This is my first year with my celi and I have planned putting it away in the winter and would like as many tips as possible from you guys. I highly appreciate it.


Thanks.

Is she going to be out or inside?

Unhook the battery for starters. But i would start it every once and a while, not really good for anything to sit too long

You can put it up on jackstands (front and back). I do this with my chevelle just to get all the weight off the suspension parts and tires while its not going to be moving for an extended period of time. no point in wearing out parts just sitting.

I dont think the gas would go bad in a short few months, but maybe get some fuel stabalizer (not exactly sure what its called) just to be safe

give it a good wash and wax before you store is too

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She will be stored inside in a non heated garage but already got her winter blanket to help keep unwanted dust off her.

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Thanks for the tips. How about the oil, should I leave the current one (synthetic) with approximately 3000kms on it and change it when I get her running again or should I store it with clean and fresh oil.

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personally i used to change the oil and filter before putting it away, and start it ever couple weeks, let it warm up a bit. Then when I was ready to take it out, just drain the oil and put fresh oil in just because it had been sitting in there. TBH i have no idea if it really matters, just figured it couldn't hurt

Gasoline will start to break down in 15 days. While it wouldn't go totally bad over the winter, I'd add some Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer to it just to be safe.

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Indoor garaging of it is more than half the battle of preservation and longevity. I have a '99 convertible used only during summer. I do nothing special for mine except for having washed it at some time in the month before storage, (polishing it too, if I have the time to do it) remove the battery (which I then install in my other stored car that is replacing it) cover it with a car cover, and leave it until spring when it goes back into service. Then, in spring I change the oil and tranny fluid and look for any signs of fluid leaks or any other signs of potential problems. Forget about putting it up on jack stands. The rubber tires will eventually fail over time from their age, usually in about ten years or so, no matter what you do. Six or nine months of tires being on a stored, unmoved car doesn't kill them. Time itself is what degrades the rubber of tires.

In my experience gas does not go bad in such a short period of time. I've been driving for 43 years, owned many cars over that time period, and have never needed to change a fuel filter, ever.

Garaging a car daily and keeping it out of the elements, especially in winter, extends its life and that matters a LOT. That's the key to keeping a car as long as possible.

BTW, my winter car that replaces my Celica is an '88 Mitsubishi Galant. After 25 years it still looks and runs like new. Aside from it being a good design with no engineering defects, I must be doing something right.

This post has been edited by thymeclock: Nov 2, 2013 - 10:49 PM

The GT4 just got a new set of snow tires installed so we'll see how it fairs with an average snow fall of 125 inches a year lol

I change my oil when I take the car out. That way I'm sure it'll be good.

Don't put the e-brake on.
Put fuel stabilizer in.
Either disconnect the battery or take it out.
Normally I over inflate the tires to 38-40psi to make sure the tires won't get a flat spot.. But I forgot to do it this year xD

This post has been edited by dudeofchaos: Nov 10, 2013 - 7:35 PM

bring it to me in CA, ill take care of it

DO NOT start it every once in a while if youre temps are below freezing. You're going ot cause condenstaion build up.
Park it with stabilizer in the gas, use engine fogger before parking, remove the battery and don't start it until after winter.

I personally store mine on a set of crappy tires that arent driveable. Apparently over inflating your tires helps keep them from flat spots.
Use bounce sheets in the bay inside the car and around the car to keep animals away and throw steel wool/rag/sometihng to plug the exhaust so animals don't crawl in and make a nest.

I usually change the oil before sotage with some crappy cheap oil, and then change it again in spring (not neccesary, but thats what I do)
I store mine outside, and prefer to not use a cover, as Im affraid the wind will blow and scratch the car, so I just let the snow sit on the car all winter. Occasionaly brushing some off, but not all. Been doing this for three or four years now with no issues.

I wouldn't start it either.

After long periods of not starting the engine has no oil pressure the first few moments.
Instead I change my oil BEFORE starting the car when I take it out. Then I disconnect the igniter plug, crank it over for a few seconds to let the pressure rise, reconnect the plug then I start the car.
It starts like a charm when I do this, no tickling sound and the oil pressure light doesn't stay on.

Toyota Long Term Vehicle Storage Guidelines

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I've never had any of these issues.

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Only if you return it new spring with a 3gste swap

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I also put my old rims with tires on it. Thanks for the tips, good to know.


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I'll keep that in mind when I start it next spring

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Interesting document, will keep everything in mind when I put it away on Sunday!
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Once again thank you all for your help.

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As a stored car gets older typically you will hear some valve clatter, but only briefly when you first start it up. The noise will abate as soon as the oil starts to circulate. In spring I let it run until warmed up, then do the oil change after it is up to temp.