Welcome to the Corvette Forums at the Corvette Action Center!

C4 - Ending the Winter Storage

Radar

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 23, 2001
Messages
200
Location
Oconomowoc, WI
Corvette
1989 Medium Blue Metalic Convertible
I have a question on how best to end a five month winter storage period for a 1989 C4 with 45,000 miles and the automatic.

I put the car up for storage in Pctober 2001 with a full tank of gas, Stabil, fresh natifreeze and a fresh oil change. The car has not been run since 10/1501.

I have a Battery Tender and put it on about once a month to get the 'Green light".

How is the best way to fire this car up in April? Should I just get in and start the engine? Or should I crank it over with the fuel pump and ignition disconnected to get the oil pumped a little first?

Any help and suggestions would be most appreciated. I am sure many others have a similar situation and can benefit from this thread.

Regards,
Radar :confused
 
Just read my post and need to appologize for the spelling. Rob, How about a spell checker?

Radar :bang
 
Radar, go to the "Knowledgebase" at the top of this page and from there go to the storage question. At the end of the preparation for storage section is a section covering removing from storage. ;)

_ken :w
 
Ken,

Thanks for the help. I will try that as soon as I get this typed out. Many thanks!

Radar
 
Ok, I'll add a little more (I just can't help myself sometimes ;)).

  • Drain and properly dispose of any gas in the tank, in the carburetor float bowls and also flush the fuel lines. You don't have to do this, and it may seem like a terrible waste, but bad gas gives you nothing but trouble. If for some reason the car doesn't start, the more potential causes you have eliminated ahead of time, the faster you'll be able to find the problem and get on the road!
  • Drain, flush and replace the coolant. I know you only put it in three months ago, but many of the newer 'coolants' have corrosion inhibitors to help protect your cooling system. These corrosion inhibitors have been eating away at the rust inside your cooling system for the past 90 days, so flushing things through could prevent a blockage and subsequent overheating the next time the mercury soars. Replace with fresh coolant. A 50/50 anti-freeze/water mix is fine.
  • Change the engine oil. Oil that has been sitting in an engine for three months is likely to be contaminated with water and possibly acids that can cause premature bearing failure and rust inside the engine. While you are at it, now is a good time to change the oil filter too.
  • Charge the battery, and keep it warm until you are ready to use it.
  • If the car has been left for a very long period of time unattended (more than 90 days), remove the sparkplugs and squirt some form of 'upper-cylinder lubricant' into the cylinders. This will help free any piston rings that may have become stuck.
  • Bleed the brakes and check the operation at the wheel cylinders. Make sure the Brake and Clutch master cylinders are full of brake fluid. Brake fluid can absorb water very quickly so make absolutely sure your brakes are working before tearing off down the street! If the car has sat a long time, it is recommended that you purge the system of old and possibly contaminated brake fluid. Don't forget to check the operation of the 'hand' or 'emergency' brake too!
  • Install the warmed and fully charged battery in the car. With the spark plugs removed, turn the engine over with the key several times. The aim here is to let that oil you put into the cylinders lubricate the cylinder walls, so you don't scratch things up, and also to 'prime' the oil and fuel pumps ready for ignition. You want to continue cranking the engine until the oil pressure gauge needle moves up, or your oil pressure 'idiot' light goes out.
  • Replace the spark plugs, ensuring to reattach the leads correctly. Now remove the air filter cover and liberally spray some 'engine starter fluid' like "Ez-Start" or similar, into the mouth of the carburetors. This will greatly increase the likely hood that your car will start first time and you want your engine to have the best possible chance for 'first time' ignition as you can give it. Leave the air filter cover off for now.
  • Get behind the wheel, make sure the gears are not engaged, depress the clutch, give it a little bit of gas or choke and turn the ignition key! (Hopefully you are cheering at this point to the sound of a running car!)
  • Don't rev the engine, rather let it 'idle' until it reaches operating temperature. Replace the air filter cover. Check there are no fluids leaking beneath the car, check the brakes work, then staying close to home, take the car on a short 30 minute run. This will loosen everything up evaporate all the moisture in the exhaust and in the engine. Once back home, check again that there are no fluids leaking beneath the car. Wash the entire car and apply a good wax. Don't forget to clean the inside. Do this early in the day to give it plenty of time to thoroughly dry before your run. You are ready for a season of Classic Driving!

_ken :w
 
Ken,

Thanks for all of the advise!

Radar
 
Radar said:
...as soon as I get this typed out.

By the way Radar, I hope you meant "printing" it out. Or are you without a printer? ;)

_ken :w
 

Corvette Forums

Not a member of the Corvette Action Center?  Join now!  It's free!

Help support the Corvette Action Center!

Supporting Vendors

Dealers:

MacMulkin Chevrolet - The Second Largest Corvette Dealer in the Country!

Advertise with the Corvette Action Center!

Double Your Chances!

Our Partners

Back
Top Bottom