Winter Storage opinion

[rnysl320]

From November 1 to April 1, I will be storing my 1994 SL320 in an unheated garage with a concrete floor. Should I store the vehicle:

1- With the top folded down and hard top in place; or
With top up?

2- Trickle charge battery in place and connected up; or
Remove battery and trickle charge?

3- Cover vehicle (does this trap moister inside vehicle); or
Leave vehicle uncovered?

Any other recommendations other than gasoline stabilizer?

Thanks in advance.

[RickM]

This is what I do:

- Attach a post based disconnect at the battery. Leave disconnected for the winter (Unless starting)

- Attach Battery Tender to battery. In very, very cold climates I'd bring the battery indoors.

- For mice use moth ball disks (Walmart) in trunk, engine compartment and interior. Also utilize mousetraps.

- Run Stabil in tank before storage.

- Some change oil before storage. I do not. I prefer to do after.

- If you experience condensation in the garage and any exposed part are chrome or polished (unfinished) aluminum then coat with wax and dont buff off until taking out of storage.

- Use a Tyvek car cover. This allows the exchange of gasses, air and moisture. Great material!....and little to no dust. I also crack the windows open to prevent mold/mildew.

[POS]

Winters down here is the time to break out the convertible (finally!), but generally I "store" my SL with the soft top up and the hard top off.

[rnysl320]

Rick,

Thanks for the advise. Whats your opinion about leaving the soft top up or down? I thought about using moth balls in the trunk and engine compartment. However if I allow the mice and rodents to feast on my wiring harness maybe my insurance company will buy me a new one (just kidding, however now that I think about it......)

[RickM]

Originally Posted by rnysl320

Rick,

Thanks for the advise. Whats your opinion about leaving the soft top up or down? I thought about using moth balls in the trunk and engine compartment. However if I allow the mice and rodents to feast on my wiring harness maybe my insurance company will buy me a new one (just kidding, however now that I think about it......)

LOL...just make sure the house doesn't burn down with the car.

I have to agree with POS. While I store my top down (for space considerations) I believe it's ideal to leave up and covered.

By the way the Tyvek covers I swear by are (were) made by Budge. They common in a few different sizes and likely made by others.

[RickM]

Oh, here's the battery disconnect I have been using on my cars for years. It also works as an effective anti-theft device as you can take the screw knob with you, leaving the power cut off.

Here's the one I use for about $5 on Ebay:

Item number: 120166177834

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BATTERY-MASTER-DISCONNECT-CUT-OFF-IMMOBOLIZER-SWITCH_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33574QQihZ002QQitemZ120166177834QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW#ebayphotoh osting

[Doctor2687]

I store my 91 500SL for about the same time in a unattached garage here in Minneapolis.
I use sea foam (whatever you use make sure you run it though the engine, not just dump a can in the gas tank).
Leave the soft top up. Leaving it down will cut down on the life of your soft top.
I have a built in trickle charger in the truck that I plug in.
I cover the car, and wait for spring, changing oil in the spring..

Matt

[LUVMBDiesels]

Leave the soft top up. If you leave it down, it will shrink and be hard to put up in the spring.

[rnysl320]

Thanks to all that have responded. My conclusion:

1- Store vehicle with soft top up. Leave hard top in storage.

2- Disconnect battery. My vehicle is already equipped with a disconnect on the black wire as shown in the picture. I should remove the red wire which is clamped directly to the battery post and trickle charge.

3- Cover vehicle with a Tyvek car cover.

4- Moth balls for rodent protection.

5- Mix stabilizer with gas and run thru motor. I am not familiar with sea foam however I will look into it.

Thanks again to all that have responded

rnysl320

[Louis M]

Don't know about you guys but never ever will i ever leave my Benz on a concrete floor. It sits on a rug, concrete humidity is not gonna get the best of my Shania-Louis

[nobby]

Besides throwing dryer sheets in the trunk and cabin, I like to take the weight off the suspension and tires.

[LUVMBDiesels]

Originally Posted by Louis M

Don't know about you guys but never ever will i ever leave my Benz on a concrete floor. It sits on a rug, concrete humidity is not gonna get the best of my Shania-Louis

This is another great idea. Pick up some carpet at a discount store and put it under the car. It will keep the condensation that forms on the concrete from getting to the car. I would also put a piece of blue plastic tarp under the carpet to act as a moisture barrier...

[rnysl320]

Gentlemen,
Thanks for the advise. I have an unused roll of indoor/outdoor carpet and I keep a plastic tarp in my trunk just in case.......

I would like to put it up on blocks however I am planning on pulling out of the garage once a month to start it up and let it run.

Thanks again

rnysl320

[LUVMBDiesels]

Originally Posted by rnysl320

Gentlemen,
Thanks for the advise. I have an unused roll of indoor/outdoor carpet and I keep a plastic tarp in my trunk just in case.......

I would like to put it up on blocks however I am planning on pulling out of the garage once a month to start it up and let it run.

Thanks again

rnysl320

If you pull it out, take it for a spin so that when you park it again the tires are not in the same position as they would be if you rolled it out ten feet and then rolled it back. This will help prevent flat spots on the tire. I forgot to do that and the tires developed flat spots that were very annoying for a while.

[280SE Guy]

Another thing to consider is to place an oil soaked rag in the engine air intake and another in the exhaust tailpipe to keep moisture from entering the system and getting to the valves etc. Remember to remove them prior to starting, might need to put a sticky note somewhere close to the ignition key.