What should I do this fall to get ready for spring?

[Jim Shearer]

I have a car that I drive in sprig, summer, and winter. Last spring I washed, clayed, M105, M205, M7, M21, and M26. Throughout he summer I applied M26 as needed. I also use UQD several times a week when it is driven. The surface looks perfect! No swirls, etc.

I will to store the car for the winter in a heated garage and covered. I think next spring I would like to apply M7, M21, and M26. Does this plan look good?

And for my main question, what should I do this fall to protect and nourish the surface and have it ready for the spring?

[BarryK]

Re: What should I do this fall to get ready for spring?

you aren't storing the car for a long extended period (which I only consider as at LEAST a full year or more) so there isn't much you need to do. I have car I store every winter from approx Nov 1st to April 1st and it sounds like yours is stored even shorter than that.

Since it sounds like you already have the paint well prepped, protected, and maintained I'd simply make sure the gas tank is full, tires are filled to correct inflation pressure, do a QD wipedown to get rid of any dust on the paint surface before putting on the car cover (if you use one) and let her go to sleep.
Oh, I'd also hook up a Battery Tender to keep the battery charge level up.

Do NOT get tempted to start the car while in storage to keep the battery charged or the gaskets wet and lubricated, and all the other excused people tell themselves to start a car while in storage - all you are doing is more harm than good. Put the Battery Tender on it and leave it alone until it's time to take it back out of storage.

I would also normally suggest some packs of silica gel on the interior to remove excess moisture but in your heated garage that shouldn't be an issue.

Once Spring arrives and it's time to take the car out of storage to use it I find that even with a car cover on it some dust finds it's way on the paint so I personally like to do a complete rewash, clay, etc all over. You may have some contamination in the paint from the dust after a few months so claying after washing is good and since that will also remove all existing wax it's a time to redo the 07 Glaze, M21 and m26 and you should be good to go to enjoy the car again

[Justin A]

Re: What should I do this fall to get ready for spring?

Leave the windows open, get some never flat blocks, and a battery tender.

M7, M21, and M26 is a good plan.

[Jim Shearer]

Re: What should I do this fall to get ready for spring?

Thanks for the suggestions guys. If the car doesn't need to be clayed in the spring, what should I do to remove any residual wax on the surface before starting with M7?

[BarryK]

Re: What should I do this fall to get ready for spring?

Thanks for the suggestions guys. If the car doesn't need to be clayed in the spring, what should I do to remove any residual wax on the surface before starting with M7?

are you using a cover during storage? If not I can almost put money down that with the dust the car will collect just sitting there it will need claying in the spring.
If you are using a cover and determine in the spring that you do not need to clay you can either use Dawn dish detergent soap during the wash, that usually removed most or all of the wax or do an 1:1 alcohol wipedown.

BTW, what kind of car is it?

[Jim Shearer]

Re: What should I do this fall to get ready for spring?

Thanks Barry.

are you using a cover during storage?

I am using a Coverking Custom Car Cover satin stretch class 3. It is supposed to be an excellt cover to keep dust off the car. I haven't used it before so we will see if it lives up to its billing.

BTW, what kind of car is it?

It is a 2010 black Corvette ZR1.

Jim

[Dan Fisher]

Re: What should I do this fall to get ready for spring?

Well now we know why you will putting it away for the winter !!! I do the same thing with my 03 Anniversay Edition and it is still like brand new, never seen the winter snow sleet or salt to mess up the Paint!!! Good luck putting it to sleep for the cold months. Congrats on the purchase! Oh 1 more thing they are correct you will get dust , I have a taylor fitted cover for mine and some how dust still gets in over time, but it is always fun too clean it up again in the spring. Let us know if your satin cover holds up to as advertised!!!!

[BarryK]

Re: What should I do this fall to get ready for spring?

black ZR1.... SWEET!!!

mine is a '65 Vette coupe.

I use a top quality, premium, custom fitted indoor cover during storage and I can tell you that you WILL still get dust on the car.
Just be sure to do a good QD wipedown before putting the cover on since the cover, no matter how soft the inside lining, can swirl/scratch the paint from any dust on the paint as you are putting the cover on.

To be on the safe side just plan on reclaying it in the spring. claying doesn't take that long and it's not that much extra work so I'd just do it. Besides, it's the best way to get all the old M21/M26 off to start fresh in the spring.

[Jim Shearer]

Re: What should I do this fall to get ready for spring?

To be on the safe side just plan on reclaying it in the spring. claying doesn't take that long and it's not that much extra work so I'd just do it. Besides, it's the best way to get all the old M21/M26 off to start fresh in the spring.

Good point. I will plan on washing and claying. Do you think it would be better to wash with Dawn then clay or wash with a car specific wash then clay?

[BarryK]

Re: What should I do this fall to get ready for spring?

if you are going to clay than you don't need the dawn, just use a good quality car wash shampoo like Megs GC shampoo or similar. I use #62 from the mirror glaze line but any of the Megs Shampoos or any other good quality car shampoo will do.

wash
clay
M07
M21
M26

wait 12-24 hours between the M21 and the M26. Sealants like the M21 like to have 12-24 hours time to bond to the paint for the best results before you top it with a wax, wash it, get the car wet, etc.

[Jim Shearer]

Re: What should I do this fall to get ready for spring?

Thanks for all the help and advise.