| Preparing Your Vehicle for Short-Term Storage |
From "Car Care & Repair"
episode CCR-123 |
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If you have only a single "daily driver," then vehicle storage may never become an issue that you need to consider. But many people, especially car enthusiasts, have classic and collectible vehicles that they want to protect and preserve, or other secondary vehicles that are only driven for part of the year. If you have a vehicle that you want to store for a time, perhaps over the winter months or while on an extended vacation, then there are some safeguards you'll want to consider to ensure that the vehicle looks good and is in good working order once it's taken out of storage.
Materials:
Synthetic engine-oil
Fuel stabilizer
Lithium grease
Leather/vinyl conditioner
Car cover (optional)
Moth balls (optional)
Storage Location
Ideally, a storage location should be secure, dry and relatively free from dust and other airborne contaminants. Moisture and condensation is the greatest enemy to stored vehicles since it damages the exterior and engine (by rust and corrosion) as well as the interior (by mold and mildew). It's important that the storage area is free from water leaks and, ideally, should be a climate-controlled garage in order to guard against humidity and extremes in temperature. It should also be free of rodent pests that can crawl up into the vehicle to build nests. Mice can fit through an opening as small as 1/4-inch, so any cracks or crevices should be sealed off. Rodent-proof the garage or storage area, and remove anything that could be used as food or nesting materials. Mothballs help deter rodents as well as insect pests, but they do leave a lingering odor that takes a while to dissipate.
Safety alert: If mothballs are used, they should be placed where they are not accessible to pets or children.
Preparing the Vehicle for Storage
- The first step in preparing the vehicle for storage is to do a complete oil-change immediately prior to storing, replacing the engine oil with synthetic oil. Following an oil change, as soon as the vehicle is driven, trace amounts of moisture condensation begin showing up inside the engine and working parts. The presence of moisture in a vehicle that is not being driven regularly presents an increased risk of rust and corrosion that can damage working parts within the engine. Changing the oil just prior to storing the vehicle will help minimize the amount of moisture that is present in the system and ensure that the engine remains well preserved. Synthetic oil (figure A) is recommended for its enhanced coating properties and because it doesn't break down as readily as regular oil.
- Top off the gas tank so that it is nearly full. Since most gas tanks are metal, and since moisture can form from gas vapors, filling the tank reduces the space in which moisture can form and helps guard against rust forming on the interior wall of the tank. It's also a good idea to add a fuel stabilizer (figure B) to the gas prior to storage.
- Disconnect the vehicle's battery and, if the vehicle is to be stored for a considerable length of time, remove the battery altogether. Batteries can crack because of age and low temperatures, and battery acid can leak out into the engine compartment. For shorter storage periods, you can leave the battery in the vehicle, but you may want to connect a battery maintainer (figure C), also known as a trickle charger. These low-amp chargers hook directly to the battery's posts and provide continuous and consistent charge to the battery. They are designed to automatically shut down periodically y to prevent overcharging. A battery maintainer is particularly useful on newer vehicles that have electrical accessories such as computers, digital clocks, etc. that continue using small amounts of current even when the vehicle is not being used, and will eventually drain the battery completely.
- Lithium grease (figure D) or a similar non-petroleum lubricant should be used to lubricate the tires to prevent them from drying out, cracking and developing leaks over time. Petroleum-based lubricants should not be used because they eventually dry out, and will actually dry and crack the rubber components. To prevent over-spray, apply the lithium grease to a rag rather than directly to the tires, then rub it on evenly and thoroughly (figure E).
Tip: If you decide to remove the tires and wheels from the vehicle during storage, it's important to keep weight on the springs, such as by letting the vehicle rest on blocks. If the tires are removed and the car is balanced on jacks and jack-stands for an extended period, the springs may hang wrong and crack once they are used again.
- Apply lithium grease to weather stripping and seals around the windows (figure F) and other exposed rubber parts such the gasket surrounding a sunroof. Don't forget to open the doors and hatch or trunk and treat the weather seals that surround those, as well.
- Use a leather/vinyl conditioner (figure G) to protect the interior. Though there's little you can do to condition and protect fabric interiors, using a conditioner will help safeguard leather and vinyl against cracking and drying, and to keep it supple. Use a high-quality conditioner, and be certain to treat all leather or vinyl components.
- The vehicle exterior should be cleaned and dried thoroughly and, ideally, waxed before storage. A fresh coat of wax will add a measure of protection against moisture and dust, and will ensure that the vehicle looks good for its first drive once it's taken out of storage. You may also want to consider using a car-cover (figure H) for added protection of the exterior. There are many types of covers available, some of which are designed for outside usage and some for storing vehicles inside a garage. Covers are available in a wide range of prices. Basic single-layer covers are available for as little as thirty dollars, while more expensive ones have as many as four protective layers. Less expensive covers are typically in generic sizes to fit any vehicle in particular class, while the more expensive custom ones -- some costing several hundred dollars -- are designed to fit the contours of a particular vehicle like a glove. There are covers that are made of materials that protect against UV rays in outside applications, and others that are padded to protect against scratches and dings. Most covers have plastic grommets for tie-downs (figure I) to hold the cover secure on the vehicle, and the higher quality ones may incorporate a cable-lock system.
Important: The most critical attribute of the car cover is that it is made of breathable fabric. In fact, most car covers are designed primarily to protect the vehicle from dust and UV rays, not to provide a seal against water. So-called "waterproof" covers, such as cheap vinyl ones, can actually do more harm than good. In effect, they form a sealed barrier that traps moisture next to the vehicle -- promoting, rather than preventing, rust. Only purchase a cover made of soft, breathable, quick-drying fabric that allows moisture to evaporate quickly. If you wash the vehicle before garaging it, it's a good idea to allow the vehicle to air-dry completely before installing the cover.
RESOURCES :
Ultimate Auto Detailing
Model: 0879389419
Author: David H. Jacobs
(1995)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Motorbooks International
Some vehicles provided by Ted Russell Ford
Ted Russell Ford
8551 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: 865-693-7611
Web site: www.tedrussell.com
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