Not every car is meant to spend its winters outside in the snow- lets face it, yours just might be your “baby.” But improperly storing a car in winter can be just as bad as not storing at all! Make sure you use these handy hints for keeping your car rust and seizure free this winter.
Getting Your Car Ready For Storage
- Prior to storing a car, ensure you change all the necessary fluids- engine oil, coolant, and brake fluid at a bare minimum.
- Clean off all excess fluids that may have spilled on the undercarriage of the car.
- Use a grease gun to grease bushings and bearings, and spray rust preventing fluids like Rust Check or Fluid Film on hinges, latches, and other moving parts.
- It is also a good idea to fill your car up with gasoline and add a fuel stabilizer, as a full tank will reduce oxidization and displace any water in your system.
- Clean your car inside and out, top to bottom. Your car should be spotless when it goes into storage. Dampness or dirt left inside a vehicle attracts mold, bugs, and mice. Dirt, salt, and other chemicals on the outside of the vehicle can cause rust and corrosion. Vacuum, clean, and shampoo your interior with proper interior cleaners available at any local hardware store, and be sure to use proper car shampoo and wax to clean the outside. Be sure to get inside of door jams and under your trunk and hood as well.
Finding the Right Storage Solution
- The absolute most important aspect to winter storage is a cool, dry garage. A concrete floor is the best bet, as it will provide the best protection to your undercarriage.
- Car covers can provide additional storage protection and protect against scrapes and bumps. Don't use a tarp though- the material will not breathe, and can trap moisture inside.
Storing The Vehicle
- Once inside of the garage, plug your tail pipes with steel wool. This will prevent mice from crawling into your tailpipe. Plug any other open holes the same way.
- Do not put the parking brake on in your car, as the brakes may become fused over the winter.
- Battery storage: Unfortunately, most batteries do not winter well. To save a battery, remove it from your vehicle and take it inside and hook to a trickle charger.
- Over inflate tires to prevent flat spots during the winter. If you can access your car, it is also a good idea to check several times throughout the winter to see that the tires still have lots of air. Better still- see if any local garages offer liquid nitrogen, which can help extend the life of tires.
- Remove the wiper blades to prevent the rubber from sticking to the windows. Also pad the wiper arm with something soft to avoid scratching.
Final Tip: Write a note to yourself with instructions for taking your car out in the spring. Be sure to add things like “Remove rag from exhaust” and “wiper blades have been removed.” If you want to cover your car, which can prevent scratches and scrapes, use a breathable car cover and not a tarp. It is also a nice idea to put something nice and scented inside the vehicle so the smell of mildew won’t permeate the car over the winter. And don’t forget, vehicles that get prepped for winter must also be prepped the following spring!
Sources:
Retrieved on October 7th, 2011 from: http://www.techguys.ca/howto/winter.html
“How to Store Your Car For The Winter.” Richard Russell, Globe and Mail. November 27, 2008.
“Storing Your Car.” Paul Weissler, Popular Mechanics. March 2006.
Kelly Denine - Kelly Denine works as manager at a Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo dealership in Newfoundland. She is also the President of the local auto ...
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