If you analyze the car, you will realize that it is a complex machine and that it is made to always be on the move. This is why you need to know a few tips about how to store your car long-term and how not to damage it in the process.
Letting a car sit in one place for too long can be damaging, both mechanically and electrically. Hopefully, there are some tricks that can help you safely store your car long-term. In this way, you can keep your car in one place for months or even years.
If you want to learn more about how to store your car long-term, we can help you with that. Read on and consult this guide made by experts about how to complete this process in the best way possible.
1. Do you have the right place for it?
The first step, and probably one of the most important ones, when planning to store your car long-term is to have a proper space where you can store it. A car in storage can be easily harmed by moisture, temperature changes, and intense heat or cold; therefore, you must pick a place shielded from those factors.
The ideal place to store a car for a longer period of time is a heated garage. If you have access to an untitled garage, you don’t need to worry because you can make this work. Another factor is safety. You need a garage that can be locked.
If you don’t have a garage, you can look for a long-term car storage facility. There are many of them, and besides offering you the space that you need, they can also look after your car, but this may get quite expensive.
In case you need a space to store your car for a shorter time, you should try to check out your local Access Self Storage branch. Here, you have a chance to find what you are looking for, and the price might also be good.
2. Take care of the parts that can rust
When you are trying to store your car long-term, one of its biggest enemies is rust. A car doesn’t need much to begin rusting. Just a little bit of humidity, and the rust might already start to appear.
If the humidity in your storage space poses a problem, think about using several “disposable dehumidifiers.” These are little containers that gradually draw moisture from the atmosphere. But always remember that they will need to be replaced every three to six weeks.
But one of the most important steps to avoid rust is to lubricate anything at risk of rust. One example of this is to always lubricate the exposed moving parts. Also, keep in mind that every separate part needs an appropriate lubricant. You can’t just buy one and use it for everything.
3. Disconnect the battery
This is one of the most frequently asked questions when planning to store your car long-term. Should you remove the battery or not? The short answer is yes; disconnect that battery.
You should unplug the battery if you won’t be driving your car for at least a month. Before doing that, make absolutely sure that the battery is fully charged by taking a drive. A low-charged battery will age more quickly than one that is fully charged.
Another way to keep the battery topped up is to run the engine of your car once every two weeks. The best thing you can do is take it for a short 15-minute drive. By doing this, you are allowing all of the parts to move a little bit and expand their lifetime.
Utilizing a “smart charger” or “trickle charger” is another good option. This gadget assesses the battery’s condition and gradually adds electricity to keep it fully charged.
4. Fill up the gas tank
It might seem counterintuitive, but one of the most important things you can do when you want to store your car long-term is to fill up that gas tank. If the tank of your car stays empty for a longer time, there is a big risk of it rusting. Dealing with a rusty gas tank is even more challenging, so you better do your best and avoid that.
Additionally, you should treat your fuel lines with a corrosion inhibitor fuel stabilizer to prevent internal mechanical damage to your car’s engine. Make sure the inhibitor is distributed throughout the engine by taking a short drive after adding it.
If you plan to store your car for longer than one year, remember that the gas you filled up the tank with is just a preventative measure. When you want to start the car, empty the gas tank and replace the fuel. It is not a good idea to start the car with that 2-year-old fuel.
5. Clean the car
One of the first steps when you want to store your car long-term is to clean it thoroughly. And this is not about how the car looks. It is about how dirt can cause damage over time.
It is true that in normal conditions, the dirt won’t affect the paint job of your car, but if the dirt stays there for months and months, the dirt can start to do damage. Even if the vehicle doesn’t appear dirty, it’s still important to clean it since small particles that stick to the paint, such as fragments of asphalt, may permit rust to develop.
But this is just about the exterior of the car. Don’t forget to clean the interior too. Believe us, you will be grateful for doing this when you get back into the driver’s seat. Make sure you don’t keep anything that could spoil in your car, such as food, since this can be an unpleasant surprise. Also, cleaning the interior lowers the chances of mold developing.
6. Don’t forget to change the oil and also put some anti-freeze
When you store your car long-term, you need to top up the anti-freeze, and besides this, take care of all the fluids, such as the fuel. This is especially true if your car needs transmission fluid or power steering.
For some people, engine oil is a particularly important fluid. Because “dirty” oil absorbs corrosive impurities while the engine is running, leaving a vehicle with “dirty” oil in it before storing it greatly raises the likelihood of harm. Thankfully, an oil change guarantees that there is nothing hazardous in the oil.
So, keep this in mind: anytime you want to keep a vehicle and not use it for a longer time, make sure that you fill up any tank that generally holds fluids.
7. Cover your car
As we already said, when you store your car long-term, you better do it in an enclosed space. In this way, the car is safe and protected from bad weather and humidity. But if it is impossible for you to find a garage and you have no other choice than to leave the car outside, always cover it.
The price should not be a problem because you can find many car covers online for affordable prices. If you want to spoil a little bit, you can try a more expensive cover from a bog brand such as Porche.
But no matter which cover you choose in the end, make sure it is breathable and waterproof. The breathable part is important because even if the cover protects your car against rain, when moisture forms underneath the cover, if it’s not a breathable one, it will trap the moisture inside and, in time, cause corrosion.
If you need a car cover, this one might be a great choice: Kayme 6 Layers Car Cover Waterproof All Weather for Automobiles
You should also read: 10 Interesting Car Facts We Bet You Didn’t Know
