car service before winter or after?

Question

I bought a Corvette this summer that I plan to store for the winter months. Is it advisable to do the oil change before storing it or before using it in spring?

Answer 1

It's advisable to change the oil before storage and during the winter start the motor for a minimum of fifteen minutes once a month. A couple of things will be eliminated. You will not have to worry about pulling the spark plugs (never do that if a motor is stored) or dumping some ridiculous oil inside the combustion chambers and risk getting the porcelain around the center electrodes of the plugs filthy.
In the spring the car will be ready to roll. Absolutely no need to change it again, I hasn't gone anywhere to get contaminated.
I'm not much of an additive person but 3M Total Fuel System Cleaner in the gas tank and a hard 50-100 mile drive will clean the throttle body, intake manifold, fuel injection nozzles, under sides of the valves, and most importantly combustion chambers.
If your positive there are no rodents in the area where you plan to store your car ship the next step. If there's the slightest question, sprinkle a liberal amount of moth balls under the good of the car inside the engine compartment. For some reason mice, chipmunks, rats etc. will not be inclined to snack on your plastic covered wiring.

Answer 2

I'd do it before storing it.Clean oil doesn't have the acids and crap in it that would corrode your internal parts.When I stored mine I put some fuel stabilizer in the gas tank and pulled the plugs and shot some marvel mystery oil in each one.It will help keep the rings from sticking when you start up in the spring.Also a good idea to flush and fill the cooling system if it has been 2 years since it was done.Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I would change the oil, and also be sure to check the condition of the anti-freeze. Even if the car is being stored in a garage, in the north the temps get low enough in a non-heated garage to freeze water. If the Vette is more than 4 years old, change the anti-freeze as well as the oil. Hate to the engine block crack in your new toy over weak anti-freeze.... And also it would be a good idea to add some fuel stabilizer, not only to keep the fuel from varnishing, but it adds freeze protection to the fuel as well.

Answer 4

You need to prep your Vet before storing it. Add gas treatment and run the Vet so the fuel injectors get treated. Change the oil and filter. Then block up the Vet so when the tires lose air pressure they don't crack the sidewalls. In the spring you will need to treat the cylinder walls and piston rings before starting. Remove the coil wire the turn engine over until oil pressure is up.

Answer 5

My advice would be to change it before you store & then right after you fire it up again.

Next question, is it a new or used 'vette. That depends greatly of course. I would also drain or only leave a little bit of fuel in the tank as well.

Answer 6

right now i wouldn't do anything to it ,since your not going to use it ,leaving the old oil in it wont hurt it none at all,you can do what needs to be done this spring,that would be better anyway,good luck on it.

Answer 7

this is just my thoughts but i would do it both before and after storage
the oil will break donw just sittinng there in the cold

Answer 8

before

Answer 9

Do it when winter season is over.

Answer 10

Don't do nothing!