Winter Engine Storage Tips

Mike Delahanty · 11-21-2010, 06:08 PM

It's that time of year again. Let's hear some ideas, tips, tricks and products for prepping race engines to hibernate through the winter and awake fresh and ready in the spring.

Ed Fernandez · 11-21-2010, 06:39 PM

I took the engine out of the car for a new heart this year.But normally from year to year the car stays in the trailer and I have a block heater,freeze out plug type,that stays on from Nov-March.I hand turn the crank every two weeks and run the water pump twice monthly also.The engine stays at about 90 degrees.I've never had condensation up under the cover ever.
And it keeps the trailer at about 45 degrees all winter.

Jody Lang · 11-21-2010, 06:53 PM

Pickle motor with 2 stroke oil/gas mix. Back rockers off. Also some anti freeze for lube and freeze protection.

Draining water doesn't always work. I know of 2 racers that drained water out of their motors only to find a cracked block the next year.

mannymen · 11-21-2010, 10:17 PM

Jody u don't me personally,but make that three. My 427 had 2 nice cracks in it this spring. Didn't know until after my first pass when testing. Overheated and that was all she wrote.

Jody Lang · 11-21-2010, 10:35 PM

Both ones i know of were filled blocks. The blocks cracked just above the filler by the back 2 cylinders.

Doug Blackley · 11-21-2010, 10:47 PM

And pull the carb and headers off to seal up the intake and exhaust ports helps too. Pull out each plug and spray WD-40 or equivalent into each cylinder then put the plugs back in. A little more work put the extra protection is worth it.

phillip wigington · 11-24-2010, 12:48 AM

grea tip on sealing up the collectors on hedders especially if you run a fenderwell exit hedder and if you dont run mufflers! because any moisture will find its way back up to the heads and rust the valves. also on regular carbs drain the fuel bowls to prevent gumming up . after using a good quality fuel additive and running motor.(stabill) i was once told its a good idea to put slick's in large plastic garbage bags and spray down with a non silicone based lubricant to prevent sidewall dry out and store them flat not standing up to prevent flat spots.

njk53 · 11-24-2010, 02:11 PM

Be careful using 100% antifreeze in cold climates. Pure antfreeze is only good to +9 deg F (-13 deg C). Always use a 50/50 mix. When it comes to antifreeze more is not better.

treessavoy · 11-24-2010, 02:40 PM

All good ideas but to prevent critters I just lock my dog in the car for two months and he eats all critters.......note: be sure you have a new interior ready for the next season................there's gotta be a better way but I'll figure it out.......someday!

JimR

Jim Cimarolli · 11-24-2010, 08:23 PM

I prefer the Bounce sheets over moth balls for the interior. I used them one year on a car and I can still smell those darn things even after I removed all of the seats, aired them out, and replaced all of the floor covering in the car, it was stifling.

11-21-2010, 06:08 PM	#1
Mike Delahanty VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,200 Likes: 0 Liked 271 Times in 53 Posts	Winter Engine Storage Tips It's that time of year again. Let's hear some ideas, tips, tricks and products for prepping race engines to hibernate through the winter and awake fresh and ready in the spring.

11-21-2010, 06:39 PM	#2
Ed Fernandez Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NOO JOISEY nexta NOO YAWK Posts: 5,879 Likes: 38 Liked 100 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Winter Engine Storage Tips I took the engine out of the car for a new heart this year.But normally from year to year the car stays in the trailer and I have a block heater,freeze out plug type,that stays on from Nov-March.I hand turn the crank every two weeks and run the water pump twice monthly also.The engine stays at about 90 degrees.I've never had condensation up under the cover ever. And it keeps the trailer at about 45 degrees all winter. __________________ Former NHRA #1945 Former IHRA #1945 T/SA

11-21-2010, 06:53 PM	#3
Jody Lang Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 306 Likes: 28 Liked 89 Times in 28 Posts	Re: Winter Engine Storage Tips Pickle motor with 2 stroke oil/gas mix. Back rockers off. Also some anti freeze for lube and freeze protection. Draining water doesn't always work. I know of 2 racers that drained water out of their motors only to find a cracked block the next year.

11-21-2010, 10:17 PM	#4
mannymen Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 728 Likes: 5 Liked 13 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Winter Engine Storage Tips Jody u don't me personally,but make that three. My 427 had 2 nice cracks in it this spring. Didn't know until after my first pass when testing. Overheated and that was all she wrote. __________________ N/A

11-21-2010, 10:35 PM	#5
Jody Lang Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 306 Likes: 28 Liked 89 Times in 28 Posts	Re: Winter Engine Storage Tips Both ones i know of were filled blocks. The blocks cracked just above the filler by the back 2 cylinders.

11-21-2010, 10:47 PM	#6
Doug Blackley Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Hanover, MA Posts: 430 Likes: 3 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Winter Engine Storage Tips And pull the carb and headers off to seal up the intake and exhaust ports helps too. Pull out each plug and spray WD-40 or equivalent into each cylinder then put the plugs back in. A little more work put the extra protection is worth it. __________________ Doug Blackley 1697 STK

11-24-2010, 12:48 AM	#7
phillip wigington Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: canton ga Posts: 6 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Winter Engine Storage Tips grea tip on sealing up the collectors on hedders especially if you run a fenderwell exit hedder and if you dont run mufflers! because any moisture will find its way back up to the heads and rust the valves. also on regular carbs drain the fuel bowls to prevent gumming up . after using a good quality fuel additive and running motor.(stabill) i was once told its a good idea to put slick's in large plastic garbage bags and spray down with a non silicone based lubricant to prevent sidewall dry out and store them flat not standing up to prevent flat spots. __________________ Some days your the dog! Most days your the hydrant!.

11-24-2010, 02:11 PM	#8
njk53 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: East China, MI Posts: 504 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Winter Engine Storage Tips Be careful using 100% antifreeze in cold climates. Pure antfreeze is only good to +9 deg F (-13 deg C). Always use a 50/50 mix. When it comes to antifreeze more is not better. __________________ Nelson Kowal Stock 345

11-24-2010, 02:40 PM	#9
treessavoy VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Dunnellon,FL Posts: 1,103 Likes: 0 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Winter Engine Storage Tips All good ideas but to prevent critters I just lock my dog in the car for two months and he eats all critters.......note: be sure you have a new interior ready for the next season................there's gotta be a better way but I'll figure it out.......someday! JimR __________________ Jim Rountree

11-24-2010, 08:23 PM	#10
Jim Cimarolli Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sulphur Springs Texas Posts: 742 Likes: 146 Liked 166 Times in 46 Posts	Re: Winter Engine Storage Tips I prefer the Bounce sheets over moth balls for the interior. I used them one year on a car and I can still smell those darn things even after I removed all of the seats, aired them out, and replaced all of the floor covering in the car, it was stifling.