911 Winter Storage Thoughts?

[maxman]

Well it's that time up here in MN.

The car (82) is going to spend the winter in the heated underground garage at my apartment building.

First off, I missed my window to get it into the shop for an oil change (I'm not too in to doing oil in that garage). The car had fresh Brad Penn 20W50 in the spring. It has about 2500 miles on it. Any harm in leaving "dirty" oil in the car, if I change it first think in the spring? Or, should I trailer it out and get the oil changed?

Second, tires. I have an almost new set of Star Spec. Z1's. I'v had those tires get flat spots form parking outside on a cool summer night. Once they warm up they go away, but I don't want to spend my first few weeks of driving beat flat spots out of them. I'm a little worried. Should I set the car on stands? if so, where are your favorite jack stand points?

Third, other... Fuel stabilizer. A goodnight kiss. What else?

Thanks. It's been a great year and this has been a great group to be a part of.

~Max

[rgrimm]

Okay...my drill, and it's a large, but unheated garage.

Oil change (although I've waited on occasion until the Spring...typically when I want to do a Spring valve adjustment. The oil's probably not that dirty--hopefully you had the car fully warmed up to burn off any condensation before parking it.

Stabil in a fresh fill of gas. Run the car to get the treated gas back to the engine. I fill the tires up to about 45-50 lbs lbs. Never had a problem with flat spots in the Spring. Disconnect the battery but leave it in the car, take off the wiper blades and throw them in the trunk. Steel wool in the exhaust tip to keep mice out of the muffler. Leave the windows cracked slightly. Lock and cover.

Connect the battery, remove the steel wool, let some air out of the tires in the Spring and go for the first drive.

Works for me anyway...

[nineball]

i do exactly the same only i use a battery tender instead of removing the battery. much easier

[Porsche84]

Winter storage????? Ship your car to Florida and run a few events at Sebring

[Drisump]

I do all the things talked about earlier (oil change, max pressure in tires, Stabil, clean inside and out, treat the leather...etc) but I remove the battery AND use a trickle charger. Once a year I like to see the battery area anyway since it is a rust prone place. In the spring I'll wash the battery off with some baking soda before placing in the car. I store the car in a Carcoon since I don't have a heated and well ventilated space, which provides the benefit of being mouse proof, maintaining cleanliness, and preventing damage from falling objects( but not anvils...) or car doors. Touch wood, but I've done this for three seasons (six months storage) and in the spring (so far) the car has started and ran like I had shut it down an hour previously. Been in the unit for a month now...five more to go...."absence makes the heart grow fonder"...Cheers

[RWebb]

if you use a plastic enclosure with no vents or blowers to store your car be SURE it is not made out of vinyl

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by RWebb

if you use a plastic enclosure with no vents or blowers to store your car be SURE it is not made out of vinyl

Why and what are the appropriate alternatives?

[RWebb]

1. use one with a blower

2. non-vinyl one

3. garage

4. temporary garage

5. don't be so anal

somehow my edit immediately after the original post did not get stored...

vinyl outgasses toxics, which destroy photographic film - and may damage your paint, trim, etc.

[Drisump]

The Carcoon is a positive pressure bubble.... (ie. two fans going constantly)as for not being so anal, I for one, drive the car an average of 5000 miles a year as a tourer/ auto-x/weekend vehicle, it has dings, dents and chips...but no rust that I can detect, and thats saying a lot around here in the middle of a rain forest (literally). My car, as modest by Porsche standards as it is, is a luxury that I want to enjoy for many years....the first few have been a blast. You have to experience a winter around here when everything is soaking wet 24/7.Unlike a colder (or warmer) climate, the the dew point is crossed over and over again...YEESH. Cheers

[RWebb]

if it has fans, you're fine

don't worry about the dew point