To dos for a safe GTR-hibernation in Germany

[lvjost]

As winter in Germany could get quite cold....my GTR is registered seasonally from march to 31st of octobre. That means from 1st of nov. my GTR has to be prepared for a 4-month-hibernation. So my question to all of you:
What is to do to make my GTR getting through the winter safely.
1. Is it better to take out all oils (engine and gearbox) and water and stuff??? If..what are the advantages ?
2. Heard a tire-dealer say, it would be better to lift the GTR slightly, so the tires don´t have to
take the whole weight over 4 months standing on the same spot...He feared, the tires could get a dent...
What do you think ?
3. What about the car itself ? Cover it with a cloth, with a foil, don´t cover it ? (I have a garage, the car
won´t be exposed to rain, snow etc.....)
4. For the battery I got an akku-jogger, a small device charging and uncharging the battery slowly....
With this connected I intended to let the battery stay connected to the el.system of the GTR. Any comments
on this issue ?
5. Any other suggestions and advice ?

AND WAYNE: Don´t even start telling me I should care for a convenient environment for my GTR with candlelight, nice musik and a warm cuddly blanket....

[steve_d]

1. If in a garage I would do an oil and filter change followed by a quick engine run to move the oil around. If you go over to the ‘Engines’ forum ask “opeoilman” which oil to use as it may be that a special oil exists or even a cheap oil will do and be changed again next year. Leave in the coolant as it should contain anti corrosion additives which you will need.
2. Agreed. Put the car up on blocks. And back the tyre pressures off a little.
3. I would use a soft dust cover. Could just be a bed sheet.
4. Agreed. A battery conditioner left plugged in all the time. Everything else can remain connected.

• In the UK you can buy a ‘Tube heater’ which operates at only about 60watts. They are designed to be used in a Greenhouse (where you would grow young plants). 2 or 3 of these under the length of the car will help to keep things dry.
• Don’t be tempted to store anything on the covered car over the coming months. I have seen a Lotus Europa completely ruined having had some empty cardboard boxes left on it and the roof turned inside-out.

Steve

[lvjost]

Thanks steve. Made a research about professionell car-conservers. There´s one in Germany, but far away from where I live. But I read, that they infact change the engine and gear-box oil to prevent corrosion...Anyone another hint where to get that oil, what else to do for a safe winter for my GTR ? What about dehumidifier to prevent all endangered materials from corrosion ? Is it sufficient to just heat up the garage ?

[HCT]

lvjost said:

What about dehumidifier to prevent all endangered materials from corrosion ?

Put something like that in the drivers cabin. Not to prevent it from corrosion but from smelling. I stored my Firebird in an unheated garage less thean one mile off the north sea coast and had no corrosion issues, so it should be fine in southern germany. If you have any seal fitted to the doors they should be treated (with vaseline for instance), too. Many people (not ultima people, other people storing there cars) put oily cloth in the intake and into the exhaust pipes to prevent having any condensed water getting into the cylinders. To prevent any damage to the tyres you can raise the pressure and move (not drive) the car a bit forward and backwards so it won´t stand on the same spot of the tyres. Another way to prevent that is to put it on jackstands. I highly recommend you to disconnect the battery, on some rare occasions devices like the mentioned akku-jogger caused damage to the cars electronics.