During the winter, certain vehicles become harder to drive. After all, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to ride your motorcycle or take the convertible out in a snowstorm! Therefore, it helps to prepare for vehicle storage. There’s a few areas in specific you want to focus on…
Vehicle Storage: How To Prep
Pick a spot
Of course, in order to get ready for vehicle storage, you have to know where exactly you’ll store said vehicle at. This comes down to a few specific factors. Mainly, it depends on how long you want to store it, the local climate, and how often you can check on it.
Still, avoid storing your vehicle outside under something like a tarp. Moisture can still get into your car’s components and cause them to rust. Plus, it’s a lot easier for a thief to steal your vehicle. Therefore, always try to keep it somewhere inside, such as in your garage or a storage facility.
Top off the fluids
It can seem counter-intuitive to fill up your vehicle’s fluids when you’re going to store it. However, it is an important part of vehicle storage. Keeping low fluid levels for long periods of time increases the risk of corrosion on your internals.
All of your car’s fluids should be given a look-over and topped off before storage. However, your gas and oil are key ones to check. Fill up your gas tank, and add a fuel stabilizer for extended storage periods. It helps to change your oil as well, especially if you use standard oil, as it could contaminate the engine.
Minor clean-up
There’s a few other minor things to check when preparing for vehicle storage. You want to make sure your tires are properly inflated to the right level. Also, you might want to remove the battery, especially in cold weather. You can also opt to use a battery tender to keep the charge up.
Make sure to also clean your vehicle inside and out. This will prevent any mold or mildew from building up. Covering your vehicle with a waterproof plastic sheet also provided added protection. Plus, it deters rodents from making your vehicle their new home.