SweetLou
La Quinta, CA USA
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Joined: 06/03/2003
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I have a 2013 Ram 3500 Diesel. I want to store it in my shop this year in WA where it can get as low as -5 degrees. Mind you, it's not that cold all winter but it can get that low inside the shop. I have never stored a vehicle over winter in a cold area and I was wondering if any of you have experience with this process. It is a diesel with two batteries so please give me an Idea of what I should be doing. It will be stored for 6 months from October to Early May. Thanks in advance.
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Fisherman
Angus, Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 09/28/2002
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Get a battery maintainer and keep it plugged in, all the time. There are parasitic loads that will slowly kill the battery. You only need one, the batteries are wired together. If you can't power them inside the shop, bring them somewhere you can get power to do it. My 2004 went 10 years on the original batteries doing that.
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Michelle.S
Western NY till fall, then Sebring, FL
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I would make sure you have a full tank of fuel and make sure it's conditioned with any one of several brands of Diesel Fuel Stabilizer. You need it full to limit water forming due to temp changes.
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theoldwizard1
SE MI
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Skip the maintainer. Make sure all fluids are topped off and the batteries are fully charged. Remove BOTH negative leads.
For extra insurance, put blocks under the frame so that there is no weight on the tires.
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SweetLou
La Quinta, CA USA
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theoldwizard1 wrote:Skip the maintainer. Make sure all fluids are topped off and the batteries are fully charged. Remove BOTH negative leads.
For extra insurance, put blocks under the frame so that there is no weight on the tires.
If you disconnect the batteries, then the computer won't remember anything. Wise?
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midnightsadie
ohio
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USE the maintainer,keeps things fresh. fill tank just for kicks put a bit of fuel maintainer in and kiss her good night.
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ScottG
Bothell Wa.
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Joined: 02/25/2005
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Use the maintainer and Biocide.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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Run DEF low unless you’re deleted. Run fuel low. Change the oil if you’re OCD and either disconnect or put a battery maintainer on it.
The full fuel tank thing is from times past when tanks had open vent systems and tanks were steel. And even at that, large amounts of condensation are really only a risk if exposed to the elements.
There will be a pile of people that say this is wrong, but I haven’t filled a tank in anything stored off season for 30 years. Carbed, efi, 2 smoke, 4 stroke or diesel.
Even old iron. I just spent 2 years restoring a truck. It did get started occasionally but sat for up to 6 months. Unheated shop, no problem. Only thing I did was put AV gas in the tanks so the fuel didn’t varnish.
All that said, only 6 months, you could turn it off, disconnect the batteries and shut the door and it would still be fine.
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austinjenna
Columbus, Ohio
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I rarely drive my truck in winter so I do have an onboard maintainer for the batteries and keep it on that. Also as others have said fill up the tank and use some type of conditioner. Most importantly, make sure you pat its hood and tell her what a good job she has done this year and let her take a rest.
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ford truck guy
Pennsylvania
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Like some mentioned before me... Make sure the fuel is treated for winter, you can use additive if you choose ( personal preference ) top off fluids if you desire and I use a maintainer on my batteries.
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