Maybe we should send them some of our snakes. Snakes love mice so that would reduce the rodent problem.
This how i do it. I got all my cars in cold winter storage. First of all and most important check up the antifreeze level in the coolant. Then i change the oil and filter, after that i let the engine get real warm working temperature, i think this is really important to get all the humidity out of the engine and exhaust, then i get all the plugs out takes an oilcan and give it 3 pumps in each cylinder, then i crank the engine over one turn, some people say you can start the engine once and a while during storage, yes you can but if you do be sure the engine gets really warm before you shut it off otherwise its more harm than good. all windows up (a mice only needs milimeters to get inside) I use a carcover made of a nonwoven material that breaths, it helps keep the car dry when the weather change from cold to warm and back again, without the car is all misty that times. I don´t put my car on jackstands but mabye if there´s a longer storage that could be a good idea. Then be sure to fill the tank up to the cap with fuel, same here a half tank with fuel will get humidity when changing from warm to cold. Last couple years they have put in more and more ethanol in the fuel here in sweden and the cars are a bit grumpy, rough idle and hesitations when spring startup and won´t get better until next time you fillerup with fresh fuel. So latest years i make sure to fill up the tank with some 98 octane (it´s much less ethanol in that one) and i´ve noticed the cars runs way better when startup, it idles perfect and no problems, i guess it could work with different additives but as long as we got 98 it aint neccesary. Then i use to place out a couple of micetraps.
I drive mine all winter, even on 3 degree days. If it is nasty with ice and snow, it stays parked. I put a battery tender on it. When parked, I leave the windows open about an inch. For mice, I leave a shirt on the front seat or back seat, something I have worn for a couple of days. It keeps the human scent in the car and keeps the critters away.
Try to avoid any rodent poisons because the last thing you want is dead rodents in the car in the spring. Irish spring soap, Dryer sheets and strategically placed traps to keep mice honest. It doesn't hurt to have cats that roam the neighborhood. If your worried about flat spots on your tires. Put the car on stands. Remove the wheels/tires and lay them flat on a piece of cardboard and stack them with a piece of cardboard between each wheel and tire.
There is no real "winter" here anymore. Even some decent days in February, our coldest month, in which out the car comes.
My heated garage doesn’t get below 40 so the cars don’t experience wild swings in temperatures. I believe that’s what prevents condensation issues. My annual ritual hasn’t changed for years, because it seems to be working. Wash Dryer sheets for the interior Stabil in the gas Fresh oil change Fog the engine, I don’t start it until Spring Disconnect the battery ground cable Cover Come Spring, I pull the cover and remove the dryer sheets, reconnect the battery and throw a charger on it. It takes some cranking to refill the carb, that’s fine because the engine builds oil pressure before it lights.
I never cover my cars inside my shop or garage. Covering a car makes them an attractive home for critters as they appreciate the dark places. I leave them uncovered to keep light on them and deter rodents, etc. I simply put antifreeze in my cooling systems all year round, and check it before winter storage. I also put a trickle charger on my car batteries for long term storage. And I have fuel shutoffs and run my engines until they run out of gas. Other than that nothing else is needed for me.
I keep the temperature at a constant 38-40 in garage.Stabil in the gas.Pump the tires up to 38 lbs.Have a ceiling and floor fan on low to circulate the air.Battery tender on.And start Camino once a month and bring it up to temperature.And 2 mouse traps on floor with peanut butter.
Seeing a couple mentions of poisons, 2 big problems are they are an attractant which entice rodents to set up camp near a food source and can potentially poison your pets and all the other critters that will eat the bait or the sick rodents as they can survive for quite sometime after ingesting, like a week or so.
had heard that irish spring soap bars repel mice. used it last 2 yrs in trunk, eng compartment, interior, cant say yes or no but no evidence of mouse activity.
I would never use poison, I instead use an electric mousetrap, it works really good, last winter that one executed over 100 rats/mices, used too dump them outside the garage and I had a fox who went by almost every night too se if I had some snacks for him.
I do not understand keeping the engine warm but for that matter I do not understand storing one for the winter. Sorry just dumb I guess. That said if you must keep the engine warm for the winter buy a block heater and plug it in. Done deal.
Jeeze, some of you guys OCD about this. I live in Michigan. I pull 'em into the garage, shut 'em off, put a tender on the batteries and leave 'em until the roads are dry and clean. Sometimes I get one out on a sunny, relatively warm day if the roads are dry, sometimes it's from December until May. The roadster has it's original, 1952 fuel pump and carb, I'll pull the fuel line, fire it up and run it until the carb is dry, hook the line back up to keep mud daubers out, and call it winterized. The rest of them have fuel systems that are OK with alcohol in the fuel, 3 or 4 months setting doesn't affect them a bit. I change the oil when they have 3,500 miles on 'em. Tires when they're 5 years old. Other than that I don't worry.
