Tips For Putting Your Car Into Storage

So you are planning to leave for an extended period, yet you cannot part ways with their vehicle; instead, putting it into storage might be a better choice. Before deciding to do this, there are many other things that you can do to protect it while you are gone.

 

Is your vehicle really worth storing?

If your vehicle is going to be placed into storage, it’s likely because it is a classic, and that’s why you want to do this. You would certainly want to protect so that it will be there, safe and sound, when you return. However, if you are like any other driver, you should think about doing this, especially if you are going to be gone for an extended period of time.

There is actually no depreciation on the value of your car while they are in storage. It could be a better idea to simply sell it and then purchase a new vehicle rather than worry about the loss. If you store it inside, you won’t have to worry about the elements affecting your vehicle.

 

What’s a good place to store your car?

A well-ventilated area is likely the best location, such as a dry garage. You won’t once you place it outside while you are gone because wildlife could affect it.

Consider professional car storage services such as our premium vehicle storage service.

There are so many people offering this type of service, some of which could be nearby. Of course, it’s going to cost money, but it’s going to guarantee that your vehicle will be in pristine condition when you return.

 

Consider short-term storage options.

There are some things that you can do which are relatively simple if you are going to be gone for up to two months.

You should clean your vehicle and remove any types of scraps that may be inside. You will want to wash and dry it. 

 It should be easy to also wash the brakes in your car. Make sure that the brake is off and that you are able to chock the wheels to prevent it from moving. Put it into park if it’s an automatic; place it in gear if it is a manual stick that will require you to place it in a specific gear.

Lubricate the doors and boot seals so they don’t stick together, even though you may only be gone for a few months.

Partially ventilate your car by cracking the windows so that the airflow will continue in your absence.

Cover your vehicle with a type of cloth that is designed for this purpose. This should be made of material that can breathe. 

Don’t put plastic as it could damage the paint.

Enclose the car so that rats cannot get inside while you are away. 

Long-term storage is likely the best solution for you if you do not know when you will return.

If you are going to leave for years, take even more useful precautions that are far beyond what short-term storage options can provide you with if you will be gone for this length of time.

Change the oil and fluids to make sure that they are clean and that the potential for condensation inside of these areas will be minimised. Change the spark plugs, or even remove them, plus you will want to put oil in the cylinders through the spark plug hole. Crank the engine several times before putting the spark plugs back in.

Block the air intake with rags so that airflow cannot occur, which could potentially lead to some type of ignition that could cause problems.

If you’re going to leave for about a month, disconnect the battery in the car. This vehicle should also be placed in a cool and dry location, such as a garage door storage facility designed for cars.
Disconnect the battery and take any other necessary precautions.

 

Should you pump the tires?

The tires are going to go flat eventually. Every few months, you should use a pump to bring it up to about 40 psi to compensate for the loss that will occur.

If you are going to leave for a longer time, use a jack to bring it up off the ground.

You may discover that your tires will be flat when you get back, and when this occurs, flat spots are not easily removed.

It’s better to simply remove your wheels.

 

Should you drain your fuel tank?

The fuel in your car will last several months without having to do anything to it, so if you are gone for a month or two, it will be fine.

If you leave your car for a much more extended period of time, fill the entire tank. Do not use any type of ethanol-based fuel. This will help you minimise the potential of condensation in the tank, which could rust your engine from the inside out.

Gunk can form in the fuel. Fuel stabilisers can also be used to prevent this from occurring.

 

Talk to your insurance company about storing your car

You should also tell your insurance company that you are going to be gone.

You may even be able to get cheaper insurance while it is being stored.

To find out more about Car storage please contact us.

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