[monkers]

Im planning to park my Jeep for the winter to avoid the salt eating it up, what should I do to it for the winter? I will go out and start it weekly and let it warm up, I cant block it up to take weight off the suspension because I will have to pull it in and out of the garage to do other work. Should I put Stabil in the gas?

[jsebastian]

I say drive it and just wash it once a week, making sure to get the undercarriage. Should keep the corrosion in check.

[vanwrangler]

Originally Posted by jsebastian

I say drive it and just wash it once a week, making sure to get the undercarriage. Should keep the corrosion in check.

Exactly - wash once/week - ESPECIALLY thorough flush of undercarriage, whether it is an auto car wash or do it yourself high pressure. That takes care of corrosion on modern cars, even here in central, VERY snowy & salty NY.

[RAZORBILL]

At the very least I would take it out on dry days. That way you don't need to worry about stabil in the gas.

[mandalayjim]

Send it to me here in AZ and I'll excerize it on the trails. Oh, I also wash it once a week.

Seriously, I've had/have cars that are stored for winter months and never started that are just fine. Unless you drive it for 10 to 20 miles in cold weather to warm everything up you will do more damage. The biggest problem is to keep the battery maintained. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

[jeepmom5]

Hey guys,
Just got a '89 wrangler lifted and all...but the frame down under is very rusted.....solid but RUSTED! I was thinking about using the Nautical gel to clear it up than the Marine wash followed by Rust ready solution and coat it with POR15. Any thoughts?..and can I do the same thing on the rusted spots on the body and hood before having it painted?
ps: Por15 is EXPENSIVE!
Thanks for your inputs.

[JK-Ford]

Originally Posted by monkers

Im planning to park my Jeep for the winter to avoid the salt eating it up, what should I do to it for the winter? I will go out and start it weekly and let it warm up, I cant block it up to take weight off the suspension because I will have to pull it in and out of the garage to do other work. Should I put Stabil in the gas?

If your dead set on storing it then:
Test antifreeze for cold weather protection. If you have to add any, start the engine and let it circulate
Add Stabil to the gas. Start engine and circulate through the system.
Buy a battery tender.
Buy a cover.
Tuck her in and kiss her goodnight.
Happy wheeling. Uh - next year.

[JeffinWesternWA]

Originally Posted by monkers

Im planning to park my Jeep for the winter to avoid the salt eating it up, what should I do to it for the winter? I will go out and start it weekly and let it warm up, I cant block it up to take weight off the suspension because I will have to pull it in and out of the garage to do other work. Should I put Stabil in the gas?

Don't start it weekly,!! if you could start it and drive it a bit- at least back and forth, AND letting it run at various RPM's (not just idle) for an hour~ once a month, that's be great to stir ALL the fluids and move the suspension. Starting weekly willl just add condensation and sludge formation. I've stored many classics over the years, ....so
start with : a COMPLETE cleaning, in/out/under/between with a nice wax finish. Treat teh soft top. (Over detail it). Clean and "full" fluids, espcially oil. Fill the tires (all 5) to MAX pressures. Put the Jeep "away" only after running about an hour (hot enough to burn off condensation). A sheet over the engine (after it's cooled). Park on a "mat" of something covering concrete/tar/wood to lesson moisture coming UP from the ground. Turn all electrical switches "off" but leave inside vents or windows very slightly craked. REMOVE the battery and store in moderate temp (not on concrete) with a trickle charger or charge at a low amperage monthly. COVER the Jeep (Goodwilll sells sheets for about $1~, great for inside/engine, over top/body) or use a BREATHABLE car cover. If you could, jacking up the Jeep (cheap jackstands work fine) and storing on jackstands helps (for cleaning, flat spots and suspension relief). Add a bottle of Stabil to a full tank of gas before the last hour~ run before storing. Synthetic fluids/oil don't moisture and are preferred. Stuff some newspaper into the exhaust pipe tip and duct tape over (keeps mice/moisture outa the exhaust - don't forget when starting . Diddo the air intake under the hood! Check fluids monthly and tire pressures too. In spring:recehck all, THEN start, warm up slightly, drive gently for an hour+, recheck all and run the gas tank low and refill, do it again. You can do this with any vehicle year after year and be sure of maintaining it's value and mechanical reliability.

[JeffinWesternWA]

Originally Posted by JeffinWesternWA

Don't start it weekly,!! if you could start it and drive it a bit- at least back and forth, AND letting it run at various RPM's (not just idle) for an hour~ once a month, that's be great to stir ALL the fluids and move the suspension. Starting weekly willl just add condensation and sludge formation. I've stored many classics over the years, ....so
start with : a COMPLETE cleaning, in/out/under/between with a nice wax finish. Treat teh soft top. (Over detail it). Clean and "full" fluids, espcially oil. Fill the tires (all 5) to MAX pressures. Put the Jeep "away" only after running about an hour (hot enough to burn off condensation). A sheet over the engine (after it's cooled). Park on a "mat" of something covering concrete/tar/wood to lesson moisture coming UP from the ground. Turn all electrical switches "off" but leave inside vents or windows very slightly craked. REMOVE the battery and store in moderate temp (not on concrete) with a trickle charger or charge at a low amperage monthly. COVER the Jeep (Goodwilll sells sheets for about $1~, great for inside/engine, over top/body) or use a BREATHABLE car cover. If you could, jacking up the Jeep (cheap jackstands work fine) and storing on jackstands helps (for cleaning, flat spots and suspension relief). Add a bottle of Stabil to a full tank of gas before the last hour~ run before storing. Synthetic fluids/oil don't moisture and are preferred. Stuff some newspaper into the exhaust pipe tip and duct tape over (keeps mice/moisture outa the exhaust - don't forget when starting . Diddo the air intake under the hood! Check fluids monthly and tire pressures too. In spring:recehck all, THEN start, warm up slightly, drive gently for an hour+, recheck all and run the gas tank low and refill, do it again. You can do this with any vehicle year after year and be sure of maintaining it's value and mechanical reliability.

Of course having a JEEP for winter is part of the reason to own one I thought? Otherwise, I'd go back to a nice comfy coupe!

[montero1]

Wow, storing a Jeep for the Winter....but to each their own.

Stabil for the gas.
Don't start it unless you're going to drive it.
You can get by without a cover if you wax/paint seal it good.
Battery tender is a must.

[paul84043]

SO this is the second thread in a month I've seen on Jeep corrosion, is it really that much more of a problem than any other modern vehicle? I haven't worried about rust on a vehicle in 20+ years???

[tavic]

Originally Posted by paul84043

SO this is the second thread in a month I've seen on Jeep corrosion, is it really that much more of a problem than any other modern vehicle? I haven't worried about rust on a vehicle in 20+ years???

Actually depends on where you are at in the US. From what I've been told the North Eastern states use more powerful salts.

[paul84043]

We put TONS of salt down here in Utah and lately they have been spraying a mixture of Brine from the Great Salt Lick and Mazola cooking oil (well, is seems like it). So, I'm not exactly not exposed to it...just wondering, I haven't had a vehicle rust on me since my last 1976 Toyota Celica. Out last truck sat outside for 10 years with no problem.

[MacK]

Winter is what the Jeep waits for, why winterize it?

[Ravik]

Colorado used to be famous for the bright orange multi-lane plows and caravans of snow removal and sanding equipment running around, and between that and the dry climate, cars lasted forever.

But these days they just spray that car-eating goop (magnesium chloride) on the road and hope. And the first thing the magchloride eats is your ball joints.

CDoT actually puts up billboards in the winter advising folks to thoroughly wash the underside of the car as soon as possible after a snow.

Great excuse to buy a hotsy