How to Prepare Your Car for Storage in 6 Steps
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When you have to prepare your car for storage, there are several things to consider. Whether you’re going on a long vacation away or preparing for a child to go off to school, you may opt to put your car into storage. After all, vehicle storage is a great way to save on insurance. However, when you have to prepare a car for storage, it requires a little more prep than just putting a cover on it and calling it good. It’s important to make sure you take the right steps when putting your vehicle into storage so that it’s in tip-top shape when you come back to it.
How to Prepare Your Car for Storage in 6 Steps
1. Keep Battery Charge
This isn’t technically a way to prepare your car for storage, but it’s still a great tip. It is very important to start it up every now and then. If you let a vehicle sit for too long, that battery is bound to lose charge. If you’re able to, have someone come by the house and start the car up every two weeks and take it for a drive (at minimum 15 minutes). This lets the battery recharge and keeps your vehicle functional.
2. Fill Up Tank
If you’re planning to prepare your car for storage for over a month, it’s a good idea to make sure the tank is full. Leaving a tank near empty for an extended period of time can lead to moisture accumulation in the fuel tank. Moisture in a fuel has the potential to cause a variety of issues from slight mechanical trouble to total failure, so it’s important to keep condensation out as much as you can help it. A full tank can also prevent seals from drying out.
3. Keep Parking Brake Off
Your parking brake is awesome for giving your car a little extra support when parking on hills and rough terrain, but not when you want to prepare your car for storage. But if you’re planning on not driving your vehicle for a while it’s a good idea to keep the parking brake off. Keeping your parking brake on for an extended period of time increases the chance of your rotors fusing, which for obvious reasons, isn’t great.
To keep your vehicle from going anywhere and prepare your car for storage, try to park it on even, level ground. If you do need to keep it parked on an incline, consider purchasing a tire stopper like this one to keep your vehicle in place.
4. Clean It Out
This one should go without saying, but we’re going to say it anyway. If you’re leaving your car parked for any length of time, it’s important to clean it out. This is perhaps the most important tip when you want to prepare your car for storage. This can both preserve your vehicle’s interior and keep critters and creepy crawlies from infiltrating your vehicle in search of food. Make sure to check easily overlooked areas such as under the seats and in seat pockets for any trash and food.
5. Cover Up
Ideally, you’re going to be storing your vehicle in a covered, weather proof area like a garage. If you don’t have a garage, it’s still important to keep your vehicle safe from the elements. Investing in a cheap car cover can help keep branches, rain, and debris off of your vehicle.
6. Get an Oil Change
If you’re storing your vehicle for longer than a few weeks it’s a good idea to get an oil change. Contaminated oil sitting in an engine for long periods of time has the potential to cause damage. Getting an oil change before putting your vehicle in storage can help protect your engine in the long run.
If you’re preparing to put your vehicle into storage, bring it into Superior Auto here in Seattle. Our team of automotive experts can perform all services necessary to keep your vehicle in top performance condition. Contact us today to schedule an appointment! We look forward to serving you soon!
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