Gary,
A few suggestions for storing your truck. First take the time to do a
detailed wash, including the undercarriage and give it a good wax job. If
you have greasable fittings in the front suspension, go ahead and hit them
with a grease gun as well. An oil and filter change is in order also. I
would leave the tank full, but I would also add a gas stabilizer such as
Sta-Bil. To make sure you have the entire fuel system properly treated,
follow the bottle directions and run 2 tanks of fuel with the stabilizer
added in before you put your truck up for the winter. You also want to
remove the battery. Store it in a cool, dry area that will allow you to put
a trickle charger on it about every other month. You don't necessarily need
to remove and stack the tires. A simple alternative is to jack the vehicle
at the frame allowing the suspension to hang free. This can prevent the
tires from developing flat spots and the springs from sagging due to the
vehicles weight. Also make sure the tires are fully inflated before
storing. Even though you are going to be storing the vehicle inside a
heated building, humidity can still be a concern. Squirt an ounce of oil
into each engine cylinder through the sparkplug hole and crank the engine a
couple times before replacing the plugs. This coats the inside cylinders to
prevent rust from forming. Make sure the cover you use can "breathe".
Plastic and tarp covers can trap moisture against the body, staining the
paint and giving rust a place to get started. Make sure the cover is
securely fastened. Finally watch out for mice. Make sure all firewall
grommets and floor plugs are in place. close all doors and windows tightly
and seal the exhaust by placing a ball of steel wool in the tailpipe.
Mufflers and tailpipes make an excellent winter home for mice. Another area
of concern is the intake. If you have an aftermarket or homebrew cold air
intake, remove the filter and fill the tube with steel wool.
When you retrieve your truck in the spring, you'll need a new set of
plugs, oil and filter. Check the tire pressure before you let the truck off
the jacks stands, adjust as needed. Remove the steel wool from the tailpipe
and intake, install the air filter if removed. Place a socket on the
harmonic balancer bolt and slowly rotate the engine in the normal direction
of compression. Push the vehicle outside, install the battery and start the
truck, do not rev the engine, let it sit at idle for a few minutes or until
the exhaust stops smoking from the oil left in the cylinders. Replace the
plugs with new, properly gapped plugs and change the oil and filter. Way do
you need to change the oil again with zero or almost zero miles on it you
ask? Oil can begin to breakdown and develop acids which will attack engine
bearing surfaces when left sitting in the engine. I know this sounds like a
lot of work to do for just a few months of just sitting, but you'll be
rewarded with a vehicle that will give you a few more years good service
and look good to boot.
HTH,
Ray Irons
Dover, DE
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Feb 06 2004 - 11:47:08 EST