Follow these steps first and then you’ll be good to go.
- Check under the hood. Make sure you don’t have any frayed wires or rodent stowaways camping out in your vehicle.
- Remove coverings. …
- Check windshield wipers. …
- Adjust tire pressure. …
- Do a walkthrough. …
- Top off fluids. …
- Test the battery. …
- Wash your ride.
How to keep your car in good condition after long-term storage?
Here is a list of 15 actions you can take to ensure that your car will stay in great condition after long-term storage. 1. Fill the tank Even if many people think of doing the opposite, filling up the fuel tank is the first step you should take if you plan to store the car for longer than a month.
How long does it take to store a car?
Medium-Term Car Storage (Up to 3 Months) Do all of the above, plus: Wax the car to remove oxidation and provide a protective coating on the paint. Change the oil before you store the car.
How to store a car in a garage?
Be sure to fill up the gas tank and add a gas stabilizer if you will be storing the car for more than 30 days. Use a battery tender to avoid having to jump-start the battery. A garage is an ideal place to store a vehicle. This will protect it from the elements and keep it at a temperature that’s relatively stable.
How do I store my car for winter?
Instead, before you store your car for winter, stop at an auto parts store and buy a fresh bottle of fuel stabilizer. Then fill the tank at the gas station and pour in the recommended amount of fuel stabilizer. Drive the car around for about 15 minutes to get the stabilizer mixed into the gas and spread throughout the fuel system.
How do you store an engine long term?
- Clean the engine of any dirt or debris.
- Get the engine running so the oil is hot. …
- Preserve the engine with preservative oil. …
- Seal all intake, exhaust and any other open ports.
- Relieve the tension on belts to prevent fatigue and deterioration.
How do you store a diesel engine?
CAT had a pretty detailed storage procedure for diesel engines, for that long, VCI oil in crankcase and other places may be a real plus. We used to ship smaller engines overseas for 2 years of onsite storage in a controlled environment warehouse to an OEM, preservation done per CAT method and then engine wrapped in a heavy duty shrink wrap.
How to store engine oil for long term storage?
For long term storage wouldn’t a sensible approach be to strip the head/block and then store the components separately after cleaning/prepping them. It is easier than having to find space for a whole engine. Use fogging oil in the bores, in the inlet and exhaust ports. Drain the old oil in the sump and then fill the engine with oil.
How do you keep oil in a car?
It is easier than having to find space for a whole engine. Use fogging oil in the bores, in the inlet and exhaust ports. Drain the old oil in the sump and then fill the engine with oil. Spray WD40 on the outside of the engine, cover the engine with a bin liner and you should be able to keep it indefinitely.
How to protect internal engine parts during long term inactivity?
There is only one full-proof way to protect internal engine parts during long terms of inactivity and that is by using a Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor (VCI). I know it sounds pretty technical and something the average person can’t do but that isn’t the case and it is actually very easy.
How do you store car batteries for winter?
Ideally, you should store your battery indoors in a dry, temperature-controlled area like a closet or utility pantry. Always store your battery in a battery storage box and keep it on a low shelf above the cold cement floors or carpets to avoid static discharges.
How to store a car battery in a garage?
Find a secure place such as your garage floor. Now, storing car batteries on concrete floor is alright. But the dust that settles on top of the car battery can cause a bit of discharging of the battery. So, cover your battery when you leave it for longer periods. You may also use a battery tray to keep the battery.
Should I remove my car battery in the winter?
Unless you’re planning on occasionally starting your stored car during the winter, it’s a good idea to remove the vehicle’s battery. If a car battery loses its charge it may freeze, at which point it becomes useless. Store it in your heated living space and the battery should be good to go when it’s hooked back up in the spring.
How to take care of a car battery?
Do not place your car battery on its sides. Do not keep it upside down. Always keep the battery in an upright position. This will avoid damage to the battery, leakage and preserve its performance. Take the car batteries out of the car and as mentioned in step 1, secure it in a place.
How to keep a car battery from discharging?
But the dust that settles on top of the car battery can cause a bit of discharging of the battery. So, cover your battery when you leave it for longer periods. You may also use a battery tray to keep the battery. Or you can use a car battery storage container, which is essentially a vented box made of plastic.
How do you prevent flat spots on tires when storing?
Keep tires out of direct sunlight while in storage to prevent UV damage that dries out and deteriorates rubber over time. This can be achieved either by applying a UV tint to your garage windows, or covering up your tires.
How do I minimize tire flat spotting?
You can minimize tire flat spotting by keeping your tires at placard pressure. We do not recommend that you inflate beyond placard pressure and certainly do not over-inflate. Also, for your tires and for your vehicle, regular operation and movement of your vehicle is recommended. For tire/vehicle storage, see the website section on tire storage.
What should I do if my car has a flat spot?
If you have to park your car in one spot for an extended period of time, make sure to move it around every few days to avoid developing a flat spot. If you do end up with a flat spot, take your car to a professional mechanic or tire shop to have the tire replaced.
What causes flat tires?
Simply put, the weight of your car pushes down on the same part of the tire, causing it to flatten over time. Typically, flat spots are very noticeable. In other words, you can see the spot on your tire. If you want to avoid flat spots, you should drive your car regularly. With that said, there are other causes of flat tires as well.
How do you store tires?
Additionally, if storing tires, ensure they are put away in a cool, dry, and dark space away from the sun to prevent cracking. The way you store a tire, as well as the location, all have a significant impact on the tire’s longevity. Keep reading below to help make the most of your tire’s lifespan. Do Tires Go Bad in Storage?
Should I use fuel stabilizer in my car?
“Stocking up on fuel isn’t a good idea unless you are going to use it within a few months,” Ibbotson says. He says adding fuel stabilizer to the stored gasoline will help, but even that is not a cure-all over the long term. Gasoline will still eventually start to break down, at some point, even with a stabilizer.
What is the best humidity for car storage?
To create a safe environment for your piece of automotive history, RH levels should be kept below 60%
What temperature should my car storage be?
In this ideal world your storage area should never get above 70°F and the humidity should always be between 40% and 50%. If possible, an even lower temperature is better for your car collection. However, relative humidity should not be allowed to get too low because you can damage the leather by drying it out.
How can I reduce the risk of humidity in my garage?
There are a number of ways in which you can reduce the risk of humidity in your private garage, from better ventilation and consistent heating to custom plastic enclosures, but the most effective and reliable way to ensure a dry storage space is to invest in classic car humidity control.
What is the best humidistat setting for an AC unit?
Or, if you have two units, set one at a low temperature and the other at a high one. Of course, the AC unit should also have a humidistat that goes on when the relative humidity starts getting too close to 60 percent. Since the humidity level in a building can vary from one area to another, 50 percent is the recommended humidistat setting.
Should you worry about the humidity in your self-storage units?
Rather than worry about the temperature in units, self-storage owners and operators should be concerned with the humidity. Dry-air storage is an effective solution to this problem. Climate control is one of the most misunderstood subjects in the self-storage industry. The term is a misnomer.
