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When to change oil before storing Stang for winter

2K views 18 replies 16 participants last post by  Strange Mud 
#1 ·
I am getting ready to store my 2013 V6 coupe for the winter (next 4 months) and was wondering at what point do you really need to change your oil before doing so. I still have over 3000 miles left until my next required 5k oil change. I always use Mobil1 Full Synthetic if that makes a difference. Also, I attempt to make it by the storage facility once a week to at least start my ride and if possible (no snow) drive it for about 10 miles or so. Based on this information should I get a new oil change? Also, any other maintenance items I should do besides full tank of gas, increase tire air pressure? As always thanks much for your time and feedback.
 
#3 ·
I have been told and actually saw a short show on the velocity channel this past week where an expert stated that used oil will become acidic if a vehicle sits for a long time. This may have been referring to a vehicle that sits for months without being started/driven. This show also mentioned radiator and brake fluids need to be changed, as well as maxing the tire air pressure.
 
#4 ·
I change mine at the regular interval, but I also will drive mine during the winter when it is warm out (summer only tires really don't like cold). I don't lock mine up for the whole winter, seems like when I lived in Longmont we still had days warm enough that I could have gotten mine out.
 
#5 ·
Change immediately before putting into storage. Usually only needs to be done at that time each year.
 
#9 ·
If you are going to drive it then change it when it is due.

If the car is going to be parked and sit all winter long like mine then change it withing a few 100 miles of storage. I then like to run mine about 500 miles in the spring and change it again. Oil tends to collect moisture over the winter months when it is cold like here in Boise. So I run it to knock the rust off the motor and put in fresh for summer driving.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Stabil (use the funnel) full tank of premium, 5K change interval? I think if you are storing it it should be on a time based schedule unless you drive alot. I did mine 6k year toy stored in winter on a 9 month schedule. this is 4x in 3 yrs which was my blend of often w/o wasting too much $. I would adjust my change schedule to my whims if it was going to be due during it's storage time. I doubt it really matters much unless your change interval is bad which sounds unlikely. It may become acidic (or whatever) but I assume there is only harm in extremes. I was never a fan of starting it but would put on a charger for a few hours 1x per month. This was easier as it was in my own garage
 
#11 ·
I believe in changing the oil before storage (I too had several 1,000 miles before it would be due — but changed it anyway...).
If you do change it right before storage, and still put any miles on it, make SURE the oil gets up to operating temperature each time. This takes a LOT longer than the operating temperature of the coolant — usually 20 miles or more.
 
#13 ·
I absolutely hate hibernating a car. The thought of having something you can't drive is silly, until you see what road salt does to a car lol. I always said I would only leave mine in the garage when the roads are snow covered, etc. After driving it in that way for a few years, I noticed how much work it was to keep it at a "show car" level, I decided I need to hibernate mine. I put mine in a sort of half-*** hibernation. I won't drive mine if there's road salt, but I will if the roads are clear and dry. If I get lucky, I'll be able to get her out all the way up until January before we have had snow where they throw salt down.
 
#16 ·
I store mine every winter, usually goes away in November, awakens in March/April. Annual oil change when it goes up for winter and I send a sample to Blackstone Labs. I put about 7k miles a year on her and according to the lab, the oil should be good for 8-9k.
Stabil 360 in with full tank of gas, up on blocks in heated garage and battery tender. Assorted tinkering all winter long.
 
#18 ·
I've never changed oil before storage ever. Mine is stored in a heated garage from the first snow (Nov/Dec) to first good rain (Mar/Apr) to wash salt from the roads. I also only leave a couple gallons of gas in the tank because I want to fill it with fresh gas in the spring. I change oil every 10k miles with Mobil 1 and Wix XP filters. It's my daily driver during the summer and always fully warmed up, no short trips.

My dad was a mechanic who always preached 3k mile changes with dino oil. He had an '73 F100 with 285k before they body finally rusted away. I had a hard time going to longer oil change intervals but with today's oil and filter technology and oil analysis I have no problem with 10k oil changes.


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