Anyone who has spent any amount of time on an automotive forum will know that the topic of winterization is one that invites debate and disagreement. But Chevrolet is wading in with its recommendations on how Corvette owners (and, by extension, any car owner) should prepare their car for storage.
The video covers a number of commonly debated issues and in some resolves that there is no wrong answer. Take, for instance, the debate over whether you should change your oil before or after putting a car in storage. GM Vehicle Systems Engineer Garrett Kerns says that the right decision is the one you prefer. He does, however, opine that people who put oil in their car before it goes into storage will spend of some the oil’s lifetime not really using it.
Also nuanced is the topic of washing a car before putting it in storage. Although this is a fine idea, Kerns says that if you’re washing your car in your driveway, you should take it for one last spin before putting it in the garage to dry some of the water off the brakes and avoid risking damage to them.
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Some topics are more cut and dry, though – and Kerns even advises against some commonly held wisdom. On the subject of avoiding flat spots, he says that research indicates that overinflating your tires may actually do more harm than good. He instead recommends lifting the car and putting it on jack stands or using a sacrificial set of wheels.
Similarly, as to the debate about whether or not a convertible should be stored with the top up or down, Kerns advises against putting the top down for the winter. Regardless of what happens to the roof, an open cabin allows dust in and, more destructively, could even allow animals in.
No doubt, this advice will be helpful to some car owners who still haven’t quite put their vehicles away for the winter. And although, I suspect, it won’t end any debates, it is useful to have an expert weigh in on the subject.