What are the best tips of storing a classic corvette? I’d like to hear all tips as this is my first corvette and first time to store. Thanks!
Winter storage
- Thread starter TPN TIMMER
- Start date
Dave91TM
Power User
Wash it, change oil, vac interior, protectant on plastics, leather treat seats, silicone all rubber weatherstrip, tire pressure check, pull wheels, clean up any brake dust and dirt, rotate tires , grease fittings, fresh full gas tank, I also spray my tank with Krown rust protection, add in fuel saver, attach battery minder, place drier sheets inside and under hood to deter rodents, hopefully store in a garage with a cover on it. If you do it all at once you'll need a day. Good luck.
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks so much for the tips!
Dave91TM
Power User
I forgot... also check the anti freeze. If you do not know how old it is , you could replace it as cheap insurance. make sure the windshield washer fluid is an anti freeze type as well (I only ever use winter grade washer fluid)
Add the fuel saver before you fill the gas tank and run it for about 10 or 15 minutes to make sure it gets into the entire fuel system.
Good Luck.
I would add one thing that I've found useful - overinflate the tires a little to avoid flat spots. Unless the seal is perfect, the tires will lose some air over several months and they'll be down by a few pounds at least. Definitley agree with using a battery minder vs disconnecting the negative, which is what a lot of people do. On older models, it's no big deal, but the newer the car, the more important it is to keep the computer awake or you could find yourself with a persistent check engine light in the Spring, as the computer tries to connect with all of the sensors. I had it happen on a 2011, and apparently it's not uncommon. Took a few days of driving before everything woke up. Also, if rodents are a problem, I've read that stuffing a bit of steel wool in the tailpipes will keep them out.
Another mouse deterent is Peppermint oil. A few drops on paper or cotton ball and placed in a small container lasts for some time. I place some in the front driver and passenger foot well and a couple in the back storage area. As with the dryer sheets it needs to be refreshed as the smell fades. I suppose the goal is to make it uncomfortable to the mice and their strong sense of smell.
- Thread starter
- #7
Thanks so much, folks!!
- Thread starter
- #9
Thanks!
Dave91TM
Power User
One more useful tip, park it in the living room if you can, be sure to put an old towel underneath it in case it drips oil...... OH sorry
thats for Harley owners (LOL)
thats for Harley owners (LOL)
- Thread starter
- #11
I’m afraid the wife wouldn’t let me.
Hopefully this will settle this one once and for all time. Mothballs are only valuable to moths .......
apple.news
We Asked a Pest Expert If Mothballs Really Keep Mice Away—We Were Shocked By the Answer — The Spruce
Mothballs are ineffective at repelling mice. Using mothballs outdoors can harm the environment. Seal gaps and use traps to effectively deter mice.
apple.news
Dave91TM
Power User
Understood.
Dave91TM
Power User
A co worker stored his Bimmer Z4 in his dads barn and used moth balls, lots of moth balls. Upside, no rodents, downside, it took about 3 months for the gaseous stench to finally air out. In fact you could not stay in it unless the roof was down.Hopefully this will settle this one once and for all time. Mothballs are only valuable to moths .......
We Asked a Pest Expert If Mothballs Really Keep Mice Away—We Were Shocked By the Answer — The Spruce
Mothballs are ineffective at repelling mice. Using mothballs outdoors can harm the environment. Seal gaps and use traps to effectively deter mice.
I always use these . No musty smell in the spring. Especially helpful if you store your vehicle in an unheated space . Relatively cheap and quite effective. Note the warning not to eat it .........
Last edited:
For run flat tires ...
For a C8 Corvette on its run-flat tires, I would not inflate them to the sidewall maximum for winter storage. A better approach is to set them to the door-placard pressure—typically 30 psi front and rear—or add only about 3–5 psi to compensate for cold-weather pressure loss.
Why run-flats differ
C8 run-flats are stiff, high-performance tires. Michelin’s guidance cited by C8 owners specifically advises against storage overinflation because a loaded, overinflated tire in a warm environment can develop more persistent flat-spotting; modern tires generally recover from ordinary temporary flat spots within a few miles of driving.
GM’s own storage guidance likewise says overinflating may do more harm than good and recommends taking weight off the tires instead.
Best storage setup
Set pressures to the C8 door-jamb specification before storage; verify with a calibrated gauge while the tires are cold.
If the garage will get very cold, add roughly 3–5 psi above placard pressure to offset the seasonal drop—do not chase the sidewall maximum.
For a full Calgary winter, put the car on quality jack stands or a storage lift so the tires are unloaded; this is the most reliable flat-spot prevention.
If it must remain on its tires, park on clean, dry concrete or rubber mats, avoid heat sources/ozone exposure, and ideally roll it a short distance every few weeks.
For a C8 Corvette on its run-flat tires, I would not inflate them to the sidewall maximum for winter storage. A better approach is to set them to the door-placard pressure—typically 30 psi front and rear—or add only about 3–5 psi to compensate for cold-weather pressure loss.
Why run-flats differ
C8 run-flats are stiff, high-performance tires. Michelin’s guidance cited by C8 owners specifically advises against storage overinflation because a loaded, overinflated tire in a warm environment can develop more persistent flat-spotting; modern tires generally recover from ordinary temporary flat spots within a few miles of driving.
GM’s own storage guidance likewise says overinflating may do more harm than good and recommends taking weight off the tires instead.
Best storage setup
Set pressures to the C8 door-jamb specification before storage; verify with a calibrated gauge while the tires are cold.
If the garage will get very cold, add roughly 3–5 psi above placard pressure to offset the seasonal drop—do not chase the sidewall maximum.
For a full Calgary winter, put the car on quality jack stands or a storage lift so the tires are unloaded; this is the most reliable flat-spot prevention.
If it must remain on its tires, park on clean, dry concrete or rubber mats, avoid heat sources/ozone exposure, and ideally roll it a short distance every few weeks.
