Winter storage question/concern

[Mailman]

Hello all;
New to these forums, so I'll dive right in with a question.

- I'm looking at an 08 zx-6r. However, for winter storage, it would have to be in an unheated garage, with temps reaching -20 to -30 for a few weeks during the winter.
In the past I've had heated garages, so I have no experience with this scenario.
Obviously, the usual storage maintenance would be done, but would those temps cause damage/problems anyway ?

[Crazyninja]

those temps will probably be hard on the seals and plastics of the bike. It may however be fine. I would run most of the gas out of it, add stabil fuel stabilizer to the remaining gas and run the engine until the stabilized fuel gets down into the injectors.

Make sure you engine coolant is mixed properly for those temperature so you don't have cracked engine or radiator from freezing.

wash and clean the bike really good waxing all the painted surfaces.
Cover the bike with an old sheet to keep dust and grime off of it.

Use front and rear stands to support the weight off the tires .

It should be OK.

[Mailman]

Originally Posted by Crazyninja

those temps will probably be hard on the seals and plastics of the bike. It may however be fine. I would run most of the gas out of it, add stabil fuel stabilizer to the remaining gas and run the engine until the stabilized fuel gets down into the injectors.

Make sure you engine coolant is mixed properly for those temperature so you don't have cracked engine or radiator from freezing.

wash and clean the bike really good waxing all the painted surfaces.
Cover the bike with an old sheet to keep dust and grime off of it.

Use front and rear stands to support the weight off the tires .

It should be OK.

Thanks for the reply; more than anything, the seals are what I'm worried about. Could lightly coat them with oil I guess.

Having said that, the stairs to our basement lead directly from an outside door, so maybe I'll throw down some plywood as a temporary ramp and store it down there :)

[raylsgreen]

Having done this in years past in the windy city, I would only add one change. Fill the tank, don't empty it. The stabil is a good idea but an empty tank can precipitate water from the air with temperature changes. A full tank prevents moist air from entering and any temperature cycling will cause the tank to "breathe". An oil change would be good if there's been a significant number of engines starts since the last change, but it's not so necessary any more with synthetic oil. Lastly if there's really no chance of riding during the winter, I block of the intake and exhaust with plastic wrap. Again, temperature cycling will cause the cylinder with an open valve to breath and potentially drop water. I have done that even in warm climates when I know the bike won't be ridden for 3 months or more.

[Mailman]

Originally Posted by raylsgreen

Having done this in years past in the windy city, I would only add one change. Fill the tank, don't empty it. The stabil is a good idea but an empty tank can precipitate water from the air with temperature changes. A full tank prevents moist air from entering and any temperature cycling will cause the tank to "breathe". An oil change would be good if there's been a significant number of engines starts since the last change, but it's not so necessary any more with synthetic oil. Lastly if there's really no chance of riding during the winter, I block of the intake and exhaust with plastic wrap. Again, temperature cycling will cause the cylinder with an open valve to breath and potentially drop water. I have done that even in warm climates when I know the bike won't be ridden for 3 months or more.

Thanks !

[Crazyninja]

I forgot about blocking the intake and exhaust. That's also what I do when I store my 2005 GTO for the winter. I put tennis balls in the exhaust pipes.

[DaWizzard]

when i lived in canada... this is what i did for winter storage...

change oil...
wash \ wax bike...
3\4 fill gas tank....
put fuel stabilizer as per instructions on bottle in tank
put bike in stands (get rubber off ground)
dissconnect battery.. and take inside (warm area)
plug exhaust
oil chain
cover bike... and cry a little... boring winter...LOL

in spring...
check battery water levels . charge and install
tire pressure
remove exhaust plug
take off stands...
start.... let run 15 mins b4 riding
go to gas station fill rest of tank...

RIDE BABY RIDE...LOLOL

[Mailman]

Originally Posted by DaWizzard

when i lived in canada... this is what i did for winter storage...

change oil...
wash \ wax bike...
3\4 fill gas tank....
put fuel stabilizer as per instructions on bottle in tank
put bike in stands (get rubber off ground)
dissconnect battery.. and take inside (warm area)
plug exhaust
oil chain
cover bike... and cry a little... boring winter...LOL

in spring...
check battery water levels . charge and install
tire pressure
remove exhaust plug
take off stands...
start.... let run 15 mins b4 riding
go to gas station fill rest of tank...

RIDE BABY RIDE...LOLOL

Great, thanks for the info. I'm only 90 miles from Canada.