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08-10-2017, 04:40 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Northeast Florida/Southeast Maine
Posts: 784
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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.
__________________
Now: 2019 Winnebago 2500FL w/e2 WDH;Sold: 2015 Bullet Premier 19FBPR (shown)
2012 Ford F-250 Lariat Super Duty Crew Cab (gas 6.2 L, 3.73 gear ratio 2WD, 172" WB)
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08-10-2017, 04:59 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Nevada
Posts: 2,695
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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.
__________________
Desert185 🇺🇸 (Retired Chemtrail vendor)
-Ram 2500 QC, LB, 4x4, Cummins HO/exhaust brake, 6-speed stick.
-Andersen Ultimate 24K 5er Hitch.
-2014 Cougar 326SRX, Maxxis tires w/TPMS, wet bolts, two 6v batts.
-Four Wheel 8' Popup Camper.
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08-10-2017, 06:18 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,224
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Desert185
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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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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Russ & Paula and Belle the Beagle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 14,000# GVWR (New TV)
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS 32’ GVWR 12,360
Visit and enjoy Oregon State Parks
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08-10-2017, 07:14 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Nevada
Posts: 2,695
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rhagfo
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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50/50 is the common mix and sufficient for the Alaskan coastal winter climate as evidenced by 19 years of winters up there.
__________________
Desert185 🇺🇸 (Retired Chemtrail vendor)
-Ram 2500 QC, LB, 4x4, Cummins HO/exhaust brake, 6-speed stick.
-Andersen Ultimate 24K 5er Hitch.
-2014 Cougar 326SRX, Maxxis tires w/TPMS, wet bolts, two 6v batts.
-Four Wheel 8' Popup Camper.
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08-10-2017, 05:08 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Downey, Ca.
Posts: 344
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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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08-10-2017, 05:58 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,997
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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.
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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08-11-2017, 09:55 AM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,695
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH
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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^^^^^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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08-10-2017, 07:15 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Nevada
Posts: 2,695
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnny's Journey
^^^^^ 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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Sta-Bil, yep, forgot to mention it.
__________________
Desert185 🇺🇸 (Retired Chemtrail vendor)
-Ram 2500 QC, LB, 4x4, Cummins HO/exhaust brake, 6-speed stick.
-Andersen Ultimate 24K 5er Hitch.
-2014 Cougar 326SRX, Maxxis tires w/TPMS, wet bolts, two 6v batts.
-Four Wheel 8' Popup Camper.
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08-11-2017, 07:29 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Winnipeg, Canada
Posts: 1,196
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Desert185
Sta-Bil, yep, forgot to mention it.
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And be sure to run the motor for a while after adding the fuel stabilizer.
__________________
2018 Jayco Eagle HT 265BHS (previous: 2015 23RB Passport Elite, ProPride)
2015 F250 XLT SB Crew, 6.2l gas
PullRite 16K SuperGlide w/SuperRail
Reese 5th Airborne (bagged) Pin Box
RoadMaster Shock Kit
X-Factor Cross Bracing
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08-12-2017, 04:34 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Northeast Florida/Southeast Maine
Posts: 784
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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.
__________________
Now: 2019 Winnebago 2500FL w/e2 WDH;Sold: 2015 Bullet Premier 19FBPR (shown)
2012 Ford F-250 Lariat Super Duty Crew Cab (gas 6.2 L, 3.73 gear ratio 2WD, 172" WB)
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