A Winter Care Guide Part-3

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But not before you carefully hibernate your classic to cope with the winter months ahead. Here’s 20 tips on how to do it right and at minimal cost

Keep it clean

Before you put your classic away for the winter, give it a thorough clean and clear out. Leaving old dirt and grime on both the body and the interior only causes problems when you have to re-commission it next spring. Just a good wash and leather down is usually suffice.

Suck it and see

Hoover the interior out and clean off any stains or grime on the trim – it will only become worse over the winter. Remove the carpets and store them in your house if you can and close the car’s windows and air vents but do open the car up regularly to allow fresh air to circulate. Also keep a regular eye out for mildew damage.

Keep your coat on

Although some owners like to give their classic a good polish we don’t advise cutting the old paint back – indeed that old layer of paint actually acts as a protective shield.

Oil’s well

A good number of experts advocate changing the engine’s oil even if the unit isn’t to be run during the hibernation period as old lube may contain harmful acids that can cause internal corrosion. Dedicated storage oils are available from the likes of Millers, Penrite and Morris Lubricants: these give off a mist to protect the inner workings as the oil lays in the sump. Remember however to change the oil and filter before you use the car next season.

Don’t rust in peace

Just leaving your car in a dry garage just isn’t enough to keep corrosion at bay. If possible, apply wax/oil-based preserving fluid to hollow cavities around the vehicle and the underbody before lay up. Certainly attend to any stone chips or exposed scratches before storing. Any paint (or polish etc) will do until you repair the damage properly – the important thing is to cover bare metal. A film of polish or lube spray on chrome work is wise.

Fuel for thought

There’s divided opinion over what to do with the fuel tank as unleaded can go “off” if left dormant. That said, an empty tank attracts condensation leading to the prospect of internal rust and future gummed up fuel lines. A compromise is to leave the tank between half full, and to add a gallon or two of the fresh stuff when you are about to bring the car out of storage. You can also buy dedicated products to prevent system corrosion. Tank Safe is one such pour in additive.