Long Term Car Storage Checklist & Advice

You may be having a 4 wheel vintage beauty or more than 1 car for a big family. If you don’t have a place in proper condition for Long Term Car Storage, soon they may turn into rusted scrap. A car is a mechanical object needing proper maintenance for them to be stored. You might have a vintage car that you only take out a few times in the summer for the car shows and cruise nights. Maybe you’re going on an extended vacation or work project abroad. Military deployment is another cause to look for long-term car storage.

Regardless of the reason, if you’re looking for long-term storage, you want your car to be protected and run well once you take it out. Here are a few long-term car storage tips to help you out.

 

Car Storage Checklist:

• Fill up the tank: Be sure you have filled up the tank before parking the car in the storage for the long term. This will help you avoid rusting of the tank. Make sure you get your car services and corrosion-free before storing it. You shouldn’t plan to drive on it after several years and will need to empty your fuel tank and refill it.

• Change the Oil: You are storing a car for the long term, but make sure you change the oil so you have less to worry about when you pull the car out a few months or years down the line. You can also apply lubricant to the other parts of your engine to keep them greased and clean.

• Put the car on jacks: Do be aware of what type of car body you have. Some will not do well on jacks and could end up warping the structure. Check your car manual first to see if you find any information. You can also check online forums.

• Wash and wax: When you service the car, make sure you have waxed it pre as well post-storage to avoid any scratched or damages. Dirt, grease, and other sorts of debris and dust on the car will wreak havoc long term. The wax adds another level of protection between the metal and the elements.

• Plug the tailpipe: The tailpipe is the narrow and open end of the car. The Long Term Car Storage is well maintained but still, to avoid the risk of accumulation of dirt, critters and moist air out it is smart to plug the hole. You can plug the tailpipe with aluminium foil or a rag… just be sure to take it out before you drive again.

Another way to keep animals and bugs away from the car is to lay out mothballs or cotton balls dipped in peppermint oil around the perimeter of the car. Mousetraps work great for the bigger animals.

• Don’t use the parking brake: If the parking brake connects for too long, it can fuse with the interior of the wheel. Instead, use a wheel chock, or just a simple piece of wood to stop the tires.

• Park on a sheet: If any car leaks, then it will keep any drips off the floor. Also, a sheet will help keep the concrete or other types of floors fresh. Second, a sheet will prevent oils from the ground to creep up onto the wheels.

• Clean and dust the interior: Maintenance is a key to any mechanical storage. You should vacuum and dust, as well as wash the interior windows. Make a proper check of the things you have stored in the car, especially if you have left any consumable item by mistake. 

• Cover your car: Covering is the car is the most important aspect of the car storage checklist. We don’t know how a material will react over some time in a closed room. So make sure you cover your car with a specialized car cover that is made from fibres that are soft and breathable while still wrapping tightly around the car.

• Park your vehicle in the right spot: When you park in a storage facility, returning for maintenance every 6 or 12 months is advisable. 

So you must park the car near to your place of residence, making it easy to visit the car storage on your next visit.