Vintage and Classic Car Winter Lay-Up Guide
As tempting as it may be to throw an old blanket over your much loved vehicle and close the garage door, thinking that you will 'have a look at it over the Christmas holiday period' is simply not enough. The time to winter your car properly is now! Unless, of course, you intend to use it throughout the winter months. Here are a few simple steps that will reward you well come the spring.
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1. Give it a good clean inside and out:
This really is the time to give your car a thorough wash and clean both the exterior and interior, using a high-pressure hose to remove accumulated road dirt from the underside. Leave it outside on a dry, windy day – just like your mother used to do with the washing! | |||||||||
2. Protect against rust:
Apply grease to all mild steel brake and fuel pipes. This won't prevent corrosion from the inside but will certainly stop corrosion from the outside. Apply a good coating of wax to the bodywork, but don't polish it off (when you put the car back on the road another coat of wax and elbow grease will restore the shine). Likewise treat brightwork with either lacquer or a generous coating of wax or Vaseline. Spray mechanical parts with WD40 or similar. Apply a fresh coat of an underside rust preventative such as Waxoyl. Apply grease to all grease-points on steering, suspension and driveline. | |||||||||
3. Change engine oil:
Now is the time to change the oil and filter - before you put your car to bed. Old oil containing acidic material can damage your engine if left for a long time. | |||||||||
4. Stabilise the fuel:
Petrol: During extended periods of inactivity, modern ethanol-containing fuels will separate, leaving highly corrosive ethanol in all the 'low' points of your fuel system, ie at the bottom of your tank, in the pump, filter bowl and carburettors. If left, this will eventually cause permanent damage to your fuel system. Condensation forms inside empty tanks and causes them to rot through, so leave tanks half full or more over the winter lay-up. If the car is standing on its road wheels give it a bounce from time to time to slosh the fuel around the tank. If the car is to be laid up for a year or more, drain the tank completely as the petrol is likely to become stale (you can tell by the peculiar smell) and contaminated with water. | |||||||||
5. Batteries:
Batteries will always suffer from inactivity. In fact, battery activity will actually extend life, Disconnect both positive and negative terminals, clean and grease the terminals, check and top up levels as necessary, and finally connect your battery conditioner, ensuring that you place the conditioner somewhere safe, and that there is no liklehood of the wires becoming trapped as you close the bonnet etc | |||||||||
6. Check Coolant:
Anti-freeze levels need checking and if 2-3 years old need replacing with fresh: Replenish the cooling system with the right proportion of water and anti-corrosion anti-freeze to cope with the coldest days of winter. | |||||||||
7. Protect Tyres:
Tyres get tired, so ether put up on axle stands or use tyre shoes, best over inflate by a couple of psi as well: You have the choice of putting your classic car up on blocks or to leave it standing on its road wheels. If it's simply winter storage it's probably easier to leave it resting on its wheels as this will enable you to roll the car out on to your drive-way to give it an airing from time to time. | |||||||||
8. Put to bed:
Make sure there is enough room to allow you to walk past without knocking it, Leave the hand brake off to avoid sticking brakes and finally, cover with an indoor cover. This helps to protect from damp, dust and general knocks and scratches. | |||||||||
9. Finally, don't forget to do a SORN Declaration (UK)
or may find yourself in receipt of a fine from the DVLA.
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10. Should you decide to continue using your Classic throughout the winter period,
you could look at installing a Pre-heater system.
This allows you to warm the coolant in the engine prior to starting, thus eliminating the period of highest engine wear, and also ensuring the heater is up to temperature much quicker. Perfect to combat cold and frosty mornings!
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Contact Us
Holden Vintage and Classic Ltd, Linton trading estate, Bromyard, Herefordshire, HR7 4QT, England Tel: 01885 488488 |
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