Storing the M roadster for the winter.

[just2talented]

Ive seen a few threads about storing their cars for the bad weather but i have a few additional questions.

How much fuel should be left in the car at time of storage?

Should any sort of fuel stabilizer be used for our cars?

Cover or garage or both?

Should a specific battery charger be used or one that we like?

Oil change before, after, both?

Should tires be changed to avoid flat spots?

Wax prior to storage?

I saw a thread a few days ago about storage but 1 i cant find it and 2 i cant remember if all the forum members questions were addressed. If anybody can help out with some advice on the matter would be greatly appreciated!! Additional questions please add!!

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by just2talented

Ive seen a few threads about storing their cars for the bad weather but i have a few additional questions.

How much fuel should be left in the car at time of storage?

Should any sort of fuel stabilizer be used for our cars?

Cover or garage or both?

Should a specific battery charger be used or one that we like?

Oil change before, after, both?

Should tires be changed to avoid flat spots?

Wax prior to storage?

I saw a thread a few days ago about storage but 1 i cant find it and 2 i cant remember if all the forum members questions were addressed. If anybody can help out with some advice on the matter would be greatly appreciated!! Additional questions please add!!

Mine's in a garage with a cover. Full tank with stabilizer. Battery will come out and sit at home on a charger/maintainer. I just had a Service II done before it went into storage, but I probably would not have had the oil changed just because of that. And my storage space is big enough for me to roll the car back and forth 3 feet to even out the tire wear.

[just2talented]

Nice. What kind of stabilizer?

[blender]

We just use this button:

Attachment 463106

So we can do this 52 weeks a year:

Attachment 463108

snapped with an iPhone on Lake View Drive near Mulholland, 12-05-10, 9:45AM

[ZeD4Mr]

Just curious. How did you attach the ///M badge on your front grill?

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by just2talented

Nice. What kind of stabilizer?

Stabil. Don't need much. It's a small tank.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by rclem05

We just use this button:

Attachment 463106

So we can do this 52 weeks a year:


snapped on Lake View near Mulholland, 12-05-10, 9:45AM

Gorgeous. I envy you CA folks for your weather and your roads. Not for much else, though.

[bosstones]

Originally Posted by just2talented

How much fuel should be left in the car at time of storage?

Should any sort of fuel stabilizer be used for our cars?

Cover or garage or both?

Should a specific battery charger be used or one that we like?

Oil change before, after, both?

Should tires be changed to avoid flat spots?

Wax prior to storage?

1. Fuel tank - I leave a full tank. Or as full a tank can be driving home from the gas station after topping it off...
2. Fuel stabilizer - As mentioned, Stabil (any auto parts store will have this). I buy the smaller bottle since the gas tank isn't that big.
3. Cover - If you can, I'd say garage it; otherwise cover it. Some people do both. I usually just garage mine.
4. Oil change - Different schools of thought here. Some people do it before & after, some just before, some after, and others not at all. I drove my car a couple times after I had my annual done so I'm counting that. I'd probably change it out before if it hadn't been done in a while, though.
5. Flat spots - Some people slightly over-inflate their tires. Some people, like me, have a spare set of wheels/tires they'll put on (in my case, my winter set). Others will just roll their car forward or backward every once in a while. I've done the latter 2 and never had any problems (I have Michelin Alpins and Pilot Sport I's). I noted that one person but cuts of plywood under their summer tires. I'd never heard of that for flat spot prevention, but I'm not knocking it. After all, most of us are car geeks and we all do what we do.
6. Detailing - Some people do. I don't since I see it as a waste of time. If my paint's protection is lacking, I touch it up w/ Sonus' Acrylic Glanz since it seems to do an excellent job of restoring AIO's protection. I usually detail in the spring. I used to also detail in the fall, but find it largely moot for the coupe since I don't drive it in the winter.

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by rclem05

We just use this button:

+1 The heated seats really do help getting through LA winters

[blender]

Originally Posted by JDN34

Just curious. How did you attach the ///M badge on your front grill?

Re: badge,

It's a factory part, has a little removable rear pate that sits on two threaded stalks. Two 10mm nuts hold it on. Honestly the front badge is the only one I care about, since it convinces boxsters to move over