Winter storage tips please!

[Paul Kelley]

Hello. As a new SOC member and recent Stag owner (LLT 828P - with original engine, manual o/d) I would really appreciate any tips on Do's (and Dont's) of winter off road care. I have a reasonably new unheated garage, brick built with concrete floor. So far I have picked up on full tank plus fuel stabiliser, over-inflated tyres to stop flat-spotting, battery removal, clean and wax, oily rag up the exhaust. Anything else? What's the view on dehumidifiers? Or plastic sheeting on the floor and cover instead? Experienced views of what works would be greatly appreciated!
Paul, North Yorkshire (i.e. cold winters!).

[stagling]

you seem to be to worried about storing your car. if you can jack up the front and rear of the car to keep the tyres of the floor, drain off the fuel and run the engine dry.if this is not feasable run the engine up to working temperature once a fortnight, if you can take the car up and down your street, even two hundred yards or so will circulate the oil in gearbox and axle etc.that is all i do and have had no problems over the past five years.

[Seaking]

best to drive it on good dry days all over the winter stags don't like being kept cold. They are ment to be driven

[73stagman]

Put it in the garage when its cold and frosty. Get it out when its cold and sunny or cold and dry. Drive it. dont store it. Just avoid the snow and ice

[Goldstar]

And salt - drive it, it'll thank you for it

[73stagman]

The salt can not be avoided.... its every where because if it isnt drivers whinge that the council hasnt gritted the road.....so Rinse your car off well before putting it away. Just drive it it will thank you for it... and you wont have to worry about flat spots on tyres, bad fuel, flat batteries, storage fluids, sticky brakes, sticking clutch, damp garage

[Motorsport Micky]

If you are determined not to use it over winter put a Carcoon in your garage and drive it into it. It will come out in March or April and the discs won't even be discoloured, I leave the softtop unclipped at the front with the windows down and the rear window unzipped, cost of Carcoon £240 secondhand from e bay 4 years ago, size 3 large (there are 2 size 3s), running costs less than £20 a year the fans used only use milliamps.

Micky

[73 Mimosa]

Put it in the garage when its cold and frosty. Get it out when its cold and sunny or cold and dry. Drive it. dont store it. Just avoid the snow and ice

+1

Cold sunny day, Top down..Heater up......

[Marco Polo]

I would have to recommend a Carcoon or similar. Not that I use one where I live! However my father lives on Hayling Island and when I visited him last January I was surprised at the amount of condensation covering his pride and joy, a late model XJS, while it sat in his garage. I advised him to buy a Carcoon and he reckons it's the best value for money that he's ever spent for his car.
regards,
Raoul

[uzbek]

In tune with the above. Use it when sensible, wash it off even if only a rinse then if you really want the best storage put it in a Carcoon. Stabilises the temperature so stops condensation, keeps air flowing and it keeps the mice and bugs out as well as the dust off plus includes a battery conditioner. If you put it away wet with a nice warm engine it dries off quickly when zipped up.

You really can unzip and drive it out fresh as a daisy each time and it just takes a few minutes to set up and remove. I wish I'd bought one for my Caterham when I had it; every winter it corroded in the same garage despite my attentions.

Mine is Size 4. Size 3L does fit but it is tight and you have to get the car positioned just right on the base to zip it up. I sent it back for the larger one and now my garage is more or less full of a big red balloon but it is a lot easier to use.

Worth every penny I'd say.