Winter Storage

Ooops. Forgot to respond about car covers.

I personally like the California Car Covers. They are available from lots of outlets (I've even seen them at Costco). You want a cover that is made for a car your size, and one that has a soft material surface inside. Don't slide the cover around on the car. Fold it and lift it off. Otherwise, you can scratch the paint.

Steve

Amber,

I agree with Stu again. With a '99 XK8, do not disconnect the battery. I might even check with the service department manager at the Jaguar dealership regarding maintaining the battery charge over the winter. Make sure that your trickle charger won't effect your electronics.

I still think that the preferable thing to do with a modern car is to start it regularly and run it, when the weather is nice. I believe that the pre-2000 cars have the Nikasil liners in the cylinders, so you want to take it out and run it so the engine in thoroughly heated up. Don't just start it and let it idle in the garage.

Steve

Trickle chargers can be bought at most auto parts stores and hardware stores. It is a small low voltage charger. You have two clips, one for each terminal of the battery. You attach those to the correct terminals and plug the charger into a socket. Usually there are red and green lights to indicate the charge. The trickle charger maintains a charge in the battery and doesn't use much electricity. You can even use that to re-charge a dead battery but since it is a low charge unit, it usually takes much longer than with a conventional battery charger. With the electronics on a 99 car, it will be better to keep the charger on the car rather than to disconnect the battery and then have to re-set all of the electric items that will go off when the car is disconnected. I have a 74 XKE, so disconnecting the battery does not matter the way it would in a modern car with bells and whistles to go off line. Try any major auto store or Sears or a large chain with an auto parts department. They shouldn't cost more than about $50 and maybe less. Catalog sales like Eastwood or Griots Garage or the good old JC Whitney catalog (also on line) will have them.Steve's added advice is well worth doing along with what i mentioned. A four month storage is not a long time, but things can deterioriate even over that short time.
1974 XKE OTS
2000 S-Type V8

Thanks for the advice! I have a 99 XK8.

A couple more things:

1) Not familiar with a trickle charger - can you buy one at any auto store? How do they work?

2) Favorite indoor cover?

Thanks!

Thanks for the advice - I have a 99 XK8 - and am completely unfamiliar with trickle chargers...can you get them at any auto store & how do they work? Thanks!

Amber,

You didn't say what kind of car it is (old or new, model), but the things you need to do are pretty much the same. However, with newer cars that have computer systems, it is not a good idea to disconnect the battery. Instead, you'd probably want to put a trickle charger on it.

Stu's suggestions are all good. I'd add a few things. Gas stabilizer is important, as modern fuel turns into varnish fairly quickly when left sitting. Put the Stabil or other gas stabilizer into the tank before you fill it up so that it mixes throroughly and gets distributed through the system on the ride home from the gas station.

Always change the oil, filters, etc. before winter storage so you don't have the acids in the dirty oil eating away at engine parts. It's also a good idea to wash it and wax it before putting it away, and using a good quality car cover is a plus as well.

Mice and other critters like to take up winter residence in stored cars. Sometimes they will lunch on the wiring harness. I saw pictures of the air cleaners of an XJS that was packed full of acorns by an industrious squirrel. I always put out several packages of MousePruff or similar stuff to keep them from populating the garage and getting into the cars.

Some people say you should jack the car up and put it on blocks to take the weight off the tires and suspension. It's not necessary for a couple of months. I try to drive my cars every few weeks during the winter, when we get a nice clear, dry, sunny day, to keep them in good shape. If you do jack it up, use jack stands, not cinderblocks. Cinderblocks can break under the weight of a car and cause serious damage. Obviously, never get under a car that is up on cinderblocks.

Steve Weinstein, JTC-NJ
'70 XKE FHC
'69 XKE OTS

For a 4 month storage, you really do not need any special precautions. You should fill the gas tank and might want to add some dry gass and some Stabil (gasoline stabilizer). Disconnect the battery or attach it to an inexpensive battery tender to keep it charged. You can always put an oil absorbing pad under the car to keep the garage floor clean if the car decides to mark its spot. Covering the car with a good car cover is helpful. Sometimes, at least where I live, we get mice in the car. I am out in a rural area, so they find their way into my detached garage. I used to put mothballs in the car. I have heard that using Bounce
fabric softener cloths is even better but I have not tried that. I will this winter. I don't think you need to do much more than that. When you go back to revive the car in the spring, check the oil and allow the fuel pump to get gas into the carbs or through the fuel injection unit. For a carbureted car, starting fluid (hot shot) into the carbs helps. I usually put the battery on a trickle charge for a day prior to starting it. That should be enough.

1974 XKE OTS
2000 S-Type V8

For a 4 month storage, you really do not need any special precautions. You should fill the gas tank and might want to add some dry gass and some Stabil (gasoline stabilizer). Disconnect the battery or attach it to an inexpensive battery tender to keep it charged. You can always put an oil absorbing pad under the car to keep the garage floor clean if the car decides to mark its spot. Covering the car with a good car cover is helpful. Sometimes, at least where I live, we get mice in the car. I am out in a rural area, so they find their way into my detached garage. I used to put mothballs in the car. I have heard that using Bounce
fabric softener cloths is even better but I have not tried that. I will this winter. I don't think you need to do much more than that. When you go back to revive the car in the spring, check the oil and allow the fuel pump to get gas into the carbs or through the fuel injection unit. For a carbureted car, starting fluid (hot shot) into the carbs helps. I usually put the battery on a trickle charge for a day prior to starting it. That should be enough.

1974 XKE OTS
2000 S-Type V8