Winterizing a Suby

My car is goin in storage for about 6 months. Should i disconnect the battery and not worry about warming her up once in a while?

I hear warming up the engine causes condensation which is not good.

what about the oil sitting for that long without the car ever being run for 6 months?

Thanks in advance-

 

Stabil in the gastank, change the oil before you start it in the spring, bring the battery inside.

Also: The winter is Subaru season.

 

Storing a Subaru? Really? Isn't winter the best time to have one?

 

It Has coilovers not ready to ruin them with the salt

Secondly i have a winter beater

 

You sure going to miss driving it in the winter. Snow and dirt are the best roads if you drive on them in the Subaru. :biggrin:

 

agreed thats what i will never put coil overs on a subaru as long as i live in minnesota just to much work for me adjusting them back and forth

 

Thanks for the tips, however, would it harm it if i drove it before changin the oil direct to a shop to change the oil?

 

^^^ Howbout if i change the oil then take it in the storage?

 

Learn how to change your own damn oil. It's the easiest thing on earth. Go watch a youtube video or something.

 

Hmmm i don't know what to tell u

 

My thoughts exactly! That's why I own the one I do, because my VFR would fail miserably in the snow and rain.

 

I've still had no opportunity for real comedy with mine yet. Nothing but pavement thus far. I'm itchin for snow!

 

to put it a little nicer it is not to tough to change the oil on a subaru. also if u were to change it and drive it to the storage you would have the same issue with any contaminates that are in the oil lines cyl or w.e will sit at the bottom of the pan and when u start it up after winter the pickup will suck them up.

 

FWD with some good tire plus some driving skillz can help u in the winter, don't really need to rely on an AWD to make it.

 

its not really the relying on it. its more the fun factor

 

Ok i now see your point...Its funny that boxer engines are picky cuz with my previous celica, i warmed her up once in a while and didn't have to worry about contaminants being sucked up...maybe cuz she was NA

 

But its SOOOOO much more fun :naughty:

And the best thing about coilovers is the ability to crank up the ride height for the winter and set them soft. Just have to keep them clean. *Shrugs*

 

I know people will complain at me for saying it's wasteful, but still...

Ideally, you should change your oil before and after storage. Before storage because I'd imagine it's better to leave clean oil sitting in the crankcase rather than old contaminated broken-down oil.
After storage because even if you've freshly changed it, after sitting for winter, which in MN is realistically like 5 months, the oil can break down, and more importantly, condensation can form and contaminate the oil, even when it's sitting.

If you're already concerned about it enough to store it all winter, an extra $30 for another oil change is a non-issue.

 

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+1

 

They say to fill steel tanks full of fuel before parking them to so that there will be less moisture in the tank causing it to rust. Not sure how good the fuel would be even with sta-bil. I used to have a race sled and running any old gas (even tried sta-bil) was bad news but a car is alot different. I cant imagine parking my wrx for the winter way way way to much fun.

I say used to have cause of this
<---- and the fire that followed

 

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?p=17570702

this seems like a good check list

 

^^^ YOU ROCK!!! Im now content!!!!

 

Also if the coolant hasnt been changed lately you may want to test it and see if you have a good ratio of antifreeze to water (typically 50/50). Easy to do and can save you a big headache. Buy a tester from an auto parts store they are pretty cheap like $5.

 

I have spent many winters with FWD and snow tires. but last winter was my first with AWD and snows and all i can say is it was way more fun. bring on the snow!

 

only thing I think needs to be said again here.....is bring the battery inside. the battery acid can freeze (takes quite a while, so not really a risk on a car that gets used.....but if it's just sitting), and when it does, it can ruin the battery.

it only takes a couple minutes to remove the battery and put it in the basement or entryway or somewhere warmish.....and you're done.

 

Thanks for all ya inputs, always good to learn en add on more knowledge!!!!

 

What kind of SUBARU is it? Just out of curiousity...

 

I believe this guy has Josh's old subaru (MCJT). It does sit really low. You should consider raising it up a little and having some fun this winter. Totally different ball game then your Celica. Even if you have 'driving skills,' it's going ot take you three times as long to get up to speed.

Its a good feeling when your driving in and out of other cars in the snow and they are wondering what in the heck is going on.

 

lowrider, no one has really asked you yet. Do you have a garage? Do you have somewhere that you can work on your car? Can you change your oil in your own garage or the place where you are going to store it?

We can always look into walking you through your first oil change so you know how to do it. it can save you some money and help you learn more about your car. just an idea.

 

think of it as a cute human + car bonding experience

 

Heres my winterizing procedure:

Remove Summer wheels, replace with my stockers + I pikes, and wait patiently for the snow!

 

Numerous people on MNSBR swear by storing bikes with aviation fuel in the tank over the winter. Apparently it's far less prone to breakdown.

And for that matter, those same people swear against Sta-Bil on grounds that it's outdated.

From what they say, the formula for Sta-Bil has never changed, despite the massive changes in additives and detergents in fuel these days. Apparently Sta-Bil worked fine before, but no longer holds its original capacity for fuel preservation...


But don't quote me on that ****, I'm just repeating it.

 

um, no.

but it will take like 30 minutes to show him something that will save him money and start him on the path to knowing the WRX. think of the people that work at some of the oil change places (not all people, just the 15 year olds who hate their job and could care less about you and your car). i have family members that have had multiple oil filters loose, oil caps left off, oil over filled... you name it we all know the horrors of rapid oil change stations.

 

Stuffelse- I would agree. I blew up one motor with sta-bil in 2 month old gas so im not on the sta-bil band wagon. Probably helps but its not Jesus juice the fuel is not going to be as good as new

 

wow, i remember when the subaru was the winter beater.

 

I've never once used StaBil in any of my motorcycles, and every one of them has started without issue come spring. Granted, I've usually run out to start and run them to operating temp a time or two a winter...

Mine is my winter/rainy day beater, my other car is ~400 hp/ton and only has two wheels.

 

This is how its done

 

Thanks Russ!!!:slayer::slayer:

I learnt from nasioc that i will have to keep out of boost when driving after storage. Then will immediately change the oil again that very day less than a mile's drive.
Secondly i'm not willing to ruin my lip, coilovers when i already have a winter beater sitted there.

 

Does anyone ever fog the cylinders on cars? Its a pretty common practice with small engines.

 

so what car is it? and is it sitting outside or in a garage? pumping tires it's important.

I never heard about sta-bil not being as effective. what's your source?

 

Wont you get flat spots on the tires for letting it sit for 6 months?