Winter is coming

[Peter h]

Here in Germany the cold winter will soon begin and the pagodas will be moved into the warm garages. Then we have to wait for the next season.
The engine overhaul is completed, there's still a bit of running in and I can look forward to 2025.
Peter

[John Betsch - "SADIE"]

Not a nice thing to do, but let me sabotage this post for some input from members: 

Winter will be here shortly in the Northeast US so preparations for winter storage is on my mind.  I am sure many have routines they follow but I would appreciate improving mine:  This is what I do.  I am sure there must be much better methods out there.  Lets see:

my method (elementary and need some help)

Fill the fuel tank to the tippy top
Add Stabil
Remove ancillary items from the car
Clean and polish the interior leather
Remove unnecessary item fro the boot
Place a mouse trap at each wheel
Place a bar of Irish Spring soap at each tire
Put a bar of Irish spring soap in engine compartment
Connect trickle charger
And make a list of projects on the car to be competed during "hibernation"

[Pawel66]

What I am avoiding is to "carefully wash it, also underneath and put it in the warm garage".  I think you need to drive her quite a lot after "careful wash".

Soft top up - this is also important. Higher tire pressure and rolling her a bit back and forth may be important as well.

[Jordan]

I use dryer sheets in the engine bay, trunk and interior.  I've never used Stabil and have never had a problem starting the car in the spring.

We are having unseasonably warm weather here this fall (25C yesterday and should be 20C today) so I'll keep driving as long as possible. 

[JamesL]

What is Irish Spring soap and what does it do?

[Jordan]

What is Irish Spring soap and what does it do?

Just a brand of soap like Ivory.  https://www.a1exterminators.com/mice-irish-spring-soap/  I've heard Irish Spring is also a good mosquito repellant.

[stratamarr]

What about moisture absorbers? I have read on this site that people have put marine moisture absorbers in their trunk (boot) and that helps keep it dry.

[Bonnyboy]

If you put those moisture absorbers in depending on the type, make sure you can catch all the liquid if they collect it, as that liquid will cause more damage than a bit of moisture.   

[RAY]

Lovely picture of your car.

Personally I never wash my Pagoda before it goes to storage for the reason Pawel mentioned, there are plenty of other ways to clean paintwork, which I'm sure for most of us that bother to put our cars into warm storage, never really gets that dirty.

[Cees Klumper]

The only thing I do for my Pagoda's 8.5 month annual slumber is put a cover over it against dust and cats walking over it in the unheated but well ventilated barn.

[Pawel66]

I think, as Cees says, that ventilation is absolutely critical.

[AdelaidePagoda]

Ah, the luxury of living in Australia. Year round use of the Pagoda and as such it is my daily driver.

[Rothko]

Winter is the best time of year to drive a 280 here in Florida. 

[zoegrlh]

In Virginia, winters are somewhat mild, so I keep cloth top up, polish paint work, put moisture cans around d car and inside passenger cabin, as well as engine bay, cover it with cloth cover and let sit with gas stabling, the. Start it up by from time to time, and on nice sunny days take it out to Cars and Coffee once a month.

[mdsalemi]

What I USED to do when I lived in Michigan:

Fill the tank downstate, add a bottle of Techron fuel injection cleaner. Drive the car north to my other home, about 170 miles.
Stop about 10 miles from the house, fill the tank again, add Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer, wash and dry the car at a hand wash facility. Drive the car the rest of the way, put it away with a cover. No battery tender, no disconnecting battery. If on my occasional visits during the winter, there were dry streets and no snow (which did happen a few times over the years) I'd take the car out for a good healthy run before putting it back in the garage. The last two winters I lived in Michigan, my car was invited to a sleep over at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, where it stayed behind velvet ropes in a heated museum space. I gave them a nice donation for this privilege.

Today, in NC, the car can be used 12 months. I just put the hard top on, and it will see occasional use all year.