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      10-24-2018, 09:16 PM   #1
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HELP! Winter Prep and Hibernation to do's

I've learned so much from you guys and so I'm all ears on this issue... I'll be putting my beloved 1M away for the winter.....Northern Virginia is ridiculous with salt application regardless of snow/no snow. They pre-treat roads even if there is no precipitation expected! As soon as it hits freezing temps they pre-treat. Crap, they close schools down if it gets to cold....lol

So, what do I need to to do? This will be my first winter putting it away for 3-4 months? Thinking December to March. Now, if we get a great day out, I'll take her out for a spin.....assuming no previous winter event or known treatment applications have been done.

1) Battery Tender... I have one, but how do I hook up through engine bay rather than trunk? Show me pictures and talk me through it like I'm 5 years old please.

2) Tires..... do I need to worry about flat spots? Should I increase or decrease tire pressure? Any tricks here?

3) Gas..... assuming I should fill it up? Any additives?

4) Should I start her up in the garage every week for 5-10 minutes?

Any other recommendations or suggestions??? I'm open to whatever makes sense!

I did get a car cover for it even though it will be garaged ........btw- I got a ton of grief from the wifey on that....LOL
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      10-24-2018, 09:48 PM   #2
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1. battery tender; hook up in engine compartment is best. Put BT somewhere where you can see its lights (should be green after a day or two.)
2. tires-just put in 3 or 4 more psi than normal
3. gas-full tank; no additives
4. no, never
Other
5. change engine oil
6. ensure coolant level OK
7. windshield washer anti freeze
8. treat seats with whatever
9. clothes dryer sheets in engine, interior, trunk if rodents possible
10. donot use emergency brake (wheel chock)
11. wash car but then drive it 10-15 minutes to dry everything well (like brakes)
Frozen North here where our cars go away for 4 months or more
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      10-24-2018, 11:38 PM   #3
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I store mine for extended periods and have always put sea foam in the tank. I can't imagine going for a long period of time without a stabilizer in the fuel.

Dryer sheets fend of rodents?
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      10-25-2018, 12:57 AM   #4
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Battery tender, set to almost max psi on tires, drive out old gas/add stabilizer/fill up/drive 5-10 mins and store it. I've had a car stored for over a year and only drove out a tank of gas this summer for 3 days. Rinse and repeat.
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      10-25-2018, 12:14 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthernDancer View Post
1. battery tender; hook up in engine compartment is best. Put BT somewhere where you can see its lights (should be green after a day or two.)
2. tires-just put in 3 or 4 more psi than normal
3. gas-full tank; no additives
4. no, never
Other
5. change engine oil
6. ensure coolant level OK
7. windshield washer anti freeze
8. treat seats with whatever
9. clothes dryer sheets in engine, interior, trunk if rodents possible
10. donot use emergency brake (wheel chock)
11. wash car but then drive it 10-15 minutes to dry everything well (like brakes)
Frozen North here where our cars go away for 4 months or more
Agree. Do hard braking make sure no rust on rotors from the wash when you put away!
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      10-25-2018, 08:46 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nkc View Post
Battery tender, set to almost max psi on tires, drive out old gas/add stabilizer/fill up/drive 5-10 mins and store it. I've had a car stored for over a year and only drove out a tank of gas this summer for 3 days. Rinse and repeat.
So, do I really need fuel stabilizer for a 3-4 month hibernation???
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      10-25-2018, 08:51 PM   #7
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No. With regular gas, fuel stabilizer is important. With premium, no.
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      10-25-2018, 08:59 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthernDancer View Post
1. battery tender; hook up in engine compartment is best. Put BT somewhere where you can see its lights (should be green after a day or two.)
2. tires-just put in 3 or 4 more psi than normal
3. gas-full tank; no additives
4. no, never
Other
5. change engine oil
6. ensure coolant level OK
7. windshield washer anti freeze
8. treat seats with whatever
9. clothes dryer sheets in engine, interior, trunk if rodents possible
10. donot use emergency brake (wheel chock)
11. wash car but then drive it 10-15 minutes to dry everything well (like brakes)
Frozen North here where our cars go away for 4 months or more
Thanks for your feedback!

