Cold weather is approaching and while we don’t always get freezing weather here in Texas, there’s still steps you can take to winterize your classic car for when those frigid temperatures hit no matter where you’re located.
Here’s a list of what you can do to winterize your classic car during the cold winter months.
Clean your classic car inside and out before you store it away for the winter. Cleaning the interior will prevent any unwanted smells from developing over time. Giving the exterior a good detail will prevent tarnishing and prevent scratches from happening when you place a car cover over the vehicle.
If you’re going to store your vehicle for a long period of time then we always recommend that the tank be emptied, and splashed with about 5 gallons of leaded 110 octane fuel. This fuel will not condensate, corrode, or gunk up the carburetor or any fuel lines.
In the coolant reservoir of your vehicle it’s important to use about 4 gallons of antifreeze and then fill the rest with water. This will keep the water from freezing, expanding, and ultimately cracking important parts like the engine block.
If you’ve ever opened your garage door to see flat spots on the tires, you know what a pain it is to deal with. It’s always a good idea to put your car on jackstands if it will be kept away for more than a few months. This will prevent those costly flat spots from forming on the tires.
Another thing that can happen when your vehicle is in storage is the battery will lose its charge. The best way to prevent this from happening is to disconnect the battery terminals in the car and put the battery on a battery tender to keep it charged all winter long.
When the temperatures warm up and the snow has melted away it's always a good idea to change out all the fluids. The exception to this rule is if the space where your vehicle has been stored is climate controlled. If it was, no worries! If it wasn’t, you’ll need to change out the fluids. This is because brake fluid and other fluids in your vehicle condensates and, as you can imagine, that can cause some major problems when you go to start your vehicle for the first time.
