Winter storage for FiST.

[Old_pablo]

I am thinking of storing my FiST for the winter to avoid increasingly car eating briny sand in my area. I have decided to fill the tires to 45 pounds pressure and remove the battery. I will tuck the car into my dry barn under a car cover. Should I remove the battery or disconnect the ground or what? Anything else?


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[Scotman2]

I also store my Fiesta, Remove the battery entirely. Change the oil and filter,Clean out the interior! Don't leave any French fries under the seats, they attract rodents! I toss in a few dryer sheets and place a couple of handfuls of naptha balls under the hood on the vents below the wipers.i also put on a set of old focus wheels/tires that are used up but hold air. I make sure the last refuel is close to the day it is stashed and I leave only 1/8 tank of stabil treated premium fuel at the time I leave it set. Throw a cover over it and wait for the thaw.. this process has worked out well for me. My 19 year old Escort ZX2 S/R and my 1992 Ford Ranger both look like new.

 

[Cdnmr2v6]

I have another car that I store winters and it's a similar process. Full tank of gas to prevent condensation. After 10 years of storage I don't think fuel stabilizer is required, modern gasolines don't gel up in just a few months, per my experience. I would definitely take the opportunity to give the car a really good clean in & out. I either jack the car up, or out it on some cheap wheels to roll around. If the car is stored outdoors then I put a couple open containers of silica gel, or similar to keep moisture at bay.

 

[Scotman2]

Yup. The old Stabil additive did not work well with gasoline that had ethanol in it. Many brands of premium fuel in my region do not have ethanol in them. The newer (since 1994) cars have much better fuel system designs that don't have permiation issues. I still don't trust the fuel quality after it's been stabilized. Come spring, I tank up with fresh fuel and go for a drive. Just to purge out the treated fuel. I prefer to subject the car to as little "Embalming fluid" as possible!

 

[Clint Beastwood]

I don’t live in a wintery area, but jack stands and a battery tender don’t cut it?

 

[Scotman2]

I don’t live in a wintery area, but jack stands and a battery tender don’t cut it?

If you only store the car for two months, then maybe that is all you need to do.

 

[Snrub]

I recently moved my race car (not a FiST) after 3 years in storage. The battery started up the car without issue. Just disconnect it. You might want to charge it in the spring. I'd argue fuel stabilizer is a must - why risk not using it? My lawn mower's manual suggests not using gas >1 month old. Pumping up the tires as you've suggested seems prudent and has worked for me.

I've found rodents to be the biggest issue. I'd suggest using multiple methods, perhaps a sonic deterrent and poison.