and inspect everything such as fluids(antifreeze,power steering fluid,etc) before heading out onto the streets
1)Change oil+filter
2)added Stabil to gasoline
3)removed battery after inside of storage area
4)Put some dryer sheets inside of interior to keep it smellin good while closed up all winter
5)Car cover
Come spring time,drop a battery in,drain the oil and change filter and inspect everything such as fluids(antifreeze,power steering fluid,etc) before heading out onto the streets
Seems like a waste to me to change it just to store it then change it again without even using it... I dunno, maybe it's just me. Whenever we've stored cars we never bothered changing the oil twice like that and we never had any engine issues.
Originally Posted By: ThirdeYe
Seems like a waste to me to change it just to store it then change it again without even using it... I dunno, maybe it's just me. Whenever we've stored cars we never bothered changing the oil twice like that and we never had any engine issues.
I totally agree. I would change the oil before storing so there isn't a bunch of fuel and moisture built up in the crankcase. Add stabil to the fuel, remove the battery, make darn sure the tires are nice and pumped up to avoid flat spots, and call it good. If you want to get crazy, maybe try fogging the motor with something like seafoam or amsoil fogger to protect the topside of the engine from rust.
Come springtime, get a good battery in there, check the tires, and fire it up.
Seems like a waste to me to change it just to store it then change it again without even using it... I dunno, maybe it's just me. Whenever we've stored cars we never bothered changing the oil twice like that and we never had any engine issues.
I totally agree. I would change the oil before storing so there isn't a bunch of fuel and moisture built up in the crankcase. Add stabil to the fuel, remove the battery, make darn sure the tires are nice and pumped up to avoid flat spots, and call it good. If you want to get crazy, maybe try fogging the motor with something like seafoam or amsoil fogger to protect the topside of the engine from rust.
Come springtime, get a good battery in there, check the tires, and fire it up.
Last edited:
Kestas
Staff member
I've stored cars for 30 years. I've also rebuilt an engine from a car that saw storage for 20 seasons. I didn't fuss with changing the oil before storage, nor after storage. There was no evidence of internal corrosion from storage on the internal parts. Of course I ran the car about once a month during storage.
I still recommend changing the oil before winter storage and leaving it in there for summer use.
I still recommend changing the oil before winter storage and leaving it in there for summer use.
Cause it make him feel good. My 56 Crown Vic gets better care than I do.
I would NOT start the car during storage. This will only contaminate the oil, maybe foul the plugs, and be of no benefit.
Put in fresh oil and a filter after a hot drain, then start it to circulate it and fill the filter.
Then leave it until your rest period is over. Drive it until your normal OCI is due.
The battery should be kept charged - a low charge can freeze and break internally or externally.
Stabil in the gas for sure - put a proper amount in the tank, and fill it up. MMO, 2 stroke oil, or Lucas UCL at 2-3 ounces/10 gal gas is a good idea. Run it enough to get it throughout the system.
Put in 40 lbs of air in the tires, and adjust them when you drive it again. Best is to get the car off the ground on jackstands or a rack.
And of course make sure your coolant will handle any low temps that are coming.
A rag in the exhaust pipe will keep critters out. Same for the air inlet.
And check under the hood before starting it next spring! Cats, rats, snakes, etc. are not rare.
Put in fresh oil and a filter after a hot drain, then start it to circulate it and fill the filter.
Then leave it until your rest period is over. Drive it until your normal OCI is due.
The battery should be kept charged - a low charge can freeze and break internally or externally.
Stabil in the gas for sure - put a proper amount in the tank, and fill it up. MMO, 2 stroke oil, or Lucas UCL at 2-3 ounces/10 gal gas is a good idea. Run it enough to get it throughout the system.
Put in 40 lbs of air in the tires, and adjust them when you drive it again. Best is to get the car off the ground on jackstands or a rack.
And of course make sure your coolant will handle any low temps that are coming.
A rag in the exhaust pipe will keep critters out. Same for the air inlet.
And check under the hood before starting it next spring! Cats, rats, snakes, etc. are not rare.
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