Are you going away on sabbatical or visiting family for an extended time overseas? If so, you probably won’t need your car for the next few months. No matter why you’re considering long-term vehicle storage, make sure you prep your car properly first to prevent damaging the paint, tires, and internal components.
The first step is to select a viable place for long-term vehicle storage. Your options may be dictated by your living situation and how long you’ll be storing your car. Three possibilities include:
Even the smallest amount of moisture, road salt, sand, or bird droppings stuck to the outside of your car for months on end could damage the paint. Clean the outside of your vehicle to prevent this. Clean the inside as well. Otherwise, sticky messes and crumbs could attract insects or rodents that are more than happy to make a nest in your back seat.
Follow these car cleaning tips to get your vehicle all set for long-term storage. Then, to help deter pests, place a few dryer sheets or mothballs on the seats.
When a car sits for too long, air gradually leaks out of the tires. The weight of the vehicle presses down on the tires, creating flat spots that can ruin them. We recommend inflating your tires to the maximum allowed pressure to help account for air leaks. You can also store your car on jack stands to take all pressure off the tires.
To help ensure your car isn’t any worse for wear after being in long-term storage, protect internal components with these tips:
No matter where you’re storing your car, cover it. Here’s how to prep the vehicle:
To ensure proper protection for the internal components of your car, choose Scott’s Fort Collins Auto for your oil change and coolant top-off right before putting your vehicle in long-term storage.
Some experts suggest starting up your stored vehicle every so often, but as long as you store the car properly, this precaution shouldn’t be necessary. Still, when you return from your long holiday or sabbatical and start the engine for the first time, follow these steps:
Whether you need help preparing your car for storage or making it roadworthy again after being stored for months, stop by Scott’s in Fort Collins. Schedule your appointment by calling us at (970) 682-4202 today.