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10-22-2014, 02:50 PM | #1 |
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Question on what to do over the winter?
Gentlemen....my car has been in Florida for the last 29 years, it is now in Ohio, I drained the radiator already and replaced with 50/50 antifreeze/distilled water mix.
So what do you guys recommend for a strategy over the winter, for my modern cars that are not driven over the winter I've always started them and brought them up to temperature weekly, if the roads were clean I take them out and drive for 15 or 20 minutes. Is this a good plan for the Model A or is it better to just let it sit....it will be in an unheated garage. I'm pretty sure I will get answers from one extreme to the other, but maybe not... Thanks guys, Nick |
10-22-2014, 02:56 PM | #2 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
If you have a trickle charger, you might want to put your battery on that. I'm also a fan of the the big wash/wax prior to winter. If you aren't driving, you may want to put the car on jackstands so the tires don't develop a flat spit. If the garage is not rodent proof, you may want to start setting traps early and doing some mothballing. I've heard of guys also setting up small fans to circulate the air so things don't get stale and to help avoid condensation on the car.
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10-22-2014, 03:00 PM | #3 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
mine is stored in a heated shop, sits atop 4 jack stands (jacks sitting in aluminum disposable pans to ensure mouse proofing) all winter, filled full of gas, started monthly to charge her up. Never had a mouse problem - knock on wood
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10-22-2014, 03:02 PM | #4 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
Start it up once a week...and drive it.
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10-22-2014, 03:03 PM | #5 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
Thanks Seth, it's always washed and waxed and covered, good idea o the trickle charger, I have a quick disconnect on the battery on my AMG Mercedes, thought about the tire thing, I always put crap tires on the Benz to avoid flat spots, plenty of mouse traps so that's covered.
Based on the trickle charger Recomendation my guess is starting it and driving it when possible is probably a good thing with the understanding it needs to get up to temperature...was going to also add some Marvel Mystery Oil to the gas tank. Last edited by Nabco; 10-22-2014 at 03:11 PM. |
10-22-2014, 07:00 PM | #6 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
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10-22-2014, 07:06 PM | #7 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
i dont use a trickle either as the model A has no parasitic drain. i try and drive it around the development once a month to roll the tires. i dont jack it up.
Last edited by Mitch//pa; 10-22-2014 at 07:23 PM. |
10-22-2014, 07:22 PM | #8 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
First of all, stay warm!(you) Then I think the guys have given you most of the ideas on what to do. We live in Oregon and the temps may get down to 10. So I make sure my antifreeze will go that low plus(minus) a few degrees. Then I leave both of them in my unheated shop, the huckster covered with a light covering and the coupe just sits there. Batteries seem to hold up over the winter but if they don't, it likely means I need a new battery.
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10-22-2014, 07:49 PM | #9 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
Thanks Tom, kind of agree with you leaving a charger on an unattended battery, I travel for business 95% of the time, all I'd do is worry about it...we will get a snow in central Ohio but it also rains several times over the winter so the roads will get cleaned off...I won't take the Benz out if the roads are salty...be had that car for six years and it's only been rained on once.
Thanks Mitch, I think that will be my plan to drive it at least once per month....I also have about 5 feet clearance front to back n the garage s I'll plan to roll it a little to keep the flats spots off. Thanks Fred....as always a wealth of information on the Barn!!! |
10-22-2014, 07:59 PM | #10 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
I put the cars on jack stands. Take the battery into my attached garage and use a trickle charger on it maybe twice during the winter to keep the charge up. I cover the cars and also add fuel treatment to the tank to keep the gas from going bad.
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10-22-2014, 08:44 PM | #11 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
Back during the war, Pop and Grandpop stored a bunch of cars for servicemen heading overseas. They would run the carbs dry, squirt Marvel Mystery Oil in the spark plug holes, then spin the engine over to spread it around. Then they would take the weight off the tire, and put a stick on the clutch pedal to keep the disc from rusting to the pressure plate.
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10-23-2014, 12:35 PM | #12 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
I drive mine into my unheated garage in September run the carb dry, and don't start it up until the following June and have been doing that for 28 years. No jacks,no mothballs etc. No mice.
