Three quick quesions

[Jimbo]

1 - Now that "Fiat Season" is coming to an end, what is the best way to prepare it for the winter months?

2 - The oil drain plug seems to be stuck (I'm assuming the person who changed it last used an air wrench) - what is the best way to get it loose?

3 - My Fiat is an '81 - is 15-40 okay or should I switch to something else?

[So Cal Mark]

1. fill the fuel tank completely and add fuel stabilizer, make sure the cooling system has adequate coolant percentage. Store the car up on jack stands
2.I've never seen anyone use an air wrench on a drain plug, use a breaker bar or cheater to break it loose
3. 15/40 works well, use something with zinc in it

[Jimb]

you might also consider over inflating the tires if you don't put it up on jacks; also plug the exhaust pipe. On some cars I've left the doors open slightly...just enough to not collapse the rubber seals.
And one last thing; cover her up if the paint and top are good quality.
Jim

[aj81spider]

If you put it on jack stands should you put them under the suspension so the springs and shocks aren't left hanging all winter? Does that matter?

[lm48]

They’re also another option, Florida; we are just starting the season here. I will recommend some Marvin oil in the cylinders. I will also put some WD40 on chrome parts and leave the trunk, hood and doors a little open.

[azygoustoyou]

I used a vise grip to get my oil drain plug out. You can get a new one at Auto Ricambi.

[4uall]

Just completed my oil change and they recommended 5w50 synthetic

[So Cal Mark]

there's no zinc in the synthetic oil, if you choose to use it add a zinc supplement.
If you place the jackstands under the suspension, it's the same as having it sit on the tires

[fiat218]

this could be a dumb question. but why get it off the wheels

[Jimbo]

Thanks for the info.

I'll track down a breaker bar this weekend and see if I can't that that stupid plug off. And just to be sure, this is a standard (counter clockwise) turn. It's not reversed or anything.

I don't have the jack stands, so I'm hoping a quick driive (bi=weekly) around the block will keep the tires from flat spotting

[leftfield6]

You've already gotten your answers, so I won't muddy the water on most of the points, but Mark does bring up an interesting question. Whenever I've stored vehicles, i would put them up on jack stands, but with the support points being the axles/a-arms, etc. Always with the purpose of getting the weight of the car OFF the TIRES, but keeping the weight ON the springs/leafs/whatever.

Mark is saying it's preferred to let the suspension drop, and support the car by frame points, if I'm reading his post correctly.

Why? I confess I don't know exactly why I think the way I do it is right, it just "seems more right" than letting the suspension droop. I'm open to being ed-u-micated!!

[maytag]

well, from a metalurgical point of view, a spring will never "get more springy" (that's a technical term ). but it WILL lose some spring if left under load.

OK.... I made that up.

but here's the fact: if you leave the weight on the spring, it will eventually "sag", in the case of a leaf, or "lose height", in the case of a coil. However if you let the suspension droop, the springs are unattached and are "free", carrying neither tension nor compression. that makes for a spring that comes out of storage the same way it went in.