FEATURE : WINTERISING CLASSICS
Being ready for winter
HSCC partner Witham Motorsport offers sound advice on preparing classic and race cars for the winter .
After a season of racing and general use , many cars , especially classic cars , are ‘ winterised ’ or hibernated , which is one of the best means of protecting them from the perils of road salt , dirt and water . By the end of the season classic and racing engine oils contain products of combustion such as acids , soot , wear metals and other contaminates . Leaving this dirty , used oil in the engine over the winter exposes the vehicle to potentially harmful corrosion which is worsened by condensation as the engine and fuel system ‘ breathe ’ in moisture during lay-up . Here is a useful checklist .
Cleaning and covering Washing , cleaning and polishing the bodywork may seem like a waste of time , but if you are putting a cover over the vehicle , this helps to reduce the risk of dirt becoming trapped and marking the paintwork . Even if a cover isn ’ t fitted , and the inevitable dust gathers on the paintwork , it ’ s much easier to wipe off if the exterior has been polished or waxed . it ’ s wise to periodically remove the cover to allow the vehicle to breathe and to perhaps run the engine .
Engine Consider changing the used engine oil to a fresh charge of a high-quality lubricant and run the engine briefly to ensure that all the components are coated with fresh oil . Motul is one of very few classic engine oil suppliers to include a ‘ tackiness ’ additive to ensure that the metal surfaces are coated with a protective layer that prevents condensate from adhering to the metal surfaces by preferentially wetting them and so eliminating winter lay-up corrosion .
Fuel system One aspect of vehicle storage that ’ s open to debate is the fuel tank . Should it be drained or left full ? For instance , petrol generally depletes and goes off after three or four months and , although we ’ ve not come across any problems with using it , mixing it with some fresh fuel is often the best approach . Deposits , which look like sand particles , are another problem from old petrol , which can block up the carburettor . And petrol can extract moisture from the air ( the ethanol in petrol is to blame for this ), which can result in a layer of water in the bottom of the fuel tank . Draining the tank after winter storage to help remove any water may help , or even draining the tank before winter storage will help to avoid such problems .
Additionally , to protect the fuel system , store the vehicle with a full tank of quality fuel , treated with Fuel Stabilizer for winterisation . Filling the tank reduces the headspace above the fuel and minimises the amount of water that can be absorbed from the air . Products such as Motul ’ s Fuel Stabilizer keeps the fuel in good condition throughout the winter .
Brakes and clutches While some fluids benefit from being changed before storage , other fluids , such as brake and clutch fluids will deteriorate over the winter months , mainly by absorbing moisture from the air , as will any opened bottles of brake fluid . It is better to change these fluids in the spring .
Battery Trickle-charging the battery over winter , whether it remains with the vehicle , or is removed , is worthwhile instead of risking it going flat and having to fully charge it up again . If the levels inside the battery can be checked and topped up , do this as well . And if the battery is remaining with the vehicle , clean the terminals and apply petroleum jelly to protect them from corrosion , A reputable anti-seize grease like the award winning Prolan Range from Witham Group , can also be used for battery terminals as it protects them from water penetration .
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Coolant The engine coolant must contain an appropriate quantity of antifreeze to avoid the risk of it freezing over winter . If you are unsure , test it with an antifreeze hydrometer , which will help to measure its freezing point . Avoid mixing blueand pink-coloured coolant , which can congeal and block waterways and even the water pump .