Apr
07 2023
Preparing Your Car for Storage - Essential Tips

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Preparing your car for storage - Here is what you need to know: Ensuring the proper care and maintenance of your vehicle during long-term storage is crucial for its longevity and performance. This article will provide valuable information on how to prepare your car for storage, taking into account various factors such as fluid levels, tire protection, and overall cleanliness.

As an automobile owner, it's essential to follow the guidelines provided in the owner's manual when storing a vehicle. However, to ensure optimal results, additional steps can be taken beyond what is outlined in the owner's manual. By understanding these vital aspects of preparing your car for storage - here is what you need to know:

You'll learn about cleaning techniques that prevent potential damage from dirt accumulation or pest infestations; checking fluids like engine oil and coolant levels; protecting tires by preventing flat spots or uneven wear; covering vehicles with suitable materials against dust or environmental elements.

Clean Your Vehicle

Before you put your vehicle away for a prolonged period, it is essential to ensure that it has been thoroughly cleaned. Wiping down the interior and exterior of the car will help keep it in good condition while in storage. Vacuuming the carpets will help remove any dirt or debris that may have been tracked inside. Additionally, make sure to check your owner’s manual for any other cleaning tips specific to your vehicle model.

Before storing, make sure to give your vehicle a thorough cleaning in order to protect it from dirt, dust and other elements. Maintaining a clean car before storage is essential for safeguarding the inside and outside from dirt, dust, and other substances. Now let's take a look at checking fluids for your car before storing it away.

Check Fluids

When it comes to long-term storage of your vehicle, checking fluids is a must. Prior to placing your vehicle in storage, be sure that all the liquids are topped off and functioning properly. This includes oil, coolant, brake fluid and transmission fluid. Check your owner’s manual for more specific information about each type of fluid and what levels they should be at before storage.

Oil is probably the most important of these fluids when it comes to long-term storage. If possible, change out any old oil with fresh oil just before you store the vehicle away for an extended period of time. Monitor the dipstick often while changing out old oil for new to make sure that the amount of oil is appropriate.

Remember to engage the parking brake before storing your vehicle, so that it remains in place and won't unexpectedly roll away. This will help ensure the vehicle stays in place and won't roll away unexpectedly.

It is important to check all fluids before storing your car, as any leaks can cause damage. Subsequently, it is imperative to secure the car's tires by making sure they are suitably inflated and have no punctures or tears.

Protect Tires

To preserve your tires from any flat spots, using jack stands to lift the car off the ground is recommended if you plan on storing it for an extended duration. First and foremost, make sure that you lift the car off the ground with jack stands if you’re going to be storing it for an extended period of time. This will help prevent any pressure points or flat spots on your tires due to prolonged contact with the ground. 

Additionally, consider filling your tires with nitrogen instead of air when preparing them for long-term storage. Nitrogen helps keep the tire inflated and prevents any deflation over time as well as reducing corrosion in metal parts like wheel rims and hubcaps. 

Finally, check your owner's manual for additional recommendations specific to your vehicle regarding how best to protect its tires during long-term storage periods. Make sure that all fluids are topped off and that gas tanks are filled only halfway before parking; additionally, remember to engage the parking brake when leaving your vehicle idle for an extended period of time so that it won't roll around or drift away.

Ensuring tires are filled to the correct pressure and in good shape prior to storing them is a must. Additionally, it is essential to cover the vehicle for further protection from dust and debris.

Cover Vehicle

When storing a car for an extended period, it is advisable to give the vehicle protection by covering it. A breathable cover is the best option as it will keep out dust, dirt, and moisture while allowing air to circulate around the car. This will help protect your paint job from fading and any rusting that may occur due to dampness in the storage unit.

When choosing a cover, make sure you get one that fits properly. It should be snug enough so that wind won't blow it off but not too tight so as to cause damage or wear on the car's bodywork over time. If possible, use elasticized hems or straps with buckles at each corner for extra security against strong winds or gusts of air inside the storage facility.

Weighing up the amount of safeguard you need for your auto during its time in self-storage is a must. If you're storing outdoors then a heavy duty waterproof material is probably best suited; however if indoors then something lighter weight like cotton canvas can do just fine since there are no elements coming into contact with it such as rain or snowfall.

Finally, don't forget to check all fluids before putting your vehicle into storage - engine oil, coolant levels etc. Making sure everything is topped up accordingly helps ensure smooth running upon retrieval from self-storage facilities later down the line.

Final Thoughts

To ensure your car's longevity, it is essential to properly prepare it for storage by cleaning, checking fluids, protecting tires and covering the vehicle. Taking the time to clean, check fluids, protect tires and cover the vehicle will help maintain its value over time. It's essential to take these steps when preparing your car for storage - here is what you need to know - so that you can be sure of a safe and successful experience with self-storage.

Take the time to properly prepare your car for storage. Consider researching self-storage units that offer climate control and secure access to ensure maximum protection of your vehicle.


By: Diego Watsen
Diego is the front and backend developer for EZstorit. He likes to write how to guides on a variety of topics including computing, health and exersice. He is an avid marathon runner having completed a total of 10, including the Boston and New York marathons. In his spare time he teaches disadvantage youth the art of cumputers, some coding and how to train to run marathons.

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