I am storing my Mini Cooper S outside this winter on a gravel surface. I have been doing research on what precautions to take. I am going to put Sta-Bil in my fuel tank, dryer sheets in the engine compartment and interior to minimize pest infestation, and steel wool in the intake and exhaust to block mice from making a home.
My question is I read that I should park on a waterproof tarp if I am parking on stone to minimize moisture under the car. But, I am concerned of water/snow building up on the tarp anyway. Anyone have any useful input or experence to this issue?
I’m half tempted to leave my bmw outside with no protection on it. I mean if a branch falls on it a tarp will only get in the way. If nothing falls on it the tarp will scratch the paint from wind rustling it around. All you are protecting the car from is salt by not driving it.
I had it inside on jackstands on a tarp with a soft cover over it last year. This year I want my garage space to tinker. I’ll still do the steel wool in the exhaust and a bucket of rv-desiccant (found at walmart) inside to prevent moisture/mildew and fuel stabil in the tank.
For your situation I’d park it on a tarp and fold it to the dimensions of your wheel base first so there isn’t any flapping around. Wax it real good and hope for the best.
If he lives in buffalo, that thing should last about…8 days before it blows away or collapses if I had to guess. Roofs on garages collapse on a regular basis, i cant imagine that lasting long.
I think that is my plan. I will detail the crap out of it Friday when everyone is at the mall, park it on a tarp (it will get airflow under there) sta-bil and steel wool.
I “stored” my Talon outside for a few months with a tarp under it and it seemed to work well. I would assume any moisture that builds up on the tarp will dissipate quicker than water on grass, stone, concrete, etc.
If at all just buy a nice car cover and bungee it on. This will just keep most of the snow and ice from getting down in the car jambs and help keep leaves a crap out of the cowl and what not.
As far as dryer sheets and tarps…etc. I’ll just say “No.” Parking it outside on a gravel surface will not hurt it anymore than it raining. Pest will leave it alone unless you are an idiot and park it in 3 foot tall weeds.
Pull the battery and put it on a trickle charger in the basement.
parking it on a tarp is essentially useless, and the LAST thing you want to do is create a seal around the car…tarps TRAP moisture under them and will actually cause rust on your undercarriage faster than NOT having a tarp…as long as it’s parked somewhere that air can regularly circulate underneath it you’ll be fine. The dryer sheets/dessicant, steel wool in the exhaust, and sta-bil are all good ideas, but don’t bother covering it or covering the ground underneath it. only other thing you could do for preventing moisture underneath the car from doing any damage is get the car up in the air right before you park it and blast the living shit out of everything in something like PB blaster…then make sure to powerwash it all off exhaust componants in the spring so it doesn’t give you a chance to make a replica of the “GTI on fire” video
Have you ever gotten into a car with a musty smell? It never really goes away, dryer sheets and desiccant will keep any moisture that forms due to dropping temps from causing havoc on your interior.
And leaving it on a constantly ‘damp’ surface will cause problems, parking a car on concrete can cause rust to form on brake lines and what not again because of moisture never getting the chance to evaporate, so a gravel driveway will have the same problems. Unless the car is kept in a climate controlled area I’d take precautions. Will a few months hurt it? who knows, but for an $8 tarp I think it’s worth it.
it’s not the cold, ice, or snow that hurts anything, its going from freezing/cold to warm over and over that’s a bad combo.
The car is parked outside…not in a garage. Musty smells are from assholes leaving it in a dark garage for years. How many brand new car “storage” wholesale lots have their cars wrapped in tarps every winter…?
As far as moisture rusting the car from underneath. The BEST thing to prevent it from rusting is that it is again, parked outside and on a gravel surface…not grass/weeds.
I stand by my statement. Buy a cover. Put the Battery in the house on a trickle charger. If you are worried about must/mold…crack the front windows an 1/8 of an inch.
This thing will be outside what…5-6 months? You guys kill me sometimes with worrying about the smallest stuff. OP will probably sell it next year anyways.
Maybe I’ve just been lucky every year and haven’t had a problem.
Maybe I am overworried, so what? It’s being parked in an area that sees alot of chipmunk/mouse problems. My car is my biggest investment, and I am doing my best to prepare it for winter. It is not in the cards right now for me to store it indoors, it is the best I can do. Unless you know a safe, dry, and locked FREE spot for me to park, this is my best case. Thank you to all for the input.