It has 50/50 antifreeze which I change every 5 years. I just replaced the eight year old Interstate battery (6 volt) and never had to put it on charge all that time. If it ain't broken, don't fix it ! Don't fret over it. It has survived the past 80+ years..... |
10-23-2014, 03:42 PM | #13 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
I changed my oil and antifreeze two weeks ago. I plan on starting the car at least twice a month and let it run for 15-20mins... I agree not to leave a batter tender on overnight.. A battery cutoff switch I installed I now use when the engine is not running....
I keep traps year round... Here's my can reminder: To remove this: No Mice up my tail pipe
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-Mike Late 31' Ford Model A Tudor, Miss Daisy I don't work on cars --I'm learning about my Model A. Cleveland, Ohio Last edited by mshmodela; 10-23-2014 at 04:27 PM. |
10-23-2014, 03:50 PM | #14 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
Grear idea on the can reminder
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10-23-2014, 04:27 PM | #15 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
I'm thinking of a cut tennis ball to keep mice out of the Zenith 1 inlet...
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-Mike Late 31' Ford Model A Tudor, Miss Daisy I don't work on cars --I'm learning about my Model A. Cleveland, Ohio |
10-23-2014, 04:48 PM | #16 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
Does anyone put Stabil or Sea Foam in their tank? Because ethanol is hydroscopic and will absorb moisture? Or do you drain the tank completely?
Just curious. Being in SoCal I can drive my car year round. Except in the rain I won't. Oh, wait. Does it rain here?? |
10-23-2014, 05:13 PM | #17 | |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
Quote:
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10-23-2014, 07:52 PM | #18 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
If the roads are dry I drive mine.
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10-23-2014, 09:47 PM | #19 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
So glad I live in Texas. I get to drive mine year round!
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10-24-2014, 07:38 AM | #20 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
i drive mine year round also
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10-24-2014, 10:22 AM | #21 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
I stopped using the trickle chargers after reading on here about the bad things that have happened with them. I do like Tom W. now works fine.
Model A is usually in the un-heated garage, and I don't like running the car unless you get it good and hot so I use an off set wrench on the crankshaft nut, and every three weeks or so just turn the motor over so that 'things' are not sitting in the same place to long. Also. fog the cylinders, take out the battery and put in the heated garage on a work bench, full gas tank w/ SeaFoam and Startron, cover car with old blankets, and a 24 lb. Maine Coon tomcat that lives out there and kills every living thing that comes close to the garage! Never a mouse at all |
10-24-2014, 10:43 AM | #22 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
I put some stabil in the gas,drive them for a while,then park them in the cellar or in the sheds.I start them up in the spring and drive off.I do trap the livestock out of the sheds,but that's a lifetime job no matter what.
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10-24-2014, 02:27 PM | #23 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
Our temp can get down to -40 (F or C, its all the same), so I check the anti-freeze, top up the oil and fill the gas tank to the top. No jack-stands and never had flats on tyres.
The garage heater is only turned on when I am working in there so when I start it next spring, I will change the oil before driving as freeze/thaw cycles can cause condensation. Never needed to charge the battery before starting any of our collector cars. Daily drivers with a high current drain while parked are a different matter and must be used at least weekly or the battery hooked to a charger. A fairly new 3/4 ton pickup kept on standby at the farm all winter to haul sick cattle to the vets and other emergencies, had to have a battery cut-off installed to ensure the battery was up to starting. The resultant engine check tells that the battery has been disconnected. Who knew???? |
10-24-2014, 08:26 PM | #24 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
MY A motor is out for rebuild so I'll focus on the T which will get AC brkes and maybe a motor swap if I have time.
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10-25-2014, 09:02 AM | #25 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
Who are you getting to do the engine work for you?
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10-25-2014, 01:02 PM | #26 |
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Re: Question on what to do over the winter?
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Battery neg cable taken off after every use, (electric wind clock still working). Battery tender used, external V-meter resting on the hood, plugged in at 6.2v off at 6.7. MMO at every fill, StaBil Marine in a full tank of E-free when stored. No jack stands. Rubber backed 4'x8' carpet underneath. No regular starting procedure, but start & drive as often as weather permits. Fan to circulate the air in an un-heated garage. Considering one of these, anyone using one? Bob
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