How to Protect Your Vehicle When Not in Use

There might be times when you or your vehicle are stuck at home. As a result, you are unable to use your car or truck for a longer period of time. In such circumstances, it is important to prepare your vehicle and protect it from various potential damages. Due to this, you need to prepare the vehicle correctly to ensure its proper performance when we take it out of storage.

Here is a short list you should check off in order to properly care for your vehicle before and after you put it in storage.

Clean Your Vehicle

One of the most important things you need to take care of before placing your vehicle in storage is to clean it. You need to get rid of all mud, dirt, and debris sticking to different parts of the car. Due to this, the vehicle needs to be cleaned from top to bottom. In other words, completely clean your vehicle by washing, polishing and waxing its outside. Furthermore, it’s a good idea to spray any unpainted metal areas with undercoating to prevent rusting.

Gas in the Tank

Once you are finished cleaning the vehicle, the next step is to fill up the gas tank. If you are storing the vehicle for more than a month, using the maximum fuel capacity of the tank will avoid moisture build-up in the tank. Fuel stabilizers can also be added to the fuel to ensure the fuel does not go bad – standard fuel has about a 3-month long shelf life. These fuel stabilizers prevent corrosion of the fuel lines and the engine and protect the vehicle during its time in storage.

Tire Pressure

The air pressure in the tire changes along with the weather conditions and temperatures. If your vehicle will be sitting in the garage or under a car cover for a longer period of time, the difference in temperature will cause the tires to deflate. As the tire loses pressure over time, it is important to inflate all four tires to the recommended air pressure. Be sure to not over inflate the tires, as it will create flat sports on the tires. When the vehicle is finally out of storage, be sure to repeat this process.

Top Off the Fluids

When your vehicle is in storage for a longer period of time, it is critical to fill up the fluids in the vehicle. This includes the brake fluid, the engine coolant, the power steering fluid (if it applies to your vehicle type), the transmission fluid, the antifreeze and the windshield wiper fluid. Furthermore, the oil should be changed in the vehicle as well before you place it in storage. If you are able to, it is a good idea to take the car for a short drive to help circulate the fluids and the fuel stabilizer to keep the tire in good condition.

Outside Protection

A vehicle in storage should be put in a garage or be covered with a car cover. This will keep the vehicle secure, protecting it from moisture and enabling correct air flow. It goes without mention that placing the vehicle in a garage protects it from weather damage. On the other hand, car covers guard the car’s exterior from bumps, scratches and dirt. Another good idea is to place steel wool in the air cleaner and the exhaust pipe to prevent smaller animals from nesting and finding shelter in the vehicle.

Handbrake

Do not engage the handbrake if the vehicle stands still for a longer period of time. When the handbrake is engaged, overtime the brake pads can easily get stuck to the discs or drums. This will cause issues the next time the vehicle is driven. It is better to purchase chocks – which can be a piece of wood or a brick – to prevent the vehicle from rolling and leave the vehicle in first gear.

Car Battery

What happens to the car battery if the vehicle is not driven for an extended period of time? It loses its charge. To keep this from happening, the vehicle should be driven at least every few weeks. However, if you are placing the vehicle in storage, it does not need to be driven. The battery needs to be connected to a trickle charger or a battery tender with an automatic shut-off feature or float mode. This prevents the battery from being overcharged. You can either keep the battery in the vehicle or remove it while it’s connected to the battery tender.