Winterizing

[Formulabob]

The weather here in Michigan appears to be deteriorating quickly so it seems to be time to prepare for winterizing and storing the Exige. Here is my plan -- please chime in with additions/deletions per your experience. Thanks.

1. Put on tires that can take cold weather (Dunlop Direzza Star Spec).

2. Make some wooden blocks to go between the floor and the lower suspension arm outer joints in case a tire loses pressure.

3. Check engine coolant -- renew/add as necessary.

4. Change engine oil and filter.

5. Add stabilizer to fuel tank and put enough running time on to ensure it gets to the injectors.

6. Fog the engine -- through spark plug holes and intake manifold.

7. Put moisture absorbant in cockpit.

8. Pry back (or remove?) brake pads so pads can't stick or cause corrosion of discs. (What can I do to stop general corrosion on discs?)

9. Remove battery and put it on a timed tender charger.

10. Clean and wax body and cover with a breathable dust cover.

[zygotesoup]

fog the engine?

[marcinr]

Regarding brake corrosion - will you be storing the car outside? If it's stored indoors, whatever little corrosion builds up on the brake discs is cosmetic, and it will wipe off the first few times that you brake. It's normal for discs to rust because they're pure iron.

[buzzy]

Top off the gas tank so theres no air left in it.

Double check your washer fluid has anti-freeze in it. Mine was the original from Lotus / Port / Dealer and froze during my first winter. I'm lucky I didn't have any washer lines split.

[tesprit]

Originally Posted by zygotesoup

fog the engine?

It is a lubricant/anti-corrosion solution you spray into the intake while the engine is idling until the engine bogs down and stops. It effectively coats the combustion chambers, the intake and exhaust as well as all the parts in them to stop corrosion while the engine sits and is not run. It is probably not necessary unless the engine is not run for very long periods of time and/or you intend to store the car in a damp environment. It could be overkill for winter storage, but any internal corrosion in a stored engine is not good. The only caution I would have with doing this is that the fogging might foul engine sensors and emissions equipment causing damage to them so check to make sure the fogging spray is safe before using it.

If you are really worried about the brake discs corroding, you can remove the pads and spray the discs with a light coating of oil. This is fairly time consuming, messy, and you will have to completely clean the discs before installing the pads again in the spring so it is probably not worth the effort unless the discs will be exposed to a lot of moisture over the winter.

[zygotesoup]

Originally Posted by tesprit

It is a lubricant/anti-corrosion solution you spray into the intake while the engine is idling until the engine bogs down and stops. It effectively coats the combustion chambers, the intake and exhaust as well as all the parts in them to stop corrosion while the engine sits and is not run. It is probably not necessary unless the engine is not run for very long periods of time and/or you intend to store the car in a damp environment. It could be overkill for winter storage, but any internal corrosion in a stored engine is not good. The only caution I would have with doing this is that the fogging might foul engine sensors and emissions equipment causing damage to them so check to make sure the fogging spray is safe before using it.

ahh... thanks for the info. ill probably skip out on doing this for winter storage.


anyone know a good moisture absorbent to use in the car?

also, ive heard its good to put moth balls around the car to keep varmint away.

[kestrel74]

Originally Posted by zygotesoup

fog the engine?

Heyyyy watch your language here !!!

[kestrel74]

Umm Bob..... you're overthinking things a bit. Battery Tender & Stabil. I'm on my 5th year and no problems at all. ( MICHIGAN )

[jds62f]

don't forget to oil your muffler bearings and top off your blinker fluid

[zygotesoup]

Originally Posted by jds62f

don't forget to oil your muffler bearings and top off your blinker fluid

and tighten the clutch belt

[Formulabob]

Kestrel,

I've got a race battery in the car and my experience with them has not been good if they are left unattended for long periods. Stabil -- you're probably right, but the winter storage might last six months so it is cheap insurance.

Others,

My preparations may more than necessary, but I consider it cheap insurance. I had a bad & expensive experience the one year I did not winterize my Formula Continental race car. Mice ate the garage door seal at the storage unit, snow drifted in, the humidity skyrocketed, and I got significant cylinder wall corrosion/damage under the piston rings. Also, the brake rotors on the car were very corroded and pited under the pads.

I'd prefer next year's Lotus budget go for track days, 2bular exhaust system, Hoosier A6s, etc., not repairs.

Regards,

[espritv8]

and de-charge the flux capacitor

[mgsst23]

Don't forget to Tighten the Connuder Valve!!

My Elise is going away shortly & I bought dessicant bags from Home Depot last year. They worked fine, although my storage place isn't very humid...

[kestrel74]

OH ( AND Seriously )...........smelly Bounce dryer sheets !! Put em all over the place....they keep the mice/chipmunks away..... it works !

[viacondotti]

Originally Posted by jds62f

don't forget to oil your muffler bearings and top off your blinker fluid

I did that and my lap times were great!