I' ve got a question for you all. I've had my car in heated storage in the past few years and this year I've got it in an insulated unheated garage and was thinking that I should start it ever once in a while. I had someone tell me that it's not a good idea to do that with it having summer oil in it. It would probably do more harm than what it's worth. The car does have stablizer in the tank so that's not an issue and the tank is full of 93 octane. I was told that it would probably just be best to put the trickle charger on it and leave it until spring when I take it out? What do you all do over the winter months. I'm in MN and it's been pretty cold this last month so I thought that I had better as the question. Thanks guys and have a niceday.

Jesse

Jesse, when did you get the ragtop?? Nice project there.
As far as your question, dont start it, leave the battery tender on it and it will be fine. Mine is in insulated garage but the heat is NOT turned on either. Starting it occasionally will cause condensation in the exhaust and engine too, which is not good to have when you turn it off and it freezes again.
Keep the tires up over 35 psi and you are fine. Come April, then you can fire it up, let it run for at least 30 min. to heat up everything, maybe even get to take it for a drive :)

X2 !

Winter oil/summer oil? I use the same oil all year in all of my vehicles without any problems. I use 10w/30 Valvoline in everything but have switched to Rotella in my 65 Mustang and 68 Camaro due to Zinc issues. I agree with Jim, don't bother starting it unless you are planning on driving it long enough to get everything fully warmed up. The possible problems caused by short run times just aren't worth it.

Don't start it !

Just let it sit and I wouldnt waste money on fuel stabilizer in a car that sits for the winter, especially with 93 octane. Save the stabilizer for things with small engines that may sit longer. I just put a battery tender on it and fire it up in the spring. Make sure you dont have mice or rodents in your storage area. They like to eat insulation under the hood and make nice that could cause fire later.

Just let it sit and I wouldnt waste money on fuel stabilizer ..........

No. No. No. Sta-Bil is VERY cheap insurance. IMO.

No. No. No. Sta-Bil is VERY cheap insurance. IMO.

In a car that sits maybe from Oct - May?? With 93 Octane??I guess it is a matter of opinion.

I usually fill the tank to prevent condensation and add some Fuel stabilizer and Methyl Hydrate in case you have to start the car up in the Dead of Winter. You should either run the car a bit to ensure the fuel bowls get the gas mix or drain the bowls and spray Rust Check through the bowl vents to prevent corrosion. Always keep you battery indoors and charge it up occasionally. DON'T START the ENGNE through the winter unless you run it for some time as condensation will form particularity in the exhaust pipes and will evaporate into cylinders with open exhaust valves. I plug the tail Pipes with rages for this reason and something rage the Carb as well. Start it up in the spring to heat the Oil and change it.

MOST IMPORTANT is ensuring you have enough Anti-Freeze in the Block and the windshield washer container is either drained or has minus weather fluid as frozen water will explode the washer motor or pump whatever.
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Sorry for the Double POST but I had a power outage.

In a car that sits maybe from Oct - May?? With 93 Octane??I guess it is a matter of opinion.
I use it in all my motors that sit more than a month...like he said...cheap insurance and ya never know for sure when it will be started :yes:

Jesse,
I think all of the others have it covered as far as starting it goes ..... dont :)

But, I will have to disagree with the fuel stabilizer deal. We have seen quite a few issues due to fuel problems lately with cars that sit for a long time. I have seen sticking intake valves in less than a year of sitting :( With the old leaded fuels, and before they started the 10% alky deal, there never seemed to be a problem. But I think that if the car is really going to sit for 6 months, it would be a good idea to put the stabilizer in. The octane of the fuel has nothing to do with how it stores over time.

He!, He!!

The guys say a 55 gallon drum cut down to one ring and a 2x4 on top along w/ some beer will take care of all the mice you may have.

Seem's they walk out on the board over the beer and then get in it, get drunk and drown..

Might have to work some w/ the placement of the board, but the guys say it works fine!

Where is that thread on the Boards??

pdq67

No. No. No. Sta-Bil is VERY cheap insurance. IMO.

I have never bought Stabyl. I let my Camaro set for over 2 years and it started and ran fine. I do use 91 octane and never use that 10% alcohol stuff. My 65 Mustang has sat for roughly 3 months and I needed to move it. Other than pumping the Edlebrock while cranking, it started and ran fine. I use premium fuel in our lawn mowers and other gasoline powered things around here and they set all winter with a full tank and no problems. From reading on this site and others I frequent, it seems like the people that run mid-grade fuel with alcohol are the ones that have issues. Maybe I am just lucky although my bank account says otherwise.

Thanks for all the great information. I guess that I will leave it until April or so when I can fire it up for a ride. I have started it once in December about a month or so ago and let it run for 20 to 25 minutes so that there was no moisture coming out of the tail pipes and it was nice and warm. I agree about the fuels getting bad no matter which octane it is. My brother in law works on a lot of small engine stuff and he ends up cleaning a lot of carb in the spring or fall when they come out of storage for winter or summer duties. We actually cleaned the carb on my ATV and it was green in the bowl. We usually put a couple gallons of 100 octane in our snowmobiles over the summer since it seems to keep a little better. Anyway.. I want to thank you all for your input I will put a lot of it to use over this weekend and make sure that it is in good shape for the rest of the winter. So, far the fuel tank is taken car of and I've got a bunch of dryer sheets in it to keep the rodents away. I've just got to double check the tires, radiator and my battery and cork up the tail pipes.

Jim, as far as the convertible I bought it a couple years ago. It needs a bit of work but it is a driver. It's currently painted to look some what like a rat rod with red stripes. It looks cool from about 50 feet away. LOL!! I'm currently doing a bunch of work on it at a friends shop. I've been detailing and cleaning the engine bay to make it look a little better. Then the big thing that I'm doing with it is installing a T56 6 speed. I've got the old transmission out and a bunch of stuff detailed so far and hopefully if my parts show up before the weekend I will have the T56 in the car. That will be a lot of fun to cruise around with. Thanks again for all of your help guys. I appreciate it. Jesse

Just an FYI for the folks here, Jesse is previous Pres. of the Minneapolis metro area Camaro Club and has an awesome 69 SS/RS too

North Star Camaro Club (www.northstarcamaroclub.com)

never use that 10% alcohol stuff..

DH,
Most of us do not have that option. All the gas in this area has 10% alky in it unless I go to the track and buy VP

DH,
Most of us do not have that option. All the gas in this area has 10% alky in it unless I go to the track and buy VP

Same here... I can't avoid the alcohol stuff.

Thats how Boudreaux drowned last time he went north of the bayou!

Thanks for the complements on my 69 SS/RS 396, Jim. I'm hoping to take it out a few more times this year. I only had it out twice last summer. I've got it stored closer to home now so that should make it a lot easier too. I might have to try and get it up towards your area again soon. That or maybe I will have to get the convertible out for a cruise now that I will have that 6 speed in it.