2020 is almost here and the winter season is certainly upon us already. Many parts of the country are already measuring snow in feet rather that inches. Unless you live in the southernmost states like Arizona or Florida, you have likely stored your classic car or truck away until spring.
We recently wrote an article on how to properly store a classic car for winter. It’s become an annual tradition to help owner’s take the best care when putting their classic into hibernation. But what should you do during those long winter months to keep your classic at its best?
Storing a car for a long period of time without the proper care can lead to some undesired side effects. In some parts of the country you can expect to see snow, ice, gravel and salt on the roads for five to six months. Your classic car certainly cannot sit that long without attention.
We’d like to share 5 tips for keeping your classic car or truck looking and operating its best during winter storage.
Guard from Elements: Storing your classic in a garage or other facility away from snow and ice is only part of the protection plan. Ideally you want to keep the storage area temperature controlled to stay above freezing. Extreme cold can still cause issues with things freezing. Your garage doesn’t need to be kept at 72 degrees, but we suggest you keep it above 32 degrees. You should also consider a breathable cover to help protect your paint from dust and other air contaminants. Also roll down the windows a little to keep a flow of ventilation in the interior.
Fire up the engine: At a minimum, start your classic a few times during the winter. Once per month would be ideal if possible. You will probably have to reverse some of the steps you took to put it in storage but firing up your vehicle and letting it come up to operating temperature is a great idea to keep everything running well.
Go through your storage checklist to make sure everything that needs to be reversed has been done before you fire up the motor. Then you are going to have to let it run at least twenty more minutes to burn off all the sludge that may have built up in the system. It can actually do more harm than good to only fire it up for a few minutes and turn it off. Doing this will actually help the sludge and sludge to build up in the engine.
Take it for a drive: Weather doesn’t always permit you to take your prized possession out for a spin during the winter months. You may have to let mother nature decide when this step can be taken and take advantage of the opportunity. Salt and ice are two of the biggest elements that you need to avoid when deciding to take your classic car out for a cruise during the winter. Be sure to choose a day when the temperatures are not below zero and the roads are dry.
You may want to scout out a route with your daily driver before venturing out because just a few quick trips around the block are not going to cut it. Make sure you check your tire pressure before heading out and take it easy on your vehicle until everything has had a chance to warm up.
Keep your classic clean: Your classic should have already thoroughly washed and waxed before going into storage. It is very important to have a clean exterior, interior and undercarriage during winter storage. If you have the opportunity to take your vehicle out for a spin during the winter, you should probably give your car or truck a quick hand wash to get rid of any salt or grime that you picked up out on the road. Do not wash the car however if the temperatures are below freezing. You will have to wait until the weather warms up.
Protect with wax: Wax really is the best defense for protecting the life of your paint. It helps protect against the elements while giving your paint a deep shine. You may want to wax your vehicle after every winter test drive as well. Some owners will leave a thick coat of wax and chrome polish on the car and buff it all out after winter. We think this is overkill. But understand the concept of added protection from a thicker coat of wax. Either way make sure you wax your classic to protect it from moisture and residue that may accumulate on the car.
Classic cars and trucks were built to be driven and if you can take it out every month during the winter season it will be better off to hit the road once spring arrives. Plus, it is amusing to see the look on other driver’s faces when they see you rolling your summer cruiser in the dead of winter.