I've heard a couple people say it's best to store the car on jack stands for the winter with the wheels sagging down to relieve the suspension. I've also heard people say the jackstands aren't necessary as long as you park the tires on wood so that the concrete isn't in direct contact with the rubber.

I live in Syracuse NY and much of our winter is EXTREMELY cold.

What do you guys recommend? If I leave it on stands for the entire winter, which points under the car do you recommend I place them the stands in order to cause the lease amount of stress? My stands don't have the rubber pinch moulding guards, so that won't be an option.

Also, do you recommend an oil change before or after the season?

 

personally, I just wouldn't store the car...I can't live w/o my G lol

but if you absolutely must store it, I would leave it on the ground so that you can get it and start it (1x per week just to keep the engine lubricated) and run the car for 5 minutes or so each week. As long as you do that you shouldn't have to worry about changing the oil outside of your normal interval

 

its the dead spots on the tires i would worry about... thats why people leave jack stands on instead

 

driving is not an option. i love my car way too much. you should see how much salt they dump on our roads. we are the snow capital of new york.

dead spots is exactly the issue i fear.

 

you can just take it out and drive it a block or so then bring it in...if it is really no option to drive it at all, then yeah, jack it. but not running it for a long time isn't good for it IMO

 

Heres what i do:

Fresh oil change.
Clean thoroughly inside & out
Car cover
Leave out of gear & e-brake off
Disconnect battery
Plug exhaust outlet

Thats it.

Car sits from the end of November till early April.

I've never had any troubles with flat spots or anything like that & i've been following this routine for a while.

 

awesome. sounds like a plan

 

You may also want to consider something like a Battery Tender Jr - will maintain your charge for the storage period - in the $20-25 range on Amazon. Mine went into storage about a 2 weeks ago - seems to doing what was promised. Looking forward to spring!!

 

great idea. thanks, you guys rock! I just bought the premium battery tender at summit for $59 with free shipping. (Had a $50 gift card).

 

SORRY TO JACK THE THREAD BUT
I also have questions similar to this.

I am leaving the States for winter vacation.
So I need to leave my car parked for about a month.
is it okay to not start car for a month?
Any tips?

Also, It's mileage for me to change the engine oil and filter, should I change it before I leave or change it after I come back?

 

if there is anyway you can have someone come and start the car for just a few minutes once a week that is the best, just to keep the engine lubricated. but it won't do damage if you cant