Winter Car Storage Tips
Hello again, dear reader! If you’ve been here awhile, you know how much we love sharing service tips and tricks with our customers to keep your daily driver in tip-top shape. But what about your collectibles and weekend-only rides? Today we’ll be sharing our tips and tricks for keeping your collectible vehicles safe and sound for long term or seasonal winter storage. If you’re putting those sporty rides into garages until sunnier days arrive, you’ll need to make sure they’re properly prepared for long-term storage.
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Make sure your car is thoroughly cleaned both inside and out. You’ll want to vacuum and detail the inside of your car, and treat any leather surfaces with a moisturizing protective spray or polish. Give your car a good hand washing as well, and apply a nice coat of finishing wax before protecting it with a fabric car cover.
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Inflate your tires slightly above their current air pressure before storing. Over time a tire will slowly lose air pressure, especially when exposed to change in temperature. Make sure they’re not inflated over their maximum pressure number so you don’t damage the integrity of the tire.
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Stabilize your car and prevent rolling by adding wheel chocks or wood block wedges under the wheels. Do not use the parking brake to stabilize the car, as storing with the brake engaged can damage it and make it difficult to disengage when removing from storage.
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Remove your car’s battery and store it away. Connect your battery to a “trickle charger” or “battery tender” to keep the battery at peak performance but prevent overcharging. You can also keep it in a warm room of your house to prevent a stored battery from freezing and being damaged.
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Top up all fluids and ensure that your car has adequate antifreeze. If you’re storing a car for longer than 3 months, be sure to add a bit of fuel stabilizer to the tank. Ensure that the tank is nearly full, and then add the fuel stabilizer before storing. Make sure to take your car out for a spin before you place the car into long-term storage, to ensure that all fluids and the fuel stabilizer are cycled through the car’s system.
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Block up any holes in the garage where small animals may enter. Rodents and other critters love to hibernate and cozy up in cold weather, and your car is the perfect safe environment! Make a point as well to clear out the trash from the side pockets and floors, and be sure to check for food to avoid any pests or rodents making a home to hibernate.
Got any more tips and tricks for storing your collectibles or joy-ride cars?
Let us know in the comments!