Hello, Here is the latest purchase. Some of the old ones I bought several years ago had their lights go out. That told me that they obviously were not working. So, I replaced them with this 6 pack. (3 replaced old ones and 3 still in wrappers in a garage drawer.) It is the 2022 version of similar product from two years ago. If you need a larger amount for more outlets in various areas of a large garage and house, get the multiple pack. I did not need that many this time. Different frequencies do different jobs from the manufacturers. We had a small semi enclosed porch that attracted birds that did number all over the tile floor. So, to be different and not beat the crap out of the birds, we bought those green colored ones. Just one covered the whole enclosed porch and we haven’t seen a mouse, bird or whatever. Plus, it gives a different low key color like a small night light. Our friend came over prior to the pandemic and said that he purchased several just because he liked the color glow. The color has nothing to do with the repellant power. It is just one way to tell you it is working. Jnaki The other blue lights are pleasant and at night, they give off a minute glow in the dark. When one does not show the blue light, then out it goes to the electronic recycler only, as it has stuff not allowed in the regular trash pickup or dumpsites. (the earlier versions are no longer listed, as the only listings are 2021 and 2022 versions…) In the 20+ years at this last house in So Cal, it has worked, we see them in the yards, where they should be and nothing is heard in the attic, the garage or anywhere inside of the house. No residue to clean up, no remnants left over like little black rice pellets or gatherings of nests in the corners of the garage. The rodents are not in the drywall sealed garage area or the house. That is the tell tale sign that they are working and we are rodent free. Some people just do not like a different approach, but after trying many different sources for rodent traps, bulging eyes upon disposal and hearing the “snap” in the garage, there had to be a better way. The best thing is, once plugged in to any outlet per room or garage, then it is absolutely silent and we have not had any invasion of rodents. It also does not hurt our little dog, either. A good night’s sleep is always a plus. Remember, one cannot seal all of the little openings in the roof shingles, tiles or whatever is up there. The smallest opening is attractive for those little critters. For some, the garage door is always open and sometimes the door to the house is left open or a slight crack that did not get closed. There is no worry about an open door to the outside. For some reason, the ultrasound just spreads its frequencies and keeps those creatures out. If you still want to be awakened late at night, hear that nasty sound upon striking, taking the time to dispose of the eyes staring at you, having smelly trash cans unless you put them in a ziplock bag or two and for those that like cats, that is another story about disposal of a different kind. YRMV (or a good nights sleep, quiet aura in your house, no smells of rodents stuck inside of drywalls left for days, and of course, less work in these trying times.)
Man I just tucked my shoebox in at my pole barn. Usually it stays in the heated garage but I have another ot car I'm keeping in there that just makes more sense. When I walked out of the barn I could hear the car screaming "f*** you dad! I wanna go back to my nice warm spot! This SUCKS!" I feel like I just dropped my kid off at some sketchy place....almost feel guilty, lol. Gotta keep telling myself: it's just a car. It's just a car....
Let it know how nice it has it in that pole barn. The picture is the winter storage place my coupe spent its winters, up until last year. Last year is spent the winter in our heated garage, next to my wife's car. It got a few scratches sitting inside next to my wife's car (not that I'm blaming anyone in particular... but I did point out the scratches to her). It might be outside again this year, its probably safer there. My wife and I are having that discussion off and on now.
Why do you store your car in the winter??? I drive mine.... So the weather is cold.... Who gives a shit.... I don't Drive in snow but I get them out...
I'd post a Pic of what I do drive in the winter but it's ot. One look at the rust, and it's a pretty firm affirmation of why. I've seen some guys say the same thing, and if my car looked like theirs I'd drive it in the winter too, Lol. My car is nice. It has nice paint. I want it to stay nice. I don't drive it in the winter....
So many comments, so many good intentions, so many wives tales! Yes,The two biggest issues beyond anti-freeze are....moisture & rodents! Since you didn't give a location, floor type, etc I can only make general recommendations. The older the vehicle, the less mice are a problem (less wiring). A ball or tinfoil in the openings are great. Irish Spring Soap & dryer sheets do NOTHING! Many accounts of mice eating the Irish Spring Soap & probably curl up on the dryer sheet! The peppermint packs from Tractor Supply seem to be a deterrent to them as they do not like the smell. Some type of trap, poison, etc should also be used (your choice). If your garage is moist or sweats, put it on jackstands & lay a couple of blankets under to help absorb the moisture. Keep in mind that there is NO substitute for a temperature & humidity controlled building, but do the best you can. I remember the old days where I stored my car in a girlfriends parents garage that I was sure was going to fall down on it or a rented storage garage! These days they all stay in 55+ degree temps with a dehumidifier system. Again do what you can with what you have to work with!!! God Bless Bill https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/
Not anymore than down under. It only takes ONE rodent to F things up ! BTW - In Australia it snows mainly in July and August. The Snow season in Australia can be quite unpredictable. The average total snowfall per YEAR is only 4 inches, most of which falls during the winter months. You must travel to southern Victoria or Tasmania to see snow on the ground. In contrast - As for the amount of snow common from November to late March with that the northern plains receives in an average season, amounts will range from 18 to 22 inches across southern plains to 38 to 42 inches across northern plains. So X38, what reason do your rodents have to go inside ???
I wouldn't do anything unless you live somewhere that winter has never ceasing snow and ice. The worst thing for a car is inactivity.......and thats not just an engine problem. Unused electrical connections, unmoving coolant, oil accumulating moisture and dry cylinder walls, hardening of rubber seals, and mice. I'd simply buy one of those new "Smart Chargers" off Amazon . They will recondition a battery (if you don't let the voltage get too low) and they will maintain a battery. They don't use much power like the old big chargers. Then make it a point to go out and start the car once every week or so.......and even drive around the block if the road conditions are normal. Lots of things that start to go bad during winter inactivity don't really show up immediately but contribute to later problems. Thats the best way to keep a car in good condition for the spring ritual of pulling it out of the shop when the weather warms.
Remove all the Compact fluorescents and L.E.D. bulbs and replace with 150 -200-watt Incandescent light bulbs. The continuous burning filament will warm things up. This way you get two for the price of one. Not to mention better light because they throw off continuous light instead of flickering light. They are finding out these new LED bulbs are bad for the retinas in your eyes.
. Being an Electrician for 40 years and the holder of two Master Electrician Licenses, I would not recommend this.
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