Heading off on a long vacation or giving your car a well-deserved break?
It’s crucial to prep for car storage so your vehicle doesn’t take a permanent vacation!
In fact, with even just a bit of prep, you can avoid headaches like fuel tank corrosion and rusted rotors.
Let’s explore how to prepare your car for storage and some to-dos to tick off while revving it back up. We’ll also tell you how long a cozy, trouble-free car break should ideally last.
This Article Contains:
- How to Prepare Your Car For Storage: 9 To Do’s
- How Long Can a Car Be Stored?
- 6 Handy Tips to Follow When You Get Back on the Road
How to Prepare Your Car For Storage: 9 To Do’s
If you’re going down the self-storage route, it’s smart to follow proper procedures and store your car the right way. This will keep your car safe, prevent damage from sitting idle, and even save money on maintenance.
Here are some storage tips you should follow:
1. Choose a Conducive Vehicle Storage Facility
For long-term car storage that could last from two weeks to months, pick a clean and dry place like a garage or commercial storage unit. This will help prevent rusting caused by moist or damp conditions. Some commercial storage facilities also offer climate-controlled temperatures to avoid a hot car in summer and cold batteries when winter hits.
Additionally, look for a well-ventilated storage unit to prevent car seats from cracking and invest in a car cover. Remember to secure the car cover properly to keep the moisture out. You can also use moisture-absorbing desiccant bags inside the car and in the garage. These moisture-absorbing desiccant bags will keep your vehicle dry in winter.
Note: Like gasoline vehicles, it’s important to store an electric car at moderate temperatures. Extreme hot temperatures or ill-planned winter storage can affect dormant lithium-ion batteries.
2. Keep it Clean
If you’re planning on long-term storage, it’s better to clean both the inside and outside of the car. Remove anything perishable from the inside, like snacks, as they could cause molding, mildew, and bad odors.
Similarly, give the exterior of your car a thorough wash to prevent the buildup of dirt, debris, and grime on the exterior during vehicle storage. This can damage your vehicle’s paint and finish over time.
3. Top Off All Fluids
Here are some fluids you should check and refill before putting away your car:
- To prevent corrosion in your gas tank, fill it with fuel and add a fuel stabilizer. This will enhance rust prevention in the gas tank and stop fuel deterioration.
- Get an oil change because old oil has acidic molecules, moisture, and contaminants that can damage the engine and its parts if left unused for a long period.
- Use anti-freeze if you plan a winter car storage to protect the engine from rust and corrosion.
- Fill all the car’s fluids, such as engine oil, coolant, windshield washer fluid, and brake fluid, to the recommended levels.
4. Charge Your Battery
A car battery will run out of power if it sits unused for more than two weeks. You can either take your car out for a drive occasionally or try these solutions instead:
- Unplug the negative cable from the battery to avoid drainage.
- Invest in a battery tender or a trickle charger to ensure the battery is ready when you need it. A trickle charger hooks up to your car’s battery and a wall outlet, supplying a small amount of electricity to keep the battery from discharging.
Note: If you own an electric car, keep your battery charged at about 50% before storing it. Some electric vehicles offer the option to schedule charging or warming up the car remotely, which can be useful for winter car storage.
5. Wrap the Wiper Blades
When you store your car in cold temperatures, the wiper blades might stick to the windshield and leave marks. The best way to avoid such issues is to wrap the wiper blades in plastic.
6. Leave Your Parking Brake Off
If you’re leaving your car in a garage or on a level concrete surface, leave the parking brake off.
Although using your parking brake is usually a good idea, leaving it on for a long period can make the brake pads stick to the rotors. For added safety, consider using wheel chocks or stoppers behind the wheels.
If leaving your parking brake off is not an option, release the parking brake every few weeks.
7. Protect Your Car from Rodents
Here are some handy tricks you to keep the critters at bay when storing your car for an extended period:
- Use steel wool or a rag to seal off potential entry points for mice, such as the exhaust pipe, fuel lines, or air intake.
- Scatter mothballs or cotton swabs soaked in peppermint oil and ethanol around your vehicle and storage unit, as the smell might help keep the critters away.
8. Elevate Your Car with Jack Stands
Did you know your tires can develop permanent flat spots if you don’t drive for over a month?
This is especially true in cold temperatures and with performance or low-profile tires.
To avoid this, lift the car onto blocks or jack stands and remove the tires. If you plan to leave your tires on, ensure they are inflated at the right pressure levels.
9. Insure Your Car
If you’re planning to drop your car insurance — don’t do it.
Dropping your car insurance could cut costs initially, but you might face higher rates in the future due to the coverage gap. Additionally, any repairs needed during this period will come out of your pocket.
Instead, you can drop collision coverage and keep comprehensive coverage in your insurance. However, this option depends on your car insurance type and the company.
Next, let’s find the ideal period to store your car without any trouble.
How Long Can a Car Be Stored?
It’s recommended to start and drive your vehicle at least every 2-3 weeks.
Storing your car for an extended period without appropriate measures can lead to various issues, such as a flat spot, rusted rotors, and weakened hoses.
Wondering what you should do when you’re ready to drive your car?
Let’s find out.
6 Handy Tips to Follow When You Get Back on the Road
Some pointers you can follow to get your beloved ride on track are:
- Remove any coverings from wheels, air intake, or exhaust pipes, and inspect if the rodents damaged any parts like fuel lines.
- Examine if essential car parts like the fuel tank are rusted.
- Replace your windshield wipers if they’re cracked or brittle, and refill the windshield washer fluid.
- Inflate your tires to the right pressure, as they can deflate over time.
- Test your lights and signals to ensure they function, and replace any blown fuses.
- Check for any leaks as well as top off oil and liquids, like engine oil and brake fluid, to the recommended levels.
- Reconnect your car battery if disconnected, and ensure you have clean battery terminals. In case of a dead battery, replace it.
Get Your Car Up and Running with AutoNation Mobile Service
Remember, even after following meticulous storage tips, your beloved ride can be unpredictable after waking up from a long hibernation.
To avoid any long-term car storage surprises that might be tricky to DIY, it’s a good idea to get your car checked out by reliable professionals like AutoNation Mobile Service.
We’re a mobile auto repair and maintenance solution available seven days a week. We offer upfront pricing, convenient online booking, and a 12-month, 12,000-mile warranty on all repairs.
Contact us if you spot a flat spot or need an oil change, and we’ll get your car running right from your driveway.