Have you wondered what to do before storing your car for weeks or even months?

As nomads we’re generally car based in the US. That keeps our costs down and gives us a reliable means of transportation. It’s also allows us to take more stuff with us as we move from place to place. Like camping gear and little containers of our favorite herbs and spices.

When flying is our primary means of transportation, we store the car, either with a friend or family member, or at long term parking places using StowIT. StowIt connects individuals that have extra space to those that need vehicle storage. They have relationships with many airport long term parking providers across the US, combining the lowest rates with the convenience of airport shuttles, gated and manned lots, and even covered parking. We’ve been very happy with them so far.

Are you going to store your car some time soon? If so, here are some steps you might want to consider taking to protect your car while it’s sitting idle.

Preparing to store your car

Lubricate the chassis. If you stop using a car for an extended period of time, parts that are supposed to flex and move will become brittle and start to crumble or crack, especially in the cold. It’s important to keep these pieces fresh until the next time you hit the road, so be sure to lubricate the important parts of your car’s chassis.

Change your oil and oil filter. Most mechanics will tell you to change the oil and oil filter just before parking your car for 30 days or more, even if your car isn’t due for either. This will protect your car from corrosion.

Synthetic oils last longer than traditional oils, but they also contain detergents. These detergents can cause leaks in older vehicles, especially if the gaskets are a little hardened. If your car is older, you might want to put a drip tray under the oil pan.

Top off your antifreeze. Check your antifreeze and top it off if needed. Avoid mixing regular coolant, which is usually green, with longer-lasting yellow and red colored coolants, as they’re formulated to have different lifespans. (Coolant is another name for antifreeze.)

To be extra safe, check the coolant’s strength to ensure the water concentration level isn’t too high. If it is, the car’s cylinder heads or engine block could crack. The ratio of water and antifreeze should be between 60:40 and 50:50.

Just before storing your car

Clean it. Before covering your ride for weeks or months, experts recommend you clean it. Inside, outside and underside. Then give it a good waxing. Taking these steps reduces the chances of any acidic gunk eating away at your paint. It also stops the car cover from rubbing dirt around and scratching your clearcoat.

• Make sure to get rid of any tree-sap drops.
• Wipe down the tires and remove any break dust.
• When cleaning the interior check that anything food related is removed. This decreases the chance pests will get inside your car. It also eliminates unpleasant odors you might face when you get your ride out of storage.

Attend to the tires.  Correct tire pressure is extremely important when parking your car for an extended period of time. If your tire pressure is too low flat spots may develop where the rubber sits continually compressed against the ground.

• If any of your tires has a leak, replace it. That will keep it from deflating completely while in storage, leaving your car kneeling on its rim.
• The best time to take pressure readings is when your tires are cold.
• Inflate to the maximum pressure listed on the side of each tire.

Fill up with the good stuff. Over the course of a winter, especially in fluctuating temperatures, your fuel tank can be a magnet for moisture. Rust and a clogged fuel filter can result.

• The simplest way to combat this is to fill up your car’s tank before you store it. Use a higher-octane, low-ethanol fuel. A smaller volume of empty air in the tank will help prevent moisture buildup.
• Fuel can start degrading in as little as 30 days according to J.D. Power, so add fuel stabilizer to the tank before storing your ride for more than a month. This will prevent the gas from deteriorating for up to 12 months, protecting your fuel system from oxidation and damage due to deposits. After adding the stabilizer drive the car for10-15 minutes to ensure the stabilizer and gas mix well. 

When storing your car

Dodge flat spots: To reduce the chances of developing flat spots, park the car on 2-inch by 10-inch wood boards under each tire, especially if you’re parking on concrete.

Don’t engage the parking brake to minimize the chance it will become “frozen” and difficult to disengage. If you’re worried about your car rolling, get some wheel chocks or blocks of wood to wedge against the tires.

Absorb excess water. Place a few of boxes of baking soda or a few desiccant packs (carried by most local dollar or convenience stores) on the floor of your vehicle to keep in-cabin moisture to a minimum.

Keep critters away: Mice and squirrels are drawn to stored vehicles, which can provide both a comfortable winter home and source of food for them.

• Cut down on potential critter damage by removing your air filter (rodents love to chew on them) and blocking your intake manifold.
• Close all air inlets and put steel wool in the air filter box’s intake duct and in the exhaust pipe.
• Another way to deter rodents is to make your car smell unappealing to them. Davin Reckow, parts specialist for Hagerty Collector Car Insurance, recommends using cheap drier sheets from the dollar store.

Baby your battery. An unattended battery will eventually lose its charge. Get someone to start the car every two weeks and drive it for about 15 minutes if possible.

If you can’t arrange for someone to start the car, there are two other options. The low-tech solution is to disconnect the negative battery cable. You’ll likely lose the stereo presets, time and other settings. The other option is to use a battery tender. Be sure to do this in a well-ventilated place, since charging creates hydrogen gas, a potential fire hazard.

Cover her up. A garage is an ideal place to store a vehicle. This will protect it from the elements and keep it at a temperature that’s relatively stable. If your car is being stored indoors you can simply throw a bed sheet over a car to protect it from dust. You could also spring for a custom-fitted cover. Whatever you use, your best bet is to get one that’s breathable and keeps out moisture. Make sure it’s properly secured.

If you’re storing your car in a parking stall, one simple way to protect your car’s sides from door dings is to prop flattened cardboard boxes against your car’s doors.

Before you put the cover on, make sure all windows and doors are fully closed and  valuables and necessities are out of the passenger compartment. If you have a fixed antenna, you’ll also want to remove it before covering up.

Make sure your car is completely dry and cool before putting any kind of cover on it.

Getting Your Ride out of Storage

According to Edmunds

• Make noise as you approach your car to scare away any resident rodents. Check under the hood for chewed belts, hoses, wires or nests.
• Open all air inlets, replace your air filter if you removed it, and remove whatever you used to block the exhaust pipe.
• Remove any blocks you put behind your wheels.
• Throw away any open boxes of baking powder.
• Check the windshield wipers to see if the rubber is cracked or brittle.
• Replace the antenna if you removed it prior to storing your car.
• Check the tire pressure and inflate the tires to the recommended specs.
• Check the brakes. Rust may have accumulated on the rotors. In most cases, it should go away after you drive the vehicle for a short time.
• Check fluids to make sure there have been no leaks and that they are at the recommended levels.
• If the battery cable has been disconnected, make sure that you reconnect it and that the battery terminals are clean. Reset your car’s settings if needed.

There you have it! Everything you may want to consider doing before storing your car.

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