How to Winterize Your Mustang (For Storage)
So, you decided to go with the safe option rather than taking a chance on driving your Mustang in the snow. Don't worry – you'll only need to wait a few months before you can get back out on the open road and enjoy the spring air pouring in through the windows. Plus, you'll have a ton of time between winter and spring to start some new projects, like finally installing that new exhaust system you always wanted. Whether you're going to be storing your Mustang in the garage or another space, you'll need to take a couple of steps to make sure it's still in pristine condition the first time you bring it back to life. When storing your Mustang in winter, there are three main things you need to focus on – your battery, fuel and tires.
Battery
The first step you'll have to take is making sure your battery won't be affected by the cold that comes from storing your Mustang in winter. If your car is going to be sitting in the cold unused, the battery can drain. If it drains too much, the battery will die – leaving you severely frustrated when the weather starts to turn warmer. We suggest finding a battery tender to keep connected to your battery all winter. Battery tenders are significantly cheaper than purchasing a new battery and will supply your battery with a nice constant charge, so you're ready for action at any time.
Fuel
When storing your Mustang in winter, you'll want to keep a close eye on your fuel. Leaving fuel in the tank for long periods of time can actually make it go bad – making your Mustang almost impossible to start (if at all) without having to drain the tank completely. We recommend that you purchase some fuel stabilizer before you store your Mustang so your system is protected and in perfect condition in the spring.
Tires
Our final recommendation for storing your Mustang in winter is to keep it elevated on a lift or a jack stand, so you don't get flat spots on your tires. If you leave your Mustang in one spot for a significant period, your Mustang wheels will develop flat spots will develop flat spots that make driving shaky and practically unbearable.
How to Winterize Your Mustang (For Winter Driving)
Jack Frost be damned – you're taking the plunge and driving your Mustang in the snow all winter long. We don't blame you. It's hard to step away from, even for a couple of months. As we mentioned, driving Mustangs in the snow is not impossible, but it can be tricky at times. The following is a list of things you can do to safely prepare for driving a Mustang in the snow.
1. Give it a Final Wash & Wax
Sure, you can wash your car in the winter – but let's be honest, it's not very enjoyable. To prepare for driving a Mustang in the snow, go ahead and give it a final wash and wax to keep the dirt to a minimum. Wax will help you protect your Mustang from the worst thing about winter driving – the salt. Salt is corrosive and can rust out your car, so giving your Mustang a good waxing helps protect your paint. It's also pretty beneficial to find a spray or protectant to help pretreat your undercarriage.
2. Buy Mustang Snow Tires
A good set of Mustang snow tires will go a long way when it comes to Mustangs in the snow. A proper set of Mustang winter tires on your rear-wheel-drive vehicle is essential when it comes to maneuvering through snowy winter roads. Ford Mustang snow tires aren't what they used to be – the technology has improved considerably to keep your drives quiet and smooth. Adding some Mustang snow tires by the late fall is one thing you don't want to compromise on. Driving your Mustang with snow tires will have a very noticeable impact compared to summer tires that aren't built to hold onto the wet surface of the road.
If you live in an area where you won't need to drive much faster than 30mph, you could always opt to purchase a set of Mustang snow chains rather than replacing all your tires. Mustang snow chains are highly effective but come with the risk of damaging your Mustang or your tires if you hit a hard surface or drive just a bit too fast.
3. Give Yourself a Coolant Checkup
Before you decide to take your Mustang out for some chilly winter driving, you're going to want to have enough coolant in your system to make sure your heating and cooling system works properly. It's also essential to ensure it's at the right freezing point. If it is too high and there's too much water in your system, it might freeze and expand. This can result in blowing a freeze plug or even cracking your engine block. Rather than worrying about driving your Mustang in the snow, you're going to worry about replacing some pretty important parts.
4. Prepare Your Windshield Wipers & Fluid
Nothing is worse than driving your Mustang in winter snowfalls and having an old pair of wipers streak the snow across your windshield rather than cleaning it. Investing in a good pair of snow-ready wiper blades will help keep your visibility high. In the same vein, ditch your summer windshield wiper fluid for some deicer fluid. Not only will it help those early icy mornings, but deicing fluid is specially treated to stay in a liquid form under severe cold conditions – ensuring your windshield wiper fluid won't freeze on you.
5. Check Your Brakes
If you're going to be driving your Mustang in the snow and ice, one of the most essential things to look out for is your brakes. It's not like we really need to explain this one to you. Ice and snow are slippery, and after a long summer of burnouts and fun, you're going to want to make sure your brake pads and rotors are in pristine condition.
6. Prep With WD-40
WD-40 is a lifesaver, especially in the winter. To protect your trunk and doors from freezing over in the cold, wipe down your weather stripping with it to make sure you can always get them open.
Driving Your Mustang in the Snow (The Safe Way)
Can you drive a Mustang in the winter safely? Safe winter driving comes down to your skill and technique as a driver. Mustang snow tires and upgraded brakes will only get you so far; you have to practice safe driving skills to keep driving a Mustang in the snow all winter long. The following are just a few winter driving techniques that Mustang drivers should always keep in mind:
- Ease Into Higher Speeds: You're more likely to lose traction while accelerating, even with a good set of Mustang winter tires. As fun as it is to slam the gas to the ground and go 0-60 in less than four seconds, winter just isn't the time to be taking the risk.
- Leave A Good Amount of Distance: You probably can feel how long it takes for your Mustang to come to a complete stop in the summer. Take that time and double it, just to be safe. When driving Mustangs in the snow, you need to significantly increase your following distance from the car ahead of you to ensure you don't smash right into their rear.
- Add More Weight: Adding more weight to your rear end is very important when driving a Mustang in winter – do it however you can. We suggest a big bag of salt, sand or even kitty litter to keep the weight over your rear tires for more control. Plus, if you get stuck, you can use its contents for more traction.
Winterize Your Mustang with Lethal Performance
Whether you're behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang GT, a Mach-1 or a Mustang EcoBoost or you need 2024 Ford Mustang parts, Lethal Performance has the gear you need to keep your Mustang in top condition all winter long. We also offer upgrades like performance Mustang exhaust systems and aftermarket Mustang rims. Driving your Mustang in the snow doesn't have to be the challenge everyone makes it out to be – with the right techniques in mind and proper preparation using our products, you'll be able to make it during the cold months, ready for the fun spring brings. If you're looking to keep it stored away or you want to drive your Mustang in winter, we have all the products you need for your make and model. All you have to do is navigate to your vehicle page and choose from our categories. We have brake equipment, winter fluids, the best snow tires for Mustangs and more from the top brands in the game. View our entire selection of Ford Mustang parts today, and get your Mustang prepared for the long winter ahead with Lethal Performance.
Shop Lethal Performance Today
