Winter Storage

[alanqning]

I'm looking to buy a car cover, wanted to know what else I would need for Winter Storage.

Looking to buy 4 jack stands, car cover, and stablizer for sure.

Would I need to buy wheel covers? I haven't even bought the tires yet even.

Do I need to get a battery tender or can I just disconnect the battery. (I know both the lids are electronic but I had to learn that when I first bought the car)

Any other suggestions?

[Dave S.]

I store mine every winter. I used to store my sportscars on jack stands over the winter, but these days, I just fill up the tires to around 50 lbs, change the oil, fill the gas tank completely full, and put it on the Porsche float charger that plugs into the cigarette lighter. I don't bother with a car cover as I'd worry just as much about it scratching the paint as leaving sit without it. With my 2003 Boxster S, I've been doing that for the 5 winters I've owned it with absolutely no issues.

[alanqning]

Is there an actual issue with putting it on jack stands? I would need stands for other purposes so might as well get them right?

I would still like a nice cover, I just wanted suggestions on materials or where to buy it. Should I get a custom fit or universal?

[BoxsterSteve]

Originally Posted by alanqning

Is there an actual issue with putting it on jack stands? I would need stands for other purposes so might as well get them right?

I would still like a nice cover, I just wanted suggestions on materials or where to buy it. Should I get a custom fit or universal?

I'd leave it on it's feet, as letting the suspension hang all winter may introduce corrosion to strut shafts and they could need premature replacement.

Put it this way, my previous summer toy stayed on the ground all winter and never suffered flat spotted tires or dry rotted rubber in the 23 years I had it.

Jackstands get used when I'm tinkering and need underside access.

I'm using an old but clean hand me down car cover that's way too big for the Boxster.

I figure all its job is is to keep dust off the paintwork while the car is parked in my garage for the winter.

[dbear61]

If you search the forum for Winter storage, there are several posts addressing it. I didn't change the oil this year as I only had 1,000 miles on since the prior change in June.

Otherwise, wash, wax, top off tank and add Stabil. Plastic sheet on garage floor to block moisture with some planks positioned to where the 50 psi tires will rest.

I bought some dessicant gel packs (like the ones that come with new shoes), and I toss a couple in both footwells to keep the interior dry. Plug in the battery tender and gently place the fitted cover on top.

Then I put small plastic bags over the exhaust tips and rubber-band them secure (one of the storage posts suggested steel wool) to keep small animals from crawling inside. The final step is to put shallow plastic bowls at the corners and "amidship" with a handful of mothballs in each to ward off mice and such.

When I purchased my cover last year from Amazon, they actually shipped two but only charged me for one. I called about returning one, and they said their records showed they only shipped one.

So I have a never used Coverking indoor cover, green & black.
Coverking Custom Car Cover for Porsche Boxster - Satin Stretch Fabric, 2-Tone Black/Green : Amazon.com : Automotive

Willing to sell for fair price.

DBear

[Joe B]

All you really need to do is pump up the tires, fill the gas tank and disconnect the battery (I remove the frunk latch hook so it cannot latch). If you are going to leave it for more than 1 month, use a trickle charger since the battery will self-discharge. Changing the oil before you store it isn't a bad idea, but don't put the car on stands. Bad for the suspension.

[jaykay]

Where do you buy your dessicant packs?

Originally Posted by dbear61

If you search the forum for Winter storage, there are several posts addressing it. I didn't change the oil this year as I only had 1,000 miles on since the prior change in June.

Otherwise, wash, wax, top off tank and add Stabil. Plastic sheet on garage floor to block moisture with some planks positioned to where the 50 psi tires will rest.

I bought some dessicant gel packs (like the ones that come with new shoes), and I toss a couple in both footwells to keep the interior dry. Plug in the battery tender and gently place the fitted cover on top.

Then I put small plastic bags over the exhaust tips and rubber-band them secure (one of the storage posts suggested steel wool) to keep small animals from crawling inside. The final step is to put shallow plastic bowls at the corners and "amidship" with a handful of mothballs in each to ward off mice and such.

When I purchased my cover last year from Amazon, they actually shipped two but only charged me for one. I called about returning one, and they said their records showed they only shipped one.

So I have a never used Coverking indoor cover, green & black.
Coverking Custom Car Cover for Porsche Boxster - Satin Stretch Fabric, 2-Tone Black/Green : Amazon.com : Automotive

Willing to sell for fair price.

DBear

[Nimbus117]

There are some good storage tips on this site:

JMG Porsche - Independent Porsche Specialists - Winter Storage of your Porsche

[woodsman]

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[Joe B]

Originally Posted by Nimbus117

There are some good storage tips on this site:

JMG Porsche - Independent Porsche Specialists - Winter Storage of your Porsche

Pretty much overkill IMHO!

[Nimbus117]

What is, surely not everything? There is some useful ideas here, not saying I do everything it suggests.

My car has stayed in the garage from November to March for the 3 years I have owned it and never had a problem:

[dbear61]

Originally Posted by woodsman

Long time use of car covers can lead to dull paint surfaces wherever the cover contacts the surface and buffets in the wind. Other things that can wear a car during storage are the sun, moisture and sub- freezing temperatures. Baby doesn't like any of that.

There's no wind buffeting the car or sun beating down inside my garage.

As for moisture and sub-freezing temps, they are present in Winter whether the car is stored or driven. In storage, however, there's no salt being splattered all over it.

DBear

[dbear61]

Originally Posted by jaykay

Where do you buy your dessicant packs?

Amazon.com - Silica Gel Desiccants 2-1/4 x 1 1/2 Inches - 25 Silica Gel Packets of 10 Grams Each by Dry-Packs

[dijinn]

dbear61: just sent you a PM concerning the extra car cover you have.

[alanqning]

My car will be inside too.

I hard microfiber was the way to go

[alanqning]

Originally Posted by Nimbus117

There are some good storage tips on this site:

JMG Porsche - Independent Porsche Specialists - Winter Storage of your Porsche

Nice site, I'll take their suggestions into consideration

[alanqning]

dbear61,

I replied.

Thanks,
Alan

[jdlmodelt]

I don't store it. I drive it.

[jmatta]

I don't agree with disconnecting the battery. Your car's DME has learned not only your driving pattern, but has compensated for any irregularities within the operating system; i.e. fuel, timing, vacuum leaks, etc. Once disconnected, your DME will revert to factory defaults and will need to "re-learn" all pertinent data, which could lead to a poor running condition, or possible damage to the engine, if it had been compensating.

I have always used a battery maintainer on my cars, since they have generally been stored from November to April and have never had an issue. Also, your car will not pass emissions until the DME has completely recycled and all systems set to a "ready" condition.

The newer the car and sophisticated electronics, the more pertinent the issues become.

Also, modern radial tires do not flat spot the way older generations may have...a bit of an overinflation at storage time and good drive come spring, will render them just fine.

[Nimbus117]

There is a good reason to disconnect your battery, corrosion. Just having the battery connected will cause anything connected to earth (body, components etc) to corrode quicker than it otherwise would. Sure this corrosion is probably infinitesimal over normal, this isn't the reason my battery is kept inside during winter - just easier and better for battery life.

I have no problem disconnecting the battery when doing work on the car, DME will only ever learn from 'safe settings'.