How should I prep my LS for storage

jberbrich

Active LVC Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2010
Messages
56
Reaction score
1
Location
San Diego
I will be deployed overseas for 4 months at a time. Is there anything special you guys would do to prep the LS for storage?

Battery: Should I disconnect and place on trickle charger?

Fuel: Should I add a fuel stabilizer and keep the tank full?

Tires: Should I suspend the beast up on stands, or just high enough to take a load off?

Restart: When I return after 4 months and fire her up, should I take any precautions with the electronics, fuel, oil???

Any other tips would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
I do my Camaro over the winter each year for about the same length of time.
I will be deployed overseas for 4 months at a time. Is there anything special you guys would do to prep the LS for storage?

Battery: Should I disconnect and place on trickle charger?
No need to disconnect as that powers down the cars electronics and lets them sit idle. Better they stay powered and warm.
You do want to keep the battery on a trickle charger.
http://batterytender.com/automotive/battery-tender-junior-12v-at-0-75a.html
I find this one works well as it is current limiting, won't overcharge the battery. You can shop around and find it for less.

Fuel: Should I add a fuel stabilizer and keep the tank full?
Yes and yes.


Tires: Should I suspend the beast up on stands, or just high enough to take a load off?
I do because of the tires on the car more than anything. They flat spot if left sitting for long periods. Also be sure to check air pressure before the car sits.


Restart: When I return after 4 months and fire her up, should I take any precautions with the electronics, fuel, oil???
Not if you didn't disconnect or drain anything. Undo your storage prep and fire it up!


Any other tips would be appreciated.
At least wash the car thoroughly and get a good car cover. If stored inside, a cover to keep dirt and dust out. If outside a weatherproof cover. Also if outside get a sheet of plywood to put underneath. This helps keep moisture coming up from the ground (yes, concrete has lots of moisture).
Change the oil before you store it. Then all the nasties are drained out while it sits. You can run that oil to a normal change after.

4 months really isn't that long a time for a car to sit. Because my LS was a second car it would sit for that long or better if I got busy with work and the only problem I really ran into was the battery being drained.
 
Fuel stabilizer.
Trickle charger, but don't disconnect the battery.
Wheels up.
Change oil just before storage.
 
What's the best place to connect a ring terminal connection (for a Battery Tender) at the front of the car? I want to start using one of our trickle chargers on my two cars since they sit for 4-14 days at a time and the Taurus died on me a few weeks ago, just sitting there. I usually park with the nose facing the garage (where the charger will plug in) since the front halves of my cars usually need more work than the rear.

I know there's the positive post in the front passenger fender under the AC filter. Good thing the battery was unplugged when I found it... I thought it was plastic garbage in wet leaves/debris and was trying to pull up and out with pliers. I could have easily shorted it to the body if I grabbed it wrong. I had no idea what it was at the time. Oops.

Any better spots, maybe closer to the lower grille? The plug has a cap for when it's not in use, so I'm not too concerned about water. I'd just rather not run a new cable the length of the car.

The supplied car-side cable has a fuse within 2" of the ring.
 
Many of the circuits in the front (under hood) fuse box are live all the time. The location for fuse 17 on a V8 should be a good one to use, since that fuse isn't used on the V8s.
 
Just noticed this post. My LS has been on jack stands for months now. Couple more to go and it's game time. Putting new shocks and springs on, new front and rear rotors and pads, and new front and rear end links. I didn't leave a full tank with stabalizer though, just ran it down to close to empty and plan on filling up a couple gas cans of new premium to dump in it to get me to a gas station to fill her up. I wouldn't feel comfortable running fuel that's been sitting for 6+ months. I did however change the oil just before letting her hibernate.

I also did however notice that my battery is completely dead. I never disconnected it and also never put it on a trickle charger or whatever. I was looking at it the other day and noticed the red pats light wasn't flashing anymore. Manually unlocked the car with my key to find that the battery is dead. Probably beyond rechargeable. Just plan on dumping another $175 on a new battery this spring.

Anyhow, happy days. Pure hibernation lol.
IMG_20150106_152917.jpg

IMG_20150106_152917.jpg
 
Many of the circuits in the front (under hood) fuse box are live all the time. The location for fuse 17 on a V8 should be a good one to use, since that fuse isn't used on the V8s.

Sounds perfect. Thanks

Just noticed this post.

That's because I just brought it back from 2011! But yeah, the car constantly powers the remote entry circuits, always waiting for the remote to say open, as well as powering the open-door sensors and the rest of the security system.
 
What's the best place to connect a ring terminal connection (for a Battery Tender) at the front of the car? I want to start using one of our trickle chargers on my two cars since they sit for 4-14 days at a time and the Taurus died on me a few weeks ago, just sitting there. I usually park with the nose facing the garage (where the charger will plug in) since the front halves of my cars usually need more work than the rear.

I know there's the positive post in the front passenger fender under the AC filter. Good thing the battery was unplugged when I found it... I thought it was plastic garbage in wet leaves/debris and was trying to pull up and out with pliers. I could have easily shorted it to the body if I grabbed it wrong. I had no idea what it was at the time. Oops.

Any better spots, maybe closer to the lower grille? The plug has a cap for when it's not in use, so I'm not too concerned about water. I'd just rather not run a new cable the length of the car.

The supplied car-side cable has a fuse within 2" of the ring.

I use a Battery Tender with a 25' extension. I also added a "permanent" attachment to the battery.. Both available from Amazon...

41VwHgzEyjL.jpg

81AzIcYpXKL._SL1500_.jpg

41VwHgzEyjL.jpg


81AzIcYpXKL._SL1500_.jpg
 
Each kit comes with a ring terminal attachment and an alligator clip attachment, so I have that. I just figured having the plug at the front would be easier to handle than running the extension under the car. The easier it is, the more likely I'm going to actually use it.

Tomorrow's going to reach a blistering 42 degrees (F). Maybe I can hook it up sooner than I thought. My dad has binge-bought 4 tenders across 2 or 3 car shows for his Mustangs.... All 2 of them. And only one is hooked up. I have 3 extras now haha
 

Members online

Back
Top