Why not turn the car on in the garage......assuming of course that the garage doors are open.

Isn't it a good idea to just let the engine run a little once a week?

Yeah! Going to be a long winter
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      10-25-2018, 10:48 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tornado1M View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthernDancer View Post
1. battery tender; hook up in engine compartment is best. Put BT somewhere where you can see its lights (should be green after a day or two.)
2. tires-just put in 3 or 4 more psi than normal
3. gas-full tank; no additives
4. no, never
Other
5. change engine oil
6. ensure coolant level OK
7. windshield washer anti freeze
8. treat seats with whatever
9. clothes dryer sheets in engine, interior, trunk if rodents possible
10. donot use emergency brake (wheel chock)
11. wash car but then drive it 10-15 minutes to dry everything well (like brakes)
Frozen North here where our cars go away for 4 months or more
Thanks for your feedback!

Why not turn the car on in the garage......assuming of course that the garage doors are open.

Isn't it a good idea to just let the engine run a little once a week?

Yeah! Going to be a long winter
Letting the engine run is pointless. You might as well just let it sit. If you get a chance, you're better off to drive it around town and get everything to operating temp.
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      10-26-2018, 09:19 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthernDancer View Post
No. With regular gas, fuel stabilizer is important. With premium, no.
???

Premium or regular makes no difference.

For storage, you must have ethanol free (I use Shell 91), and should use a fuel stabilizer like Stabil.

Tried not using a fuel stabilizer one year, and the car was running like shit (misfiring) until I was able to get some fresh gas in.
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      10-26-2018, 09:21 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tornado1M View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthernDancer View Post
1. battery tender; hook up in engine compartment is best. Put BT somewhere where you can see its lights (should be green after a day or two.)
2. tires-just put in 3 or 4 more psi than normal
3. gas-full tank; no additives
4. no, never
Other
5. change engine oil
6. ensure coolant level OK
7. windshield washer anti freeze
8. treat seats with whatever
9. clothes dryer sheets in engine, interior, trunk if rodents possible
10. donot use emergency brake (wheel chock)
11. wash car but then drive it 10-15 minutes to dry everything well (like brakes)
Frozen North here where our cars go away for 4 months or more
Thanks for your feedback!

Why not turn the car on in the garage......assuming of course that the garage doors are open.

Isn't it a good idea to just let the engine run a little once a week?

Yeah! Going to be a long winter
Worst thing you can do to a car. Unless you get the oil to full operating temp you will get moisture and fuel building up in the exhaust and oil.

Park it, leave it till spring.
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      10-26-2018, 11:31 AM   #12
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My routine for winter storage.

Do an oil change about a week before storage.
Wash car and drive to get FULLY dry, dry door jambs, trunk and hood openings.
Fill tank with ethanol free gas and add Stabil.
Park car.
Set tires to 50 PSI.
Put on battery maintainer.

Don't touch it till spring.
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      10-26-2018, 04:21 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech View Post
My routine for winter storage.

Do an oil change about a week before storage.
Wash car and drive to get FULLY dry, dry door jambs, trunk and hood openings.
Fill tank with ethanol free gas and add Stabil.
Park car.
Set tires to 50 PSI.
Put on battery maintainer.

Don't touch it till spring.
Sta-bil comes in a 32 ounce bottle.

Do I use the whole bottle for a full tank or just half at 16 ounces?

Thx!
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      10-26-2018, 09:24 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tornado1M View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech View Post
My routine for winter storage.

Do an oil change about a week before storage.
Wash car and drive to get FULLY dry, dry door jambs, trunk and hood openings.
Fill tank with ethanol free gas and add Stabil.
Park car.
Set tires to 50 PSI.
Put on battery maintainer.

Don't touch it till spring.
Sta-bil comes in a 32 ounce bottle.

