MTFCA Forum

I found some older posts on the old forum, but nothing in the new forum and opinions can change over the years. I was wondering, for those of us who live in the cold northern states (I'm in Wyoming), what do you all do to winterize your Model T?

Northern Michigan.. coolant protection to -20 degrees below, stabilizer in fuel w/85% full tank, battery on battery tender ( 1 amp max output ) & Cab Fresh Botanical Rodent Repellent..under hood and interior.
John
Oscoda Michigan

Move to south Texas

Like John,
Coolant, stabilizer, plus oil change, drain my carburetor, and put the car on jack stands. Last year I cheated though, Jan 1 was a Sunday, we got 8 inches of fresh snow, and no salters were out so I had to go for a ride. Weeee

Do a fall lube/oil change. Check anti-freeze to make sure it is ok for our lowest temps. Disconnect battery between drives. Check and charge battery if/as needed. Keep tires aired up. Drive the car every so often if you can to keep limbered up.

Mark

We're near Yellowstone and can see -35F and 100 MPH winds, periodically. I don't know about JBOG, but it's all I can do to keep ME limbered up through winter!

Drain the radiator, drain the gas tank and remove the battery to warm shop or garage. Best way to do it.

Yeh, any more i drain the radiator no matter what. May start draining the gas tank too, but I've always had great luck with a totally full, stabilized tank of fuel. We'll see.

Reese-G wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 20, 2021 3:18 pm

Drain the radiator, drain the gas tank and remove the battery to warm shop or garage. Best way to do it.

If you drain it, doesn't that allow rust to build up?

Scott_Conger wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 20, 2021 3:13 pm

Mark

We're near Yellowstone and can see -35F and 100 MPH winds, periodically. I don't know about JBOG, but it's all I can do to keep ME limbered up through winter!

Preaching to the choir on that one! The only way I stay limbered up Nov - May is shoveling the driveway and sidewalk.

RE draining the radiator/gas tank. Damp cast iron exposed to air, and it will be, would be more prone to rust than using the correct % of antifreeze left in, same with gas tank, more bare surface area to sweat and allow moisture to pool in the bottom of the gas tank.
RE cold; Don't you guys have snowmobile suits?

Mark, I will say, I agree about the risks of draining the fuel tank. Indeed even an empty tank can, and will, sweat during temperature swings. Thats why I probably will continue my practice of keeping them full literally to the top of the cap thread with plenty of StaBil in it. The rad, I usually drain just to be safe. There's enough antifreeze residue on the metal to prevent corrosion. At least I think there is!

What about putting oil or MMO or fogging spray or something down the spark plug holes?

If I don't plan on starting the car for three or more months, I pull the plugs and squirt a tablespoon or two of oil in each cylinder. Any condensation that forms in the cylinder will run down the walls to the rings and go to lunch on your rings and walls. It may smoke a little at first when you start it up, but I think it's old enough to smoke.

JBog wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 20, 2021 9:14 pm

What about putting oil or MMO or fogging spray or something down the spark plug holes?

FWIW ..I never have and never any problems. Sometimes less is more.

Winter eyes ?? (Your goggles fog up !)
Why not just drive all winter ?

Winterizing my RPU meens putting some cardboard over lower radiator and having a pair of gloves in it.
The grandkids would be disapointed if they couldnt go sleding behind it at the 1st good snow. A battery tender keeps it at the ready in winter months.

Rich Bingham wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 21, 2021 11:27 am

Winter eyes ?? (Your goggles fog up !)
Why not just drive all winter ?

It's a tourer. I don't want to freeze.

Raccoon-skin coat, Russian fur hat, or Viking fur-lined helmet with horns, heated socks and motorcycle gloves, goggles with Elton John wiper/defrost feature, and somehere to drive with no (*&**&%!!*^r! road salt...

Sta-Bil will keep your gas "fresh" for up to two years. If it makes you feel better fill the tank with alcohol-free Rec Fuel. I change the oil, then turn off the fuel and run the engine until it starves from lack of fuel. I leave anti-freeze in it year-around and have never had any problems....it also protects from corrosion. I place the car on Jacks and make sure the tires are at proper pressure. I make sure the battery is fully charged and check it a few times during the winter. I use a AGM type battery that holds it's charge very well and needs little attention. In the spring when it's time to bring it back to life I'll crank it thru a few times or hit the starter with the ignition off to spread the oil around before firing it up. I also have a car cover I use to keep the dust off.

Rich Bingham and Pat McNallen have it right: drive your car during the winter months.
Heck, we all need to drive our cars the whole year round in order to get our money's worth out of them.

With the proper clothing you are fine, and with proper coolant and proper oil for the cold temperatures your Model T will be fine.


This picture of me and my runabout was taken at a Model T Snowmobile meet in Tamworth, NH in February 2017. Tamworth is 110 miles from my home in Keene, NH. The car gave me no trouble and I did not get sick as a result of the trip. The day started out in the mid teens and the temperature never hit 30.

The Old Timers always advised "Fill your radiator with brook water and NEVER with pond water, because the pond will freeze, but the brook never does."

BHarper wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 23, 2021 1:27 pm

Rich Bingham and Pat McNallen have it right: drive your car during the winter months.
Heck, we all need to drive our cars the whole year round in order to get our money's worth out of them.

With the proper clothing you are fine, and with proper coolant and proper oil for the cold temperatures your Model T will be fine.


This picture of me and my runabout was taken at a Model T Snowmobile meet in Tamworth, NH in February 2017. Tamworth is 110 miles from my home in Keene, NH. The car gave me no trouble and I did not get sick as a result of the trip. The day started out in the mid teens and the temperature never hit 30.

The Old Timers always advised "Fill your radiator with brook water and NEVER with pond water, because the pond will freeze, but the brook never does."



16473281_356558638076140_8849894271387503640_n.jpg

Wow! So how's the traction driving on that ice and snow?

Bill Harper

here, a February day which includes "30" can also includes a "-"

there is no motivation in the world for me to drive in that!

Traction on the flat not bad, with chains better.

A gasoline heater can put out a lot of heat in a hurry. South Wind used to make them, and they are available today for old Jeeps, buses, and such like. Search: "gasoline auto heater"

If my T is going to sit for even a few weeks with the engine running I speed it up to a fast idle, shut off the gas and run the carb dry. I always run about 50-50 ethylene glycol ALL the time in the cooling system. Have for years with no problem