Who stores their marauder for the winter?

[loud2004marquis]

Starting to think about storing the car for the upcoming winter as we're a week into fall already.

Never stored a car before and was wondering if anyone can give some advise?

[J-MAN]

Clean the vehicle in and out. Put on a fresh coat of wax. Change the oil and filter and add stabil to a topped off tank. Inflate tires to 40lb. Put an opened box of fabric softener sheets in the trunk, cabin and under hood. Stuff steel wool in the tail pipes. Remove the plugs and spray fogging oil into plug holes(get at a marine supply store). Use a cover if you have it. Place several pans of rodent killer in the area. Remove any food items from the area that will attract rodents, like bird seed etc. Use a battery tender.

If you can drive the vehicle every few weeks skip the fogging oil and don't forget to remove the steel wool. Drive for at least 20-30 minutes. Letting it
just idle will do more harm than good.

Then wait for spring.

If it's in the budget use heated storage. I used a place last winter that was never below 55 degrees and they let me visit to do minor work on the car. It was located in Shelby Township in Michigan. Cost $130.00 per month.

[kirk]

Where do you plan to store it? I store mine, but don't do all the things poppaj does, though many do. I keep mine in a heated garage. All I do is clean it, change the oil, top the fuel, and connect a battery maintainer. I do have rodent controls in the garage.

It does make a difference whether your storing it inside/outside, heated/not.

[rayjay]

I use Irish Spring soap instead of dryer sheets. Three bars cut into 3rds. Due to using a neighbors garage, I pull the battery and put it in my basement. I cover mine after a detail waxing. Stabil is a must and I also use Marvels Mystery Oil, lubes the pump. I check on her quite often as I clear the neighbor's driveway and sidewalk all winter. I trickle charge the battery for a day prior to coming out of storage.

[loud2004marquis]

I'm storing it in the (non-heated) garage.

Do you really have to put a vapor barrior under the car if it's in a clean (non-heated) garage?

The garage has a concrete floor...

[ddrek0214]

Why just letting it idle will do more harm than good? I ask because thats what my dad has been doing to his camaro for the last 20yrs. Probably has been driven a couple of times during that period. Would like to know so I can tell him.

[jstevens]

IIRC idling creates condensation. Of course, others with more experience will chime in.

[Serge]

If you've never store an 8 year old car Michigan car before, it probably won't make much difference now because the amount of rust underneath has already ruined it.

[Spectragod]

I store mine in a heated garage, concrete floor is covered with tile, car is covered with car cover. The other alternative is..... take it to Alternative Automotive, have Lidio do a bunch of work to it, then you can pick it up in the spring, storage problem solved.

[kirk]

I'm storing it in the (non-heated) garage.

Do you really have to put a vapor barrior under the car if it's in a clean (non-heated) garage?

The garage has a concrete floor...

I stored my '63 in an unheated poll barn with a concrete floor one winter (someone elses). When I pulled it out in the spring there were 2 orange lines on the floor that duplicated my exhaust system. Moisture had come up through the floor, condensed on the underside of the car, and dripped off on the floor. The water on the exhaust caused rust which dripped off the car and was visible on the floor.

[slickster]

whats bad if i just leave it parked at my house and dont drive when salt is down

[a_d_a_m]

I park mine in an unheated but dry garage.

Every 3 weeks, weather permitting, I start the car and let it idle until it reaches operating temperature, then drive it around the compound where it is stored (no salt in the lot, just dry pavement). Throw it in neutral, give it a few good revs, put it back in storage.

No problems to report yet.

[knine]

PappaJ covered it. I store my unless there is sufficient break in the weather and it rains enough to was the salt off the road.

[johnnyrauder]

this will be my 10th winter(picked it up 6/24/02) and what i do is a full tank of gas,oil change, car cover on my driveway and i do start it every week or so and as long as theres no snow,salt ect. i try to drive 1x a week. i know it's not over the top but so far no rusting. car has 20k mi.

