Well for me the time has come to store my Mustang away for the coming winter months. Unfortunatly I do not have a garage yet to store it in. So I thought I might pass along some tips of what I do in case some of you out there are doing the same thing.
1. Purchase a good car cover that is designed for the outdoor elements, rain-snow -wind and oh yes bird poo.
2.Fill the tank and add fuel stabilizer. If you leave the tank empty you might get condensation build up and have water in the tank or corroded fuel lines later.
3. I jack up the car on blocks- wood or cement- resting it on the suspension.
4. Remove wheels and store them inside resting down on their sides, make sure your wrap up the brake rotors real good with plastic bags to prevent any moisture to build up on them.
5. Remove the battery and store indoors.
6. This is optional, but I purchase a can of Rust Check it's an oil based spray of rust protection that does a very good job. I spray it in the drain holes of the doors, hatch/trunk, and hood.
That's it! until late April when I put it all back together and start driving it. I live in the province of Ontario, Canada so this has become a ritual for me,all you folks that live in the southern states are so lucky. Frank...
Gee I can't believe I forgot this one, the coolant! Make sure it is good for cold temperature's mine is good for -40F or you could drain it but you would have to drain the block as well.
While I am now residing in Long Beach California, I am originally from Newfoundland Canada and have lived in Ontario Canada for over ten years. I know all to well what you mean when you say "storing your car for the winter".
My 89 5.0 stang is still in Newfoundland and is safely tucked away for the winter. As part of my yearly storage ritual, I too follow the tips you listed in your post with the addition of one other ... I also pull the plugs and spray a squirt of oil in each cylinder.
This year I added two new and interesting items to my winter storage list. Both of which I purchased from the Eastwood Company. One was replacing each spark plug with a threaded spark plug like Desiccant Plug ($8.99) which is designed to absorb moisture from the combustion chamber area. The second was adding a can of engine protectant ($11.95) to the crankcase. This is a corrosion inhibiting oil additive that is supposed to protect by releasing corrosion inhibitors in the air within your engine (for up to 24 months) and by metal contact through the lubricating system. This might very well be overkill but since the car is in long term storage I figure the engine can use the added moisture protection.
Best of luck with your winter storage project and remember..... the best thing about storing your stang for the winter is think of the opportunity for upgrades!
Thanks Scott! I didn't realize there were such products out there for that purpose. I"m going to order them right away sounds like a very good idea to me. Nothing like overkill!!
My hat goes of to you and all the rest of the moderators on this forum, it is very informative and helpfull. Thanks a bunch!
Frank...
hey frank, i just got my stang a couple of weeks ago, (and im tottaly not ready to put it away yet but i guess thats the downside of living in Canada) i live in mississauga (toronto) and i wanna know why you jack up your car on blocks? and should all the steps you listed be followed even if im storing my car in the garage??
OK, the reason I jack up the car on blocks is mainly letting the weight of the car sit on the tires for so long will create a flat spot on all for tires come spring and render them useless. Another reason is ultraviolet rays from the sun and reflection of the snow will prematurely crack the sidewalls and this might sound goofy, but so no one can STEAL THEM.
If you are going to store your car in a garage the steps are the same except two, if your garage is always heated then your worries of a cracked engine block won't happen and the car cover is not a necessity but it does keep the dust off and might prevent a scratch or dent from happening. You know when the kids leave the snow shovel leaning on it and the wife discovers a nice large shelf just created to store junk on it! Hey it happens. Nice to see some Canadian boys on this website I thought I was the only one on for a while. Take care..Frank Thunder Bay Ontario
Yes, me too. I've only had my 94 Mustang GT for about 3 months and it's time to store. But I've been really happy with the weather. I've been hanging in there and putting it off for 3 weeks now!
Hi All.. I getting ready to store my 65 coupe for the winter since a ground up resto that took 3 years & wanted to know if anywone knows if it's best to remove the battery from the car before I store it for the next 5 - 6 months???
alrighty guys... i bought a winter beater cuz i can not stand seeing the stang suffer on the salted roads any longer..... OHIO ROADS ARE THE WORST!....
i need to know what should i do ...if there are any secrets to storing a car for monthes at a time..... i dont want spring to come and i hop in my ride and it be not the same as i left it. please help me out.
Well you will need to put some fuel stabalizer in the tank and let the car run for a few minutes so that it can run through the injectors and such. also, might want to put the car up on jack stands or something to keep from getting 'flat' spots on the tires. Will make for a very rough and bumpy ride when you drive it again.
I store mine all winter too. I always put fuel stabilizer, HEET, and injector cleaner in and then fill up the tank most of the way. I go start it once every two weeks and let it run for about 20 minutes at idle.
With this recipe I have had no problems other than the flat spots and rusty brake rotors. Those things go back to normal once you drive it for a while though. Just be careful with your first few stops. Good luck.
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1995 Laser Red GT
Kenne Bell Blowzilla (8lbs), GT 40 lower intake, AFR165 heads, Cobra 1.7 rr's, Pro-M 80mm, AFM Power Pipe, CUSTOM TUNE (SCT), 42lb injectors, FRPP pulleys, 70mm throttle body, FRPP 1 5/8" shorties, Bassani cat-x, Bassani after cat, Steeda Tri-ax, Ford 3.55's
Full street oriented Suspension (springs, shocks/struts, uppers/lowers, subframes, diff. cover, Bullitt brakes 13"/11.65", C/C plates, bump steer kit, ......
Great tips, all. Any changes for storage over a matter of years vs months? I'm headed overseas for at least a couple years, can't take the 'stang with me . She'll be stored in a relatively dry climate inside a Haulmark trailer while I'm gone.
Storage & After Storage Questions and Tips 
Winter Storage Question!!!! Help! 
. She'll be stored in a relatively dry climate inside a Haulmark trailer while I'm gone.
