Storing My Diesel Truck Over Winter Advice

[SweetLou]

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.

[ford_truck_guy]

Me too Jerry ! :B

[Cummins12V98]

I'm still here Jerry.

[MFL]

Grit dog said: " the observant person should pick up on the context of people’s posts. And realize that some of us may know more than others about some things…." Once in a while Grit will state "ICBW", but most likely, he is not. Still makes me smile though, as my partner uses that saying on occasion, if she suspects she is wrong. 🙂

Years ago, when I started spending more time on the forum, it was easy to pick out the posters, that consistently gave factual information. I've enjoyed being forum friends with many of these type people!

There are many members on these forums, that just help when they can, and are just all around nice guys. Sorry to say, a few, that I was friends with, left the forum.

Jerry

[Cummins12V98]

Hey if you can back up what you say it's not bragging or being arrogant.

[Grit_dog]

fj12ryder wrote:
Snorting with derision at something you don't believe doesn't necessarily make it not so. Amazing how that works. 🙂

Nice contextual use of big words… thank you for increasing my vocabulary.
But to be fair, unlike the litany of Monday morning QBs on this site, who continually profess their “knowledge” because they’ve owned a truck or 2, towed a trailer somewhere and may have even changed their own oil a time or 2, I’ve fortunately or unfortunately had FAR more experience than that.
Of course that’s hard to portray in a simple written response without seeming smug and repetitive but the observant person should pick up on the context of people’s posts. And realize that some of us may know more than others about some things….

[Cummins12V98]

We had a few days around 5 degrees in W WA last winter. ONLY disconnected the negatives and it sat for 6 months. 2001 Diesel fired right up no issue no stabilizer, nothing special.

My 19 Jeep GC I made sure the last tank was 100% non ethanol, disconnected the battery negative, 6 mo later connected battery and it ran great! ZERO Stabil.

[Lwiddis]

What is wrong with using a battery maintainer? That is what they are for!

[Grit_dog]

SweetLou wrote:
Interesting posts to say the least. I purchased the Ctek and have it connected to my two batteries that I pulled from the 5er. After a week the voltmeter shows the maintenance charge at 13.8. Is this maintenance that high? I would have thought it to be somewhere around 13 to 13.2. I really don't want to boil out the batteries. They are filled up but I am just wondering if this is ok before I hook them up to the truck.
To others that posted to start the truck or drive it periodically, I can't do that when I am not here for the winter.

Float mode is 13.6v according to a ctek manual. But you’re probably not understanding the smart aspect of the charger. It doesn’t just float 24/7/365 on a fully charged battery. That’s why it’s a smart charger!

[PA12DRVR]

Just put one of my diesel p/u's to bed for the winter...of course, Los Anchorage then got a record high. :(.

In any case:...pulled two batteries out and into the garage where they'll get charged once a month or so on the trickle charger. Filled the fuel tank with winter blend and added a bit of Stabil. I think DEF was at about 1/3....didn't do a thing with it.

If the OP is storing in Western WA, probably won't see real cold weather. However, if you anticipate -10 or colder, I'd recommend going the trickle charger route and not "just" disconnecting leads. I've had fully charged batteries work fine to -30 or so (beyond that is the general range of colder than heck...and I don't do much in those temps anymore). A depleted charge battery will freeze in those same temps...as I've found out twice with the house batteries at the cabin.

[Cummins12V98]

Disconnect two negative terminals and be done with it.

[SweetLou]

Interesting posts to say the least. I purchased the Ctek and have it connected to my two batteries that I pulled from the 5er. After a week the voltmeter shows the maintenance charge at 13.8. Is this maintenance that high? I would have thought it to be somewhere around 13 to 13.2. I really don't want to boil out the batteries. They are filled up but I am just wondering if this is ok before I hook them up to the truck.
To others that posted to start the truck or drive it periodically, I can't do that when I am not here for the winter.

[Geo_Boy]

Grit dog wrote:
Anymore old wives tales and misconception we can throw in this thread?

Like maybe block your axles up so the tires don’t flat spot or the concrete doesn’t suck the good stuff out of the rubber? Lol

When I park my truck for 4 months , I just put down 4 pieces of luan so my truck tires don’t leave black marks on the concrete.

[fj12ryder]

Snorting with derision at something you don't believe doesn't necessarily make it not so. Amazing how that works. 🙂

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Grit dog wrote:
Anymore old wives tales and misconception we can throw in this thread?

Like maybe block your axles up so the tires don’t flat spot or the concrete doesn’t suck the good stuff out of the rubber? Lol

LOL, Grit they forgot the throw salt over their left shoulder and let it gently fall into the bed of the truck. Or keep all black cats 100' away from your truck.

[ppine]

Use Stabil in the fuel. DEF has a service life of about 6 months.

Letting vehicles sit for 6 months is hard on them. Pull the batteries and put a low voltage maintainer on them.

I have 4 vehicles and make sure I drive them all at least once a week. For a month off I just disconnect the ground on the batteries. But for 6 months they need to be charged.