[slickster]

Why a full tank

[Shaijack]

I will store one and drive the other, switching every few weeks. It has not snowed here in 10 years. Worn long sleeve shirts for about 6 days. If you want to store it here let me know. I promise I will NOT drive it. Really.. Anything to help a brother or sister in the Marauder world.

[CBT]

I will store one and drive the other, switching every few weeks. It has not snowed here in 10 years. Worn long sleeve shirts for about 6 days. If you want to store it here let me know. I promise I will NOT drive it. Really.. Anything to help a brother or sister in the Marauder world.

That's why I love this place :beer:

[Shaijack]

CBT you just want to add me to your list of prizes.

[Serge]

Why a full tank

To prevent from corrosion.

[knine]

I store mine in a heated garage, concrete floor is covered with tile, car is covered with car cover. The other alternative is..... take it to Alternative Automotive, have Lidio do a bunch of work to it, then you can pick it up in the spring, storage problem solved.
I love this option !!!! :D

[guspech750]

CBT you just want to add me to your list of prizes.

Hey. Back off bubs. I'm Casys *****!! And there is nothing you or anyone can do about it!! :lol:


---
- Sent from my iPhone
Eaton Swap = Wreeeeeeeeeedom!!

[J-MAN]

I'm storing it in the (non-heated) garage.

Do you really have to put a vapor barrior under the car if it's in a clean (non-heated) garage?

The garage has a concrete floor...

I forgot about the vapor barrier, it's a good idea. Doesn't hurt to place a small fan in front of the car and run it on a slow speed to keep the air circulating.


Why just letting it idle will do more harm than good? I ask because thats what my dad has been doing to his camaro for the last 20yrs. Probably has been driven a couple of times during that period. Would like to know so I can tell him.

I think that it's better to drive the car a bit that way the trans, axle and suspension get a workout too. I've got about a 6 mile run that I take that includes 3 miles of highway when road conditions warrant.

I also cycle the door locks and run the windows up and down several times.

[Shaijack]

guspech750 I will trade you 2 cases of Dixie Blackend Voodoo for him..Lets see his offer for you to stay. LOL

[snookey]

i store my mm in a unheated garage that has a concret floor but it is on a lift. I keep it covered. and maintain the battery.No rust under neath the car. My question is do you keep the gas tank full and use stablizer. Last year i took the car out in the spring and the fuel pump went. Maybe it is not a good idea to keep the gas tank full.The mm has 29000 miles on it. May be like half full keeping it below the fuel pump.tom

[knine]

i store my mm in a unheated garage that has a concret floor but it is on a lift. I keep it covered. and maintain the battery.No rust under neath the car. My question is do you keep the gas tank full and use stablizer. Last year i took the car out in the spring and the fuel pump went. Maybe it is not a good idea to keep the gas tank full.The mm has 29000 miles on it. May be like half full keeping it below the fuel pump.tom
OOOOOOOH, excelent question. I had a fuel pump go this year after storing with a full tank as well. Zack fixed me up real good :2thumbs:

[guspech750]

guspech750 I will trade you 2 cases of Dixie Blackend Voodoo for him..Lets see his offer for you to stay. LOL

Lmao!!!! :lol:!!!
He doesn't stand a chance :lol:

---
- Sent from my iPhone
Eaton Swap = Wreeeeeeeeeedom!!

[vtwoodsman]

Starting to think about storing the car for the upcoming winter as we're a week into fall already.

Never stored a car before and was wondering if anyone can give some advise?

I store my MM every winter here in upstate Vermont. The week before I store the Marauder I put in the fuel tank a high quality fuel system cleaner with fresh gasoline, make sure the tires are at proper pressure, and have the battery tested under load.
The car is stored in a brick building with a concrete floor. I disconnect the battery terminals, lock up the car, and install a soft cloth car cover that breathes.
Six months later--hook up the battery--fire up the engine--check the tire pressures---and go! :)

[BUCKWHEAT]

Here in St Louis, we have a mix of winter weather. Each month has good, dry,cool days. End result, is the car does not sit more than a month. I have unheated but insulated garage so the interior temp stays at least 15 degrees above ambient. End result is I do nothing for winter storage. In bad weather I drive my AWD beater, MK-S GTDI.

