prepare my EX to sit in the cold for a month

[JStrider]

so I'm going to my parents for christmas and am riding with my sister and were taking her car, so my explorer is gonna sit in a parking garage on campus for just over 3 weeks. It will be in the cold, it gets below freezing pretty consistently at night and is above freezing during the days usually...

is there anything I should do to prevent problems when I get back?

I'm already going to take out my CB and the emergency kit in the back and anything else that looks like it might be of value.

my friend said I should take out the battery, cuz the cold will kill it and it will prevent theft, will the cold really kill it?

and what about full tank vs empty? will one be better?

any other recomendations so I can just fire it up when I get back?

 

[old mechanic]

Any decent battery should have no problem sitting for 3 weeks. But taking it out so no one can steal your EX is a good idea. Some of my vehicles sit for a month or two with no problems.
Condensation will form from a tank with not to much gas in it.
I assume you alwready checked the oil and antifreeze. Right?
Leave word with a trusted friend to watch over it.

 

[JStrider]

ok I'll fill her up before hand

and I was planning to take out the battery beforehand even if it would last, was just curious

antifreeze is good, and the oil is good... bout 800miles to next change

 

[kfkodiak]

Leave the HVAC on a setting other than "OFF" or "MAX A/C", so air can circulate through. Maybe put one of those crystal dehumidifier deals inside too.