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Winter Storage Prep

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4K views 15 replies 9 participants last post by  mheyman 
#1 ·
Howdy Y'all -
I will be storing my STi over the winter this year to avoid the beloved Illinois road salt. I can't keep it in the garage at home, so I'll be renting a storage unit locally. Aside from putting fresh oil in, filling the gas tank, and running a few extra PSI in the tires, what should I do to make sure its ready to sit through a few months of cold? I doubt there will be an electrical outlet in the unit, so I plan on my battery being dead when I pick it up in the spring. Any input is appreciated.
 
#8 ·
This.

I've heard that you can pull the ignition fuse and crank for ~10 seconds once starting up after a few months to prime everything with oil. I'm in the same boat as you - haven't stored a car before and there's so much conflicting info online
Press the throttle to 100% and crank and it will cut the injectors.

fuel stabilizer such as Stabil.
This.



I store cars all the time... Sometimes, not on purpose. The most I've ever done is put fuel stabilizer in. I will hold the throttle open and crank to prime the motor with oil, but that's about it.
 
#6 ·
Last 2 above -
+
fuel stabilizer such as Stabil.
Get weight off tires *IE jack stands) or use FlatStoppers.
Wouldn't hurt to crank it every few mo either

Storing a car is already going to cost you. Do it right :)

Taxes on a small car space in my unheated garage probably cost me $20/mo! :(
 
#11 ·
Last 2 above -
+
fuel stabilizer such as Stabil.
Get weight off tires *IE jack stands) or use FlatStoppers.
Wouldn't hurt to crank it every few mo either

Storing a car is already going to cost you. Do it right <img src="http://www.IWSTI.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Smile" class="inlineimg" />

Taxes on a small car space in my unheated garage probably cost me $20/mo! <img src="http://www.IWSTI.com/forums/images/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Sad" class="inlineimg" />
Yep totally have to also vote for the jack stands to take the weight off the tires. I’m a Cali boy that lived in Chicagoland for 5 years, and every winter I stored my Cali car to avoid the salt and started driver the beater...

As mentioned above, fuel stabilizer, up on jacks is what I did, tho I had the luxury to start and idle the car a couple of times a month for giggles...
 
#7 ·
You should be good with this plan. Gas doesn't go bad anymore anyway. Start it a couple times and maybe take it out if it's nice. But what's the point of a Subaru if you don't have fun in the winter? Maybe get a solar battery maintainer. I bought one on amazon for 40 bucks. I love buying motorcycles in the spring that have been "winterized" with fuel "stabilizer". Makes the gas worthless and they wont run right.
 
#9 · (Edited)
I stated using fuel stabilize in any fuel that might sit over 3 mo when it cost a me a new Holley for my (1985 )boat and and yearly carburetor cleanings on several yard tools. Using it ended the issue.

The old school boat gets storage oil sprayed in to carb while running till it stalls. To oil an STI you have to pull the plugs. Can't say I would for a single winter, but if it were going to be years I would. If you do that you don't turn it over till the end of storage,
 
#10 ·
If possible try to find non-ethanol gas for your last tank-ful. I have had good luck with fuel stabilizers, another project car sat for a year plus with stabilizer and the gas was not bad, but the ethanol blends are still more subject to collecting water and also going bad. You're right about it being a full tank, the less air in there the less condensation can form.


What mheyman said about tires wasn't a bad idea either, especially for performance tires. If you have summer tires you don't want to store them under load (or drive on them, or mount/dismount) in sub-freezing temperatures. All seasons are not as affected by the cold.
 
#14 ·
Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to add some fuel stabilizer and disconnect the battery. I have aftermarket wheels and summer tires on now that I'll switch with the stock Enkei w/ all seasons so no worries about ruining my good set. I'll be close enough to the storage facility that I can visit every once in a while, but will refrain from starting until the spring. It'll only be about a 3 month hibernation so I'm not too worried.
 
#16 · (Edited)
I have aftermarket wheels and summer tires on now that I'll switch with the stock Enkei w/ all seasons so no worries about ruining my good set. I'll be close enough to the storage facility that I can visit every once in a while

On wheels - If you visit, push it a few feet to a different spot on the tire It's better than nothing - should have written that's what I do with the boat.
 
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