As others have said:
-add fuel stabilizer to a tank that's not full; let engine run about 5 minutes to circulate the stabilizer before shutting it off for the winter. There's an ongoing debate about whether it's better to park the car with a full tank ( arguably less chance of condensation developing) or a partially full tank. I hear people argue both sides of that debate
-I over-inflate my tires since they might lose some air when sitting. That way there's a better chance of them having the proper air pressure in them come Spring...or you deflate them to the correct pressure in the Spring then you're "good to go"
-I use a soft cover but this item is up for debate. Some think it will allow dust to get between your car and the cover, resulting in potential scratches. I don't buy that since my car is kept up on a 4-post lift and the cover IMO prevents dust from settling on its surface. Others think it a waste of ~$400 for a proper OEM Corvette cover and if there's little chance of something hitting your car over the winter, why spend the dough? I always prefer a covered car since something could fall or otherwise accidentally hit the car since I do other things in my garage over the winter such as carry around ladders. But hey, each to his/her own
-I use a battery tender and think that an absolute must, especially for the C8 which has ++electronics that continue to work and many complain their batteries get drained after only a week or so, of being parked. The good "battery tender" is just that: it charges the battery and stops charging when it's not needed, so it's not simply a "battery charger". You can buy the OEM Corvette version which is made by CTEK and anyone of the CTEK tenders will usually work just as well...or there are after-market that do the same. But check out what you're buying to ensure it's a proper battery tender and the right voltage
-a fresh oil/filter change is always nice however some think the oil sitting there over the winter isn't the best idea and prefer to change it in the Spring so it's 100% fresh then, when first going on the road. Different opinions there too but most prefer to park the car with fresh oil
Now for things not mentioned yet on this thread:
-some ++ fussy people will raise their cars so the wheels aren't contacting anything. They're worried about creating "flat spots" on the tires or otherwise damaging them due to prolonged weight w/o movement. Others will place pads below their tires for the same reason, especially if the tires would otherwise contact concrete. I think all this is over-kill. Some argue the new tire construction makes all this unnecessary. But again, follow whatever opinion you subscribe to on that issue. By over-inflating my tires on the C8 and other vehicles I've parked, I've never had a problem with tire flat spots, and as far as known to me, any problems with tire damage
-some people recommend placing "silica gel bags" (that absorb moisture) in their vehicles: the cabin, frunk and trunk. This may be a good idea if you're in a humid climate or if (for example) your garage door(s) will be open/closed lots during the Winter and you don't have a heated garage...so you're going from hot to cold to hot again and potentially creating condensation from the variable temperatures. A heated garage may make this less of a concern. To me, this is for ++ fussy people so of course, I place bags in my vehicle even though I have a heated garage. Others suggest leaving your windows down somewhat to allow air movement, arguably preventing any moisture build-up and "stale air smell" from developing
-others recommend stuffing the rear exhaust ports with a wire mesh or dryer fresheners, to discourage 4-legging vermin from making a nest inside your exhaust system over the winter months. I don't have any problems with mice in my garage so I don't do this. But if it's a different story for you, then it may be a good idea. As well, some are some worried that mice might get into the vehicle elsewhere and (for example) chew wiring. So some people will place those same dryer fresheners at various locations under the car to ward them off. I've also seen mention of mothballs but most don't like those due to their strong lingering smell
There are some different considerations for those who park their vehicles outside. For example, a proper outside car cover I think is a must and it has to fit ++ "perfect" so it doesn't flap in the wind and rub your paint. A cover is good to avoid paint fading from the sun and body seals wearing out from prolonged temperature fluctuations and wet/dry cycles. Then again, there are those who think any cover on an outdoor car is a recipe for disaster due to dust blowing under it and providing a grit surface between the cover and the paint. So as usual, it's a matter of opinion.
This topic has been covered before on the Forums however it seems to return every Fall for some unknown reason.
Hope this helps.
