Winter chills
Call it global warming, call it what you like, but the world’s unstable climate is definitely cause for concern. Record summer temperatures and plummeting winter temperatures around the planet over the past decade have prompted many governments around the world, including our own, to seriously review carbon emissions — a subject we could debate till the cows come home.
Winter struck here with a vengeance recently, dumping record amounts of snow in some places, which brings me to the subject of winter storage for our classic cars.
Recently, I found myself immersed in a vigorous online discussion about this very subject. I was astounded by the lengths some classic car owners in the US and Europe go to to store their cars during the winter months. Admittedly, their winters are significantly worse than we experience in this country — even in its coldest regions — but I was still interested in the daunting, time-consuming process undertaken by some.
Such tasks include an oil change prior to storage to rid the engine of contaminants such as moisture and acids, which can pit bearings and other engine parts, plus checking wheel bearings and steering components, as well as suspension and greasing if necessary. Other procedures include oiling door, boot, and bonnet hinges to prevent seizing, and placing a barrier under the car, such as plastic or carpet, together with plywood under the tyres, or placing the car on jack stands to keep moisture away. Filling the fuel tank and adding a stabiliser before running the vehicle to move fuel stabiliser into the carburettor, fuel rails, and injectors was also mentioned, along with checking the antifreeze in the cooling system and adding air to the tyres. Baking soda refrigerator packages in the interior and boot areas and placing plastic bags over the air cleaner/air inlet and exhaust pipe to keep out the vermin were also interesting topics discussed. There were many more suggestions, as well as varying theories about periodically starting the vehicle.
In this country, we understand that classic cars require a little extra care when it comes to winter storage due to the age and condition of different components. Old cars need care to preserve their appeal and avoid corrosion. Whilst many Kiwi classic car owners use their classic cars all year round, some tend to take a sympathetic approach to their pride and joy, opting to leave it tucked away under cover in the garage for the duration of the colder months with nothing more than a trickle charger connected to the battery and a dehumidifier humming away in the corner for good measure.
Most of the topics discussed on the forum were common sense, even if taken quite far in some cases, but they showed the value of taking at least some time to properly store your car. A little effort now will undoubtedly save time and money, and might even prevent some expensive damage and repairs in the long run.
Ashley Webb Editor