Storage Question

[Hugh A.]

It was suggested to me that in a climate and humidity controlled storage garage that the vehicle's windows be left open.

Open or closed, what's the consensus?

[Joe L.]

Re: Storage Question

It was suggested to me that in a climate and humidity controlled storage garage that the vehicle's windows be left open.

Open or closed, what's the consensus?

Hugh-----


I wouldn't leave it fully open. That would assist any "critters" that might be in the garage to gain entry. Just leaving one window open a crack will be enough to equalize the atmosphere within and without the interior of the car. In fact, as "non-airtight" as Corvettes tend to be, even that might not be necessary.

[Hugh A.]

Re: Storage Question

Hugh-----


I wouldn't leave it fully open. That would assist any "critters" that might be in the garage to gain entry. Just leaving one window open a crack will be enough to equalize the atmosphere within and without the interior of the car. In fact, as "non-airtight" as Corvettes tend to be, even that might not be necessary.

Joe, what would be the implication of equalizing (or of not equalizing) the atmosphere and how important is this?

[Rick S.]

Re: Storage Question

In our garage during the winter storage months, we keep the windows closed and have car covers for each car. The garage is heated and the temp is kept at approx 55 degrees but if we are going to work on a car we will bump the temp to the high 60's. Do you have car covers for each vehicle?
Rick

[Joe L.]

Re: Storage Question

Joe, what would be the implication of equalizing (or of not equalizing) the atmosphere and how important is this?

Hugh-----


I don't know that it is very important. However, if one is going through the effort and expense to store their car in a temperature and humidity-controlled environment, then one must think that temperature and humidity control are important factors to preserve ones car. In that case, one would want to ensure that the temperature and humidity control are "equally available" to the interior and exterior of the car. As I mentioned, this would likely occur whether or not a window is left slightly open, but doing so would help ensure it and there'd be no downside to it.

[Hugh A.]

Re: Storage Question

I certainly do, thanks.

[Hugh A.]

Re: Storage Question

Makes sence, thanks.

[Jim T.]

Re: Storage Question

My garage is not climated controlled like my house although they are not separated. I leave the windows up on my 96 LT4 and with the amount of time it spends in the dark garage when we get in it, which is not very often, it still still has its new car interior smell.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Storage Question

I store my cars in a heated garage and leave the windows all the way down on all the old cars. The new one is closed up tight so the alarm could work if needed and it is the only one with a battery hooked up.

[John H.]

Re: Storage Question

Pressure-wise, the interior of the car is exposed to the outside air through the heater and kickpad vents via the plenum below the cowl vent grille if you just leave one of them cracked slightly; leave the windows up to keep critters out.

A friend of mine had his Ferrari stored under a fitted cover in the garage of his summer home on the lake for the winter and left a window open about 1/2", and when he went up to the lake to bring it home in the spring, mice had done about $7000 worth of damage to the instrument panel wiring harness.

[Duke W.]

Re: Storage Question

For storage I seal up the interior as much as possible - windows closed, vents closed, heater plenum closed - to close off all critter paths.

But the car is not hermetically sealed so changes to the exterior environment will slowly progress to the interior, but the average variation will be less.

If your storage is "climate controlled" then the exterior environment will stay constant, which is even more reason to close the car up.

I leave mouse traps inside each tire and leave poison "mouse bars" in the engine compartment, cockpit and trunk - each separate compartment.

Duke

[Stuart F.]

Re: Storage Question

As bad as mice can be, squirrels can be even more destructive. My brother-in-laws' 04 pickup had nearly $8000 damage to the wiring harness. It all happened in the course of just barely a week in a detached garage. There is something about the new wiring insulation that they love. It took the dealer almost a month to replace and test the entire cowl forward wiring harness. He decided to trade it in as he didn't trust it anymore. He began noticing that it wasn't running right and different accessories started acting up. When he took it in, the engine would run, but would not acelerate.

Stu fox

[Dale S.]

Re: Storage Question

I have posted this before, we cut the top off large plastic soda bottles and fill it half full of moth balls. We put these in our boats (motor and cabin compartments) . Also in with our linens and bedding cabinets in our Cottage in Canada. We also do it to our 64 VW in the detached garage. We cover the beds with a plastic drop cloth and put a paper plate with moth balls under the drop cloth. A few hours of moth ball smell in the spring and it is gone. No mouse or squirrel damage since 1980's, when mice or squirrels ate the wiring, motor cover and seat of my boat. Dale

[Michael W.]

Re: Storage Question

Leave one up and the other down- then you have a 50/50 chance of getting it right.

[Hugh A.]

Re: Storage Question

Leave one up and the other down- then you have a 50/50 chance of getting it right.

I like those odds.