Sorry if it has been covered, the search feature is still not working for us Canucks.

Aside from the possibility of mice, are there any potential negative implications of storing a car for the winter in a shed that is not insulated/heated? I know that dash cracks happen from vibration when frozen and temperature change , but if the car doesn't run or move all winter can anything break/be damaged from the cold? Is the extreme cold bad for adhesives, seals etc.? It can get as cold as -50C here.

 

I was taught that the two main concerns are condensation and inadequate anti-freeze freezing up and cracking the engine block.

I address the condensation issue inside the engine and exhaust by making sure the car has been fully warmed up before parking it. I leave the windows open a couple of inches and have a breathable cover that basically keeps the dust off. The storage I use has decent ventilation.

I've heard people voice concerns over different materials contracting at different rates in the extreme cold, but I've never seen any damage from it. We get to about -30F for an extreme low around here. Not quite as cold as you, but close.

 

There were those development tests at the Artic Circle in Finland....

 

^^^cool shot. Doesn't look that cold; no exhaust plumes and they have their coats off.

 

Those must be the ultra rare German GB Packer fans that worked for Porsche back in the day.
They don't bother with coats until their bourbon starts to freeze.

Back to the thread topic...... My 81 has been parked every winter since 1992 (maybe before, cannot be certain) in everything form a climate controlled heated showroom to a garage that sprung a leak and allowed 2" of water to freeze on the ground.

I haven't found anything damaged related to such a random storage regimen for the past 21 years (other than the mouse nest in the air filter housing).

Keeping it dry and mice free would be my #1 priority. Temperature itself isn't going to hurt anything unless we are talking about Siberia. Even then the only concern is making sure your coolant is perfect for such conditions.
Easy & cheap way to keep it dry is buy a few dozen of those silica packets used for shipping. Spread them around the car.

 

Excellent, thanks guys!