Winter Storage Best Practices - 1HZ

[sark]

Looking for info on best practices for hibernating my HZJ73 for the winter. It will live in an underground garage until the New England salt wave is over.

What should I do to best hibernate it for months on end until spring? Always had a full-time vehicle until now.

Please don't assume I know the basics...

Thanks

 

[coldtaco]

For one put a trickle charger/battery minder(name?) on the batteries. If you have to be sure they are disconnected/removed. As to anything else Maybe fresh oil. Put it up on jack stands to relieve stress on tires?

 

[Rigster]

winter storage??? These beasts were built for the EXTREME!! lol

Seriously though, I have no problem with folks keeping their babies nice. Like taco said, a trickle charger - make sure it is a minder (knows when the battery(ies) are full) Change the oil if it is near due and if you do not use synthetic.

Fill the fuel tank FULL. That keeps the condensation inside the tank down - optional to use a fuel conditioner as well. Is it humid where you live? You can also add a bucket with a moisture absorber/catcher inside the cab to keep it from getting musty. Any boating type supply store will have what you need.

 

[sark]

The New England salting is crazy, and I'm fortunate enough to have another vehicle, so I'm hibernating the cruiser.

Full tank I can do.

Should the batteries be disconnected? I could also just go run the engine for a bit too - not sure what little things I can do to be better with it.

Not concerned really with moisture, it's a climate controlled garage from what I know. Oil change was somewhat recent, and I'm planning on doing that again after it's back outside.

---

To add to this, are there any good beginner-level mechanical/maintenance tasks I can do while it's hibernating? Trying to find some excuses to go visit the cruiser during the winter

 

[Rigster]

Oh nice... if you have a climate controlled garage in the winter time, and they do not mind you working on it there, then it depends on the level of comfort you have with working on it. Start with grabbing the maintenance manuals for it, there are resources on this site where you can download them.

Start with cleaning everything really well. Want to vacuum it out? Take out the seats, clean everything and vacuum everything out really nicely. Clean all the windows with the seats out as well... makes it easy to move around. Clean all the lights inside and out... check the bulbs while you are in there. Clean the engine compartment as well. You do not have to disconnect the battery when it is in storage, but you can if you want. If it needs it, clean the battery terminals.

Depending on your comfort levels on maintenance, you can also look into brakes, bearings, fuel injectors, timing belt, alternator/fan/A/C belts all the usual suspects for wear and tear...

 

[GTSSportCoupe]

If you don't have a quality maintenance battery charger, the 2nd option is just to disconnect it completely. Top it up with a regular charger once or twice through the winter and it'll be fine.

 

[jmylie]

I disconnect my battery. You can use a trickle charger or just charge it up in the spring.

Definitely add a fuel stabilizer before filling the tank.

Get some mouse repellant and place it in various places in the vehicle and engine compartment.

Depending on weather, I have taken my vehicle out for a drive after a heavy rain storm when I think most of the salt was washed away. This gets all the lube flowing.

You could get your vehicle undercoated with fluid film or NH oil undercoating or you can do it yourself.

 

[Whistler74]

For sure a good undercarriage wash, hose out the brakes as best you can and any crevices that might trap dirt / salt etc.

Had a Jetta that we parked for a year in a garage and we had to replace all the brakes - they just rusted together...

 

[Weedhopper]

Even if it’s hibernating drive it once every couple weeks on a nice day, dry roads. My 4Runner hibernates in the summer inside a garage and if if I don’t drive it every couple weeks the tires get flat on the bottom, the shifter gets stiff, etc.

Get the engine hot and run it, then let it sleep.

And ya, use the battery tender.

 

[JDM Journeys]

Lots of good stuff here. I'll just add a few things on the excellent points made:

I've had very good luck with c-tek chargers. If you run lead acid batteries I'd make sure their fluid levels are good.

Fresh oil change for sure.

I'd chock the wheels and disengage the e-brake.

You're gonna miss her!

 

[Weedhopper]

Good point.
I had a customer who parked an MG in his barn for a couple years with the car in gear and the E brake on. The clutch and flywheel froze together and the brake shoes and drums did the same. They had a heck of a time getting it out of the barn.