Storing my GXP for the winter questions

[cjbennett01]

Im storing my 2005 Pontiac GXP for the winter. I have a few questions maybe someone can answer or give me advice. The car will be stored in an attached 3 car garage with no heat. 1. Should I wax and clean before storage. 2. Should I treat the fuel? 3. Should I remove the battery? 4. Should I change the oil? I'm just looking for some advice becasue I know this car has so many electrical gadgets and mechanically I dont know how the northstar takes to sitting for 6 months. Thanks in advance.

[CMNTMXR57]

1) Up to you. If you don't cover it, it won't hurt to do it.
2) Yes
3) Either remove the battery and trickle charge it, or leave it in the car and trickle charge it. The key is the trickle charger (or battery tender). Otherwise removing it and doing nothing with it after isn't really much different than just leaving it in, even with the small drain for running memories and stuff in the electronics.
4) Yes.

Also, doesn't hurt to air up the tires (in the past, I've also gone and gotten those carpet reminent squares you can get at any carpet store and put under the tires), make sure all fluids are topped off, and before putting it away finally, run it up to full temp for the whole car, not just the engine. By this I mean, take it out for a 20 minute (or more), drive and get everything up to full temp.

My garage is 72*, climate controlled so I don't do the carpet thingy as I don't need to worry about the concrete "sweating" with outside temp changes. But when I have it over in storage in winter months at the climate controlled unit I have (their definition of climate control is 55*), I have the unit layed out with our old house carpet we took out, that the car sits on.

This is the charger I use on the GTO;


Set your battery type, then chose the 2amp smart charge and it does the rest.

I have this one for other car batteries I have laying around;


THis one doesn't have many of the features of the one above, but still has the same 2amp smart charge.

[00Beast]

If the oil isn't that old, probably wait to change it till spring when you get it out, but do change it then. I agree with a battery tender, it's probably the best ~20 bucks you'll spend. I've heard nothing but good things about the Deltran Battery Tenders. Lay some dryer sheets under/in/around the car, they supposedly work as well as mothballs without the poison risk.

[CMNTMXR57]

Oh yea. I do put D-con trays of poison pill around the storage unit in general, especially when I have the car there. I place one in back, in front of a tire and one in front, in front of a tire (so as we're walking around the car it doesn't accidently get kicked).

[cjbennett01]

Thanks Gents for the advice, now hopefully my drivetrain shutter will correct itself over the winter lol

[00Beast]

Oh I forgot: Fill the tank full and add the recommended amount of Sta-Bil. Filling it full helps reduce the amount of moisture that can collect in the tank, which is important as the weather changes.

[Bill's GXP]

I don't store my Bonne, but I do put a box of Arm & Hammer baking soda inside to attract any moisture in my Mustang that is stored.