How to Prepare Your Miata for Winter

Whether you plan to drive your Mazda MX-5 Miata during the winter or store it, you’ll need to get it ready. In most cases, Miata drivers like to put their little car to bed before the snow starts to fall, but before they do, it needs some basic maintenance. Here’s how to prepare your Miata for winter.

Find the Perfect Spot for Your Miata

Before you can start thinking about maintenance, you need to determine where you will keep your Mazda MX-5 Miata. It needs a dark, dry spot, preferably with a concrete floor to help keep moisture away. If you must store it on a dirt floor, put plastic under it to serve as a barrier. You’ll also want to put some pieces of carpet or some plywood under the wheels.

Prevent Damage to the Wheels

You can prevent getting flat spots on your tires by either switching them out for some junk tires and then putting the good tires back on when you take your baby out for the summer. If you don’t have an extra set of tires, work with your good ones. Inflate them to 40 psi, and then every few weeks throughout the winter, roll the car forward and backward so it’s not sitting on the same part of the tire for several months. This will help prevent flat spots from developing and keep the tires from deflating to a level that could cause damage.

Before Storage Prep

Before you put your Miata in storage, give it a good wash and wax. A good coat of wax will help prevent scratches when you put the cover on and later remove it. Fill up the gas tank with premium fuel and add fuel stabilizer. Make sure to run the engine for a few minutes after you’ve added the stabilizer to make sure it gets to the carburetor, injectors, and fuel rails. A full tank is important because the fuller the gas tank, the less room there is for moisture to build up. It’s also a good idea to change the oil and the oil filter before you put it away for the winter and check the antifreeze.

When You Get to Storage

Bring some baking soda refrigerator packages with you and put them in the trunk and the cabin. You can prevent bugs and rodents from getting in by putting a plastic bag over the air inlet and exhaust pipes or covering them with something else. Unhook the battery and close all the windows.

Check in on Your Mazda MX-5 Miata Throughout the Winter

There are a few different schools of thought about whether you should periodically start your car throughout the winter. If you do start it up, make sure to let it run for at least ten to fifteen minutes to burn off any moisture and water vapor that initially builds up when you start it up after it’s been cold. If you don’t have time to let the engine run, just don’t start it at all.

Dream of Warmer Days When You Can Drive With the Top Down Again

Don’t fret. Winter doesn’t last forever, and before you know it, it will be time to take your Miata out of storage and enjoy those dreamy sunset drives. With the right preparation, your Mazda MX-5 Miata will be ready to hit the road once the snow melts and spring colors return.