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MG TD TF 1500 - storage condition

dear friends,
I have question concerning winter storage of my 53TD.
Yesterday I change the oil and filled the gas tank. Now, my car is stored in the northern island of Germany in a large underground garage. On the island we have offshore climat with some salty air.
During the last weeks I mesured and record the temperature and the humidity inside the garage and found the following results:
Nov 14th, 10°C (50°F) 78% humidity => 7.34 g/m³
Nov 18th, 9°C (48°F) 83% humidity => 7.32 g/m³
Nov 21th, 7°C (45°F) 75% humidity => 5.32 g/m³

This seams for my OK the ammount of wather in the air is pretty low and this should help to keep the risk for corrosion low.

You agree ? Any comments, advises ?
What is your storage concept ? What's you recommendation for me ?
Thanks for any comment and help.
Cheers,
Guenter
Guenter

Hi Guenter,
Be very sure that what ever cover you use over the car, can breath. DO NOT USE PLASTIC. About 10 years ago, a chap put 2 TR3's under a plastic tarp as he had to store them outside. We live in a relatively dry climate, but when he finally decided to sell the cars about 5 years ago, they were nothing but a pile of rust. The plastic tarp had not been removed in all that time and it was a tragic loss of one good car and a good parts car. I understand he got $1500 for what was left. DO NOT USE PLASTIC. Being on an island I would think the humidity could get quite high at times.When I put my car away for the winter, I run the car outside and disconnect the fuel pump and let the car run until the float bowls run dry. Don't forget to disconnect the ground strap on the battery and raise the air in your tires to at least 30 lbs if you are not putting the car on jacks. It always makes me sad to put the car away but I know it is the best for it. Think about the good times next year.
George Raham
TD 4224
G. L. Raham

Guenter,

I would consider those humidity levels high, since it will take only a small drop in air temperature to reach the dew point, or the point at which water will condense out of the air unto a cooler surface. Since you also have salt in the air, that will also be deposited by any condensation.

I would get one of the plastic cacoons you see advertized. That will allow the transfer of air in and out of the cacoon, and as the air temperature drops and is less able to hold moisture, that air will be replaced by dryer low temperature air. An alternative is to park the car on a plastic sheet to prevent moisture from rising up from the floor, and cover with a cotton drape with about six inches of clearance around the bottom.

And... Everything that George suggested I also concur with.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

I have usually taken in my battery into the house over the winter. If you just disconnect the battery, at what temperature will the acid freeze? It can get down very low in the Chicago area.
Ron Coates

I use a carcoon. Only issue is you have to watch when the moisture levels start to rise. Our winters are fairly dry, but when spring comes and the temp rises, you can get condensation inside the bubble. I make sure I have the bubble open early in the spring.
Bruce-C

I always like winter storage questions because eveyrone has a litte different take on it and we get much information. My '52 TD went in a soft cover and then a bag two weeks ago. The bag breaths but also encloses two large dishes of drying agent under the car. After some consideration, I did not change the oil since it was clean and only 1,000 miles on it. My magic mechanic sugested we chane in the Spring. I did top up the radiator and put half a container of Stabil in the gas tank before filling and running it around a little. The vehicle is CLEAN. I thought about the battery but realized that i would destroy my back if I tried to remove it. I did install a trickel charger but don 't have the courage to run it in the bag constantly. Thus I run it aobout 8 hours a week while I'm around and using my nose. TD13583 is in a soft cover, in a bag, in an attached garage which will not go below freezing and hopefully jump our in late April.

Dick Thomas
Wooster, Ohio




Dick Thomas

Ron,

From the technical index of my website:

"My Two Cents about Car Batteries:
Car Batteries are pretty simple devices, and I routinely get eight to ten years from the ones in my
toy cars and boats by following these simple steps.

"Recognizing that batteries have poor cranking performance, but wonderful storage performance
the colder they are, I fully charge my batteries in October when I take them out of my vehicles.
Yes, that’s right, the vehicles go into warm storage at my warehouse, and the batteries come out
and sit a foot above my concrete garage floor, in the back, on a steel shelf. The cold actually
helps prevent discharge, and a fully charge battery won't freeze in any temperature we will see in
North America (For example, with a specific gravity or s.g. of 1.280, a fully charged battery will
freeze at -90 Deg F).

"In January, I give them a boost of charge, and again in late April, anticipating that I'll be needing
them soon.

"Works for me!
Dave Braun
Copyright 2008"

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

What luck to have cold weather.

Tonight's minimum temp is to be 28°C with tomorrow's high 36°c and humidity of between 60% and 80% all day.

It is our build up to the monsoon season, but the rains haven't arrived as yet, here in tropical Australia.

Due to the possibility of rain most old cars are not driven at this time of year.

Any way tomorrow I will spend an hour or two at the club house putting solder on the top and bottom radiator tanks ready for adding the new bottom saddle when it arrives and side straps.

cheers

Stuart
SR Duncan

I agree with Dave B,,, a lot of moisture comes up from a concrete floor! Plastic under the car helps keep the moisture away from the car,,,

SPW
Steve Wincze

Hi Stuart,
be happy with your temperatures but the temparature is not the problem for me. The combination is critical. In your case with 35°C and 80% humidity the air is loaded with 33,4 gramm per cubic meter that means 4 times mor than in my garage. Thats a lot of wather and you should be more effected by corosion than I should here in the north.
Right ?
Cheers,
Guenter
Guenter

Guenter,
I would suggest that your major consideration would be the salt in the air on an island which I presume is in the ocean. If your island is in an inland body of water, this is a very different situation. Would you confirm which situation your car is in.
George Raham
TD 4224
G. L. Raham

George,
you are right. Sylt is an Island in the North Sea at the border between Denmark and Germany. It is the northern more point of Germany.
I do not have any idea of salt concentration in the air but on stormy days you can feel it on you skin.
On the other hand I will not drive my little TD in such a weather condition but the salt is laying down on the roads and if I drive on sunny days I’m pretty sure the salt will be transferred on to the car structure.
But I believe millions of people living in the coast areas will have similar situation and may be they have experience how to protect there cars.
That’s were I’m looking fore.
Cheers,
Guenter

http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&hl=de&geocode=&q=sylt&sll=51.151786,10.415039&sspn=13.436433,28.125&ie=UTF8&ll=54.903461,8.467712&spn=0.365573,0.878906&t=h&z=10&pw=2
Guenter

Guenter,
Thank you for the map. I love maps and it certainly explains your situation. I have relatives in Florida and they never leave their cars out in the open without some form of cover over them that allows for a good flow of air around the car. I think your condition would require a similiar effort. They can also spray down their cars, which I doubt you will be able to do. The important thing to consider is cover and air flow. I hope your TD comes through the winter in good condition.
George Raham
TD 4224
G. L. Raham

This thread was discussed between 23/11/2008 and 25/11/2008

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