With the show and racing season over and the temperature starting to drop, it’s time to start thinking about what you’re going to do with your trip. Many of you will be driving your car during the winter months; many others will store their car for the winter. The information about storing your car won’t apply to everyone, especially those in the sunny southern states. However, if you plan on storing your car during the winter months, this is a must read.
Cleaning
Cleaning your vehicle now will be much easier than after a few months. Clean the car completely. A thorough cleaning will include the interior, exterior, undercarriage, and under the hood. Any dirt that has built up on the vehicle will be much easier to remove now than after it has sat for several months. Starting on the inside, be sure to vacuum, dust, and clean everything. The cleaner the car, the better it will handle storage. Be sure to thoroughly wash the undercarriage. Dirt left on the undercarriage will rust or corrode metal parts during storage. Thoroughly cleaning your exhaust, especially chrome or stainless steel exhaust tips will help prevent corrosion. Once you’re done with the landing gear, it’s time to move outside. Wash the vehicle. Washing can be a daunting task, but it will be worth it in the end. Once the car is clean, give it the best wax job you’ve ever seen. Wax everywhere there is paint – your car will appreciate it. Polish any chrome on the car to keep it looking good during the winter months. Check the vehicle and make sure it is completely dry before putting it away. Any remaining moisture will corrode metal parts while the vehicle is in storage.
Maintenance/Preparation
Preventive maintenance will help prepare your car to sit through the winter. You should change the following fluids:
Motor oil
Brake fluid
Refrigerant
washing liquid
clutch fluid
The next step in preparing your car for storage is to change the engine oil and filter. As soon as a vehicle is driven after an oil change, small amounts of condensation begin to appear inside the engine. If the vehicle is not driven, this moisture increases the risk of rust on internal engine parts. By changing the oil before storage, you will minimize moisture in the system. You should make sure to use synthetic oil as it has improved coating properties and does not break down as easily as regular oil.
Next, you need to fill your gas tank. Since most gas tanks are metal, filling the gas tank will not allow moisture to form from gasoline vapors which can cause corrosion. A fuel stabilizer should also be used, as gasoline can break down over an extended period of time.
Next, disconnect the battery. If the car will be stored for an extended period of time, remove it completely. The weather and cold temperatures in the winter can cause batteries to crack, exposing the engine compartment to battery acid. You should also use some kind of battery maintainer or battery charger. These devices connect to the battery terminals and will provide the battery with a constant and continuous charge. The battery maintainers will periodically shut down to prevent overcharging. Vehicles have electrical accessories that can use battery power even when the car is not running and will drain the battery. Battery maintainers can extend the life of the battery in your stored car.
You have a few options on how to protect your tires. You can jack the car up and put it on jack stands, coat the tires with lithium grease, or over-inflate them. By placing the vehicle on jack stands, you will prevent the tires from developing flat spots and also reduce stress on suspension bushings and other parts. Another option is to coat the tires with lithium grease. This is done to prevent the tires from drying out, cracking, or developing leaks. You should not use petroleum-based lubricants, such as Vaseline or Armor All, because they will eventually dry out and actually dry out and crack the tires. Lastly, by over-inflating your tires you will prevent them from developing flat spots.
Use a silicone lubricant or lithium grease to coat the weather stripping and door seals. This will preserve these stamps during the storage period. Also, be sure to lubricate door hinges, door latches, door locks, and also hood and trunk latches. If these latches lose their lubrication, they will be difficult to open.
Your next concern is critters, like mice or other vermin, that can get into your car and destroy it. You should cover the exhaust pipe with aluminum foil or steel wool to protect it from mice that enter it. You may also want to do the same for your input, depending on your layout.
You should roll up all of the vehicle’s windows and also keep the doors, trunk, and hood closed to take pressure off the hinges and keep bugs out. Convertible owners should leave the top up as it will keep the cover stretched out. Another measure is to place silica packs inside and in the trunk of the car to keep the areas free of moisture. Cars with manual transmissions should be left in gear, as this will eliminate the chance of shift bar corrosion. Finally, no matter what you do, DO NOT APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE! Leaving the brake on can cause the shoes to freeze on the drum, making it difficult to release.
storage facilities
Storing the car in a fully air-conditioned building is the best option. Unfortunately, this is not possible for most people. However, there are other options. Storing your car in a non-temperature-controlled building can be just as efficient, but you need to take the proper precautions. If the storage area you are using has concrete floors, laying a mat over the concrete will keep moisture away from the underside of the car. Concrete holds a lot of moisture, and the mat will help keep it off the bottom of your car. It is suggested to cover at least the length of the car, but you can also carpet the entire concrete floor. Another option is to buy a sheet of plastic or canvas and use it for the same purpose.
You can use an outside carport, but make sure you have wind protection on all sides. Car covers can be used, but you have to be very careful and take into account the conditions that the car will be subjected to outside. If you are in an area where you may experience a lot of wind, you need to make sure the cover is fitted snugly so that the wind cannot flap the material, which can wear down painted surfaces. If you know someone who has had an ill-fitting front bra, you will unfortunately be able to tell them all about it. The most important feature to look for in a car cover is that it is made from a breathable material. If moisture gets trapped between the cover and the car, the breathable fabric will allow it to evaporate quickly. If you store your car outside, make sure no moisture (from rain or melted snow) collects under the vehicle or between the car and the cover. A car cover protects your car from light, dust, and accidental bumps. It will do this whether the car is stored indoors or outdoors.
It should be noted that the information in this article applies to short-term storage. Short-term storage is a period of several months, not to be confused with long-term storage, which lasts for a period of several years. Vehicles in long-term storage require much more thorough preparations than those described here.
Whether or not you follow these steps when you store your vehicle, it’s important to have a plan that eliminates the four biggest storage problems (light, humidity, temperature extremes, and vermin). By doing so, you’ll ensure that your car not only looks like it did before you put it away, but possibly even like it did the day you bought it…and hopefully for many years to come.