Do I use the whole bottle for a full tank or just half at 16 ounces?

Thx!
You can find it in smaller bottles. You only need about 6 oz for a tank.

https://www.goldeagle.com/product/st...el-stabilizer/
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      10-26-2018, 09:56 PM   #15
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So, how large is our gas tank?
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      10-26-2018, 10:29 PM   #16
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Just dump one of these bottles in your tank. It's a stabilizer and a cleaner.

https://www.amazon.com/Motor-Treatme...8-4&ref=sr_1_4
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      10-26-2018, 11:54 PM   #17
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So, is this better than Sta-Bil?
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      10-27-2018, 06:45 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by etr2016 View Post
Just dump one of these bottles in your tank. It's a stabilizer and a cleaner.

https://www.amazon.com/Motor-Treatme...#38;ref=sr_1_4
Have tried it, did not work as a stabilizer. Misfires until I could get fresh gas. Same in my sisters R8.

Only thing I trust is Stabil now. Has never let me down.
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      10-27-2018, 06:49 AM   #19
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Quote:
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So, how large is our gas tank?
It's a 55L tank, which is close to 15 gal.
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      10-27-2018, 10:37 AM   #20
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Lots of good stuff here - I'll add my 2 cents in a minute, but everyone is missing the one of the most important things

A car cover is essential - it is one of the best things you can have to keep your car in great shape while it is in storage.

and..

yes, extra air pressure is good - mostly because if you are storing in a non-heated garage, the tires will lose pressure and that's not good - however, even if they flat spot, a 15 minute drive brings them back to normal.

and..
get a good "smart" battery tender. I like Ctek.

and...
Some 1Ms came with AGM batteries, some did not. You have to go look in the trunk - it will say AGM or it won't. If you have the AGM battery, use the snowflake mode on the Ctek, if you don't have the AGM battery, use the regular mode.

and..
If you are not covering your car, put a nice note on the dash saying "Charger connected" - very easy to drive off with the charger still connected.

and...
Get the car nice and warm before putting away. Helps get the moisture out of the oil and exhaust.

and..
Don't start for 5-10 minutes, you will just add that moisture right back in.

and...
Don't over think this - its not that complicated. Full tank of gas is a good idea, additives are optional, parking brake is fine, extra air pressure doesn't hurt, but is not required - however, get a car cover.
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      10-27-2018, 05:53 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doug_999 View Post
Lots of good stuff here - I'll add my 2 cents in a minute, but everyone is missing the one of the most important things

A car cover is essential - it is one of the best things you can have to keep your car in great shape while it is in storage.

and..

yes, extra air pressure is good - mostly because if you are storing in a non-heated garage, the tires will lose pressure and that's not good - however, even if they flat spot, a 15 minute drive brings them back to normal.

and..
get a good "smart" battery tender. I like Ctek.

and...
Some 1Ms came with AGM batteries, some did not. You have to go look in the trunk - it will say AGM or it won't. If you have the AGM battery, use the snowflake mode on the Ctek, if you don't have the AGM battery, use the regular mode.

and..
If you are not covering your car, put a nice note on the dash saying "Charger connected" - very easy to drive off with the charger still connected.

and...
Get the car nice and warm before putting away. Helps get the moisture out of the oil and exhaust.

and..
Don't start for 5-10 minutes, you will just add that moisture right back in.

and...
Don't over think this - its not that complicated. Full tank of gas is a good idea, additives are optional, parking brake is fine, extra air pressure doesn't hurt, but is not required - however, get a car cover.
Thanks Doug 🙏

I have the BMW OEM 1M car cover like yours and the battery was replaced last year 9/2017 at the local dealership. Model# 61-21-2-353-811

However, I don't know if it's an AGM or not?
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      10-27-2018, 09:15 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech View Post
Have tried it, did not work as a stabilizer. Misfires until I could get fresh gas. Same in my sisters R8.

Only thing I trust is Stabil now. Has never let me down.
How long was it stored? I stored a GT4 for over 2 years with Seafoam and no issues.
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