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Old 08-10-2017, 04:40 PM   #1
SummitPond
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Winterizing a car

We decided to bite the bullet and bought a little car (2013 Ford Fiesta SE) to tootle around town in, rather than our 21 foot long TV (F250). We'll get better gas mileage and it's easier to park! We will be leaving the car in an unheated garage over the winter (we live in FL but mostly "summer" in ME). It appears lots of forum members leave their regular vehicles "up north" and head "down south" for the winter, so I was wondering what, if anything, was done to preserve the car for over-wintering?

Thanks.
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Old 08-10-2017, 04:59 PM   #2
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I leave a vehicle in Alaska over the winter months by ensuring the coolant is an effective 50-50 and by leaving the battery on a tender during our absence. That's it for 13 years now. Same battery, BTW.
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Old 08-10-2017, 06:18 PM   #3
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I leave a vehicle in Alaska over the winter months by ensuring the coolant is an effective 50-50 and by leaving the battery on a tender during our absence. That's it for 13 years now. Same battery, BTW.
You do realize that most effective mix of antifreeze to water is 60/40 for the greatest freeze and summer cooling.
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Old 08-10-2017, 07:14 PM   #4
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You do realize that most effective mix of antifreeze to water is 60/40 for the greatest freeze and summer cooling.
50/50 is the common mix and sufficient for the Alaskan coastal winter climate as evidenced by 19 years of winters up there.
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Old 08-10-2017, 05:08 PM   #5
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^^^^^ That and at your choosing. Opt to servicing the car before storage that way it'll be ready when your ready. Oh, top the fuel tank also. Today's fuel do better with less air surrounding it and add a fuel additive like Sta-Bil.
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Old 08-10-2017, 05:58 PM   #6
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If it will be stored where mice or chipmunks might nest under the hood, put a couple packets of Fresh Cab under the hood and a couple inside as well.
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Old 08-11-2017, 09:55 AM   #7
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If it will be stored where mice or chipmunks might nest under the hood, put a couple packets of Fresh Cab under the hood and a couple inside as well.

^^^^^this. You might try this for sure if you are going to leave it where any kind of rodent might hang out. The first time I used Fresh Cab I put one under the hood and one inside along with a couple at the edges of the garage. They didn't get under the hood but the little boogers got up on the tranny and chewed their way through the boots on the gear shift and transfer case levers of my Jeep. Now I put several of the packets around; on top of the tires, under the hood, inside the Jeep, at the edges of the garage etc. Haven't had any more trouble.
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Old 08-10-2017, 07:15 PM   #8
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^^^^^ That and at your choosing. Opt to servicing the car before storage that way it'll be ready when your ready. Oh, top the fuel tank also. Today's fuel do better with less air surrounding it and add a fuel additive like Sta-Bil.
Sta-Bil, yep, forgot to mention it.
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Old 08-11-2017, 07:29 AM   #9
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Sta-Bil, yep, forgot to mention it.
And be sure to run the motor for a while after adding the fuel stabilizer.
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Old 08-12-2017, 04:34 AM   #10
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Thank you all for the suggestions. I'm a little antsy about the idea of leaving a battery tender hooked up all winter unattended; perhaps I'll pull the battery and take it home with us (and hopefully remember to bring it back!). I think the Fresh Cab idea is great - never heard of it before.
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