Blog

9 steps to winterizing your collector vehicle

It’s not an ordinary car. It needs more than ordinary care—especially when prepping it for winter hibernation. Collector vehicles face potential hazards all year round, even while sitting still. To help yours survive the cold months, it’s important to pay attention to the details and follow a thorough winterization process. 

1. Fuel stabilizer, your engine’s best friend. As fuel sits, it degrades and coats the inside of the tank and engine parts. Stabilizer in the tank prevents that. Run the engine a little to get the treatment into the carburetor or injectors.
2. Top off the fuel. This prevents condensation build-up in the tank.
3. And the oil. Make sure the oil level is full. Once spring comes around, you’ll want to start the car, warm the engine up to operating temperature to burn out the moisture, and then change the oil so you’re ready for show season.
4. Test your anti-freeze. Testing the antifreeze is extremely important to preventing freeze damage to the inside of the engine block. Antifreeze testers are available at most auto parts stores. 
5. Clean before covering. Clean and wax the exterior before putting on a breathable car cover. This will help maintain paint quality and prevent moisture that can cause corrosion and mildew. 
6. Treat your tires.  Inflate tires properly and treat them with a good tire gel, both inside and outside walls. If you can, put the car on jack stands to get the weight off the tires and help prevent flat spots.
7. Drier is better. The interior and exterior of the car need to be protected from moisture.   A damp garage will corrode all bare metals, damage paint, and cause mildew and mold in the interior. A small fan or a shop light with a candescent light bulb under the car will help eliminate moisture. For the interior, DampRid or some sort of moisture absorbing material will keep things clean and dry.
8. Stay charged. Use a battery tender that monitors the battery and charges it when needed.
9. Doublecheck coverage. Last but not least, check your car’s insurance policy or talk with your agent. Even if you’re storing your ride indoors, it’s still at risk of theft, vandalism, or damage.

For informational purposes only and may not be applicable to all situations.

Coverage is subject to policy terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, underwriting review, and approval, and may not be available for all risks or in all states. Rates and discounts vary, are determined by many factors and are subject to change. Policies are written by one of the licensed insurers of American Modern Insurance Group, Inc., including American Modern Home Insurance Company d/b/a in CA American Modern Insurance Company (Lic. No 2222-8).