Saturday, February 27, 2010

Car Storage Tips

For some car owners, there comes a time when driving a certain vehicle just is not possible. This may be due to owning an expensive car that is not taken out in the winter weather, storing a vintage vehicle that only operates for a few months of the year, or when preparing a car to be worked on. Whatever the case may be, there are some necessary precautions that should be taken into consideration. There are several car storage tips available to help prepare a car for storage. There are some that are more in depth than others, but there are some general car storage tips that anyone can use.

Step 1: Choose the best place to store the vehicle. Remember, this is where the car will be sitting for a long period of time. Depending upon what will be done with the vehicle; there are different types of storage facilities. For some, a personal garage will be sufficient for keeping in a workable location. This is because it is conveniently located, and the owner’s tools are there as well. For others, a storage unit may be rented in order to provide sufficient space and security. One of the most important aspects of the location is the air quality. The air should be dry as to not cause the car to rust. There are climate controlled storage facilities that help with this.

Step 2: Be sure to fill the gas tank and add a stabilizer. There is a purpose for both of these actions. First, filling the gas tank with fuel prevents it from rusting on the inside. Second, whenever gasoline sits for long periods of time, it separates and can cause problems when the car is started again. Therefore, the stabilizer is very important to add.

Step 3: Get a set of tire jacks to place under the tires. This will help to take the pressure off of them and prevent them from developing flat spots. This can help to spare the owner from having to replace an expensive set of tires.

Step 4: Wash and wax the car. This helps to remove any grime that could eat away at a car’s finish as well as preventing general corrosion.

Step 5: Disconnect the battery. As batteries sit, they can leak battery acid that can corrode the inside of the car. It also helps to prevent the alarm from going off. This is a quick and simply procedure, and can help to save a lot of trouble in the long run

Step 6: Invest in a good car cover to place over the car during storage. Even though the car should be stored in a controlled environment, there are still chances that something may land on it.

These are the most basic car storage tips available. They are simple and easy to follow, yet they are effective for preparing a car to be kept away for a long period of time. Even though it may be slightly time consuming to store a car properly, it will be well worth following these car storage tips when driving season rolls around again and the car is in mint condition.

2 comments:

Storage Bins said...

People NEED the basic tips, so there's no need to apologize! This was a really helpful article. Thanks for writing it!

Self Storage Sheds said...

I agree. The basics tips are always important to keep in mind.