subject: General Car Maintenance Tips For Long Term Auto Storage [print this page] You may have a long vacation in the coming up, or you may have a convertible that is great for summer driving, or you have a school to join and you cannot take your car with you. There can be a myriad of reasons, but we all need to store our car for long periods of time at some point and time. These general car maintenance tips are a must to consider when you decide to put your car in storage for extended time periods. Take a look for more information on how to stow away your car with the least amount of auto repair required when you bring it back to the roads again.
Basic Guidelines On Car Storage
When you store your car for prolonged periods of time, you have to ensure that your auto starts as soon as you attempt to use it on the road, and that the storage period does not affect the shelf life of your car. The basic maintenance tips to adhere to are: storing your car with its battery still connected so that your car is completely charged, using a weather cover if you store your car outdoors (which is highly recommended instead of confining it to your garage), wax your cars' exterior after washing it completely to avoid corrosion, and changing the oil before you store it away. It's also a good idea to completely fill your gas tank so that moisture has a harder time entering your gas tank.
Prevent Flat Spots And Keep Your Tires From Getting Affected
If you store your car for prolonged periods, your tires are bound to have a few flat spots owing to tire pressure anomalies that arise. That's why it's a good idea to fill your tires up with air to avoid any issues with your tires. The reason for flat spots to develop in your tires is the entire weight of your car pressing down on a certain soft spot in your tire for a continuously long time period. This can create a "dent" in your tire, forcing you to completely change your tire once you intend to drive your car later. An even better idea is to ask someone to keep driving your car at regular intervals while you're away. This will ensure that the temperature in your car is set to a normal standard and that the tires are properly aligned and pressurized.
General Auto Repair Checklist After The Storage Period
When you're ready to get your car out on the road, it's a good idea to have one of our mechanics do an inspection of your car for any possible problems that may have arisen. This is especially needed if you put your car in storage over the winter months. A few of the items that will be inspected are the tires, steering and suspension systems, brakes, and battery and electrical systems. There are some of items you can check yourself such as the windshield wipers, tire pressure, fluid levels, stopping power, and how easily the engine starts. If any of these seem abnormal, it's best to have us take a look at it so we can diagnose the problem and ensure that your vehicle will get your moving on the road again.
by: Tom Burns
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