[rayjay]

i store my mm in a unheated garage that has a concret floor but it is on a lift. I keep it covered. and maintain the battery.No rust under neath the car. My question is do you keep the gas tank full and use stablizer. Last year i took the car out in the spring and the fuel pump went. Maybe it is not a good idea to keep the gas tank full.The mm has 29000 miles on it. May be like half full keeping it below the fuel pump.tom

Thats what the Marvel's Mystery Oil is for. Lubes the pump. 4oz in a full tank, drive it some prior to storage.

[BizTerp]

I rent a storage unit for Dec, Jan, Feb. Wash and wax, fill the tank, disconnect the battery and put a cover over it. I'll visit the storage unit around twice a month when the roads are clear of salt and give it a run around the block. Works great for me.

It is kinda sad that its getting to be the time of the year when the Marauder has to go back into hibernation. Hopefully I can get in a nice Fall Cruise with her first.

[xopher]

Here in Wisconsin, I put it away from Thanksgiving to April Fools, which is the approximate range in which the roads are salted here. There's lots of good advice already in this thread and if you use the search function about fluids, disconnecting the battery terminals, and so forth.

If you are renting a storage unit, do be thrifty and shop around for storage units. Some folks like heated storage that costs upwards of $125 per month, but with some googling, some craigslisting, and some driving around, you can find some decent individual stall 10x20s for $50-$75. And if you are willing to store your car alongside other things in a warehouse or concrete floored barn, the price can drop under $50 per month. If you rent a storage unit, I recommend one that has as many of the following characteristics as possible:

-individual locking stall
-concrete/cement/asphalt floors
-door with intact rubber seals
-sturdy walls and roof
-no signs of animals or insect infestations

In addition to all of the good car prep advice in this and other threads, I also buy 8-12 sheets of bottom-shelf plywood and tile the floor underneath my Marauder to stabilize moisture movement.

Finally, call your insurance company and ask if they have options on vehicle insurance while the vehicle is being stored. My storage insurance drops to $9/month for the winter months, which is money you can save for mods, or to offset the cost of storing the vehicle in the first place.

Between shopping around for storage units and asking my insurance company about my insurance, I saved over $100 a month the second year I stored my Marauder.

Good luck!

[BizTerp]

Here in Wisconsin, I put it away from Thanksgiving to April Fools, which is the approximate range in which the roads are salted here. There's lots of good advice already in this thread and if you use the search function about fluids, disconnecting the battery terminals, and so forth.

If you are renting a storage unit, do be thrifty and shop around for storage units. Some folks like heated storage that costs upwards of $125 per month, but with some googling, some craigslisting, and some driving around, you can find some decent individual stall 10x20s for $50-$75. And if you are willing to store your car alongside other things in a warehouse or concrete floored barn, the price can drop under $50 per month. If you rent a storage unit, I recommend one that has as many of the following characteristics as possible:

-individual locking stall
-concrete/cement/asphalt floors
-door with intact rubber seals
-sturdy walls and roof
-no signs of animals or insect infestations

In addition to all of the good car prep advice in this and other threads, I also buy 8-12 sheets of bottom-shelf plywood and tile the floor underneath my Marauder to stabilize moisture movement.

Finally, call your insurance company and ask if they have options on vehicle insurance while the vehicle is being stored. My storage insurance drops to $9/month for the winter months, which is money you can save for mods, or to offset the cost of storing the vehicle in the first place.

Between shopping around for storage units and asking my insurance company about my insurance, I saved over $100 a month the second year I stored my Marauder.

Good luck!

Great info! Thanks for providing this well thought through overview to the community. My MM will go into storage in December. Here in MD the rates are around $190/mo for a non heated unit (10 x 20). Many places offer the first months rent or free, so the total cost is round $400 for Dec 1-Mar 1.

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