winterizing Francine

[ingramlee]

Folks,

I would like to put Francine away for the winter. Other than covering her in the garage, is there anything special I should do to put her away for the winter? I did a site search but didn't really find any helpful info. Is it necessary to keep a battery charger on it all winter or start it once a month. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

[jgerock]

From the November 1986 Roundel Magazine.

I highly recommend using a Battery Tender for extended storage periods.

Old wive's tale or possibly good stuff ? >> Place some bars of Irish Spring soap inside the cowl and in the car interior to fend off pesky rodents.

[BillWilliams]

Change oil and filter

Change brake fluid

Keep a battery tender on the battery

Fill the tank and dump some of the BLUE Sta-Bil in it, not the red, the marine blue stuff

Change or at least inspect your coolant

Use any/all of the suggested rodent rid suggestions

[beammmer]

Bring her down here, no winterization needed. Will put minimum miles on to keep her with fresh fuel, lubed and charged.

Don

[c.d.iesel]

leave the hood and trunk open to discourage mouse D-Day invasion

tinfoil ball jammed into the tail pipe to prevent mouse D-Day landing - really-

they can build a nest you wouldn't believe!

remove battery to indoors on trickle charger

flush brake and clutch fluid

[mcaden]

I put steel wool in the tail pipe, change the oil/filter, fill the tank all the way and add stabil, wash car, dessicant bags in interior and boot, take off the emergency brake (chock wheels), and LOTS of rodent traps on the floor.

I hope Francine enjoys her winter's nap.

[hnichols]

Some of the things mentioned in the Roundel article may not be absolutely necessary -- unless winterization coincides with the 10K tune up.

Is it necessary to flush the brake fluid every winter? I thought that once every two years was the norm, regardless of whether it's stored in winter or not. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong about that.)

Other things: have a sheet of plastic under the car (to prevent condensation);

Fill tires up to 40 psi.

Right after you park, disconnect the fuel line going into the fuel pump (while car is running) and run the carb dry.

[beammmer]

Doesn't steel wool oxidize rapidly?

I put steel wool in the tail pipe,

Don

[c.d.iesel]

..."is it necessary to flush the brake fluid

every winter? I thought that once every

two years was the norm" ??? = NO

the assumption is that the car has not had

every Yearly flush done - and over 30+ years

the system is very contaminated. so it's even more

important with an old car to flush-till-clear the brake&clutch

fluid every year, or before every track event.

[John_in_VA]

(nt)

[kiva667]

Folks,

I would like to put Francine away for the winter. Other than covering her in the garage

I presume you don't mean to actually put a cover on the car. That's a big mistake and a recipe for tin worm colonization. All a car cover does in a garage is to trap humidity - and mold your interior fabrics as an extra bonus. (I always leave windows open for extra ventilation.)

[BillWilliams]

Blue used to be the only Stabil to treat gas with ethenol, which is all gas now right? But recently the red bottles are claiming "good for ethenol".

I think the blue also treats/removes any water in the gas. Hence Blue is marine grade.