If you leave a car unused for a few months, especially with the restrictions imposed by the government to deal with COVID-19, through this guide, Prestige Cars gives its opinion and helps you prepare your used car for long-term conservation.
Apart from the current state of health emergency, many owners of classic or rare used vehicles choose to store their cars during the winter or simply when they want to reserve them for special occasions. Exposing an old car to winter conditions can cause rust and other damage, but poor storage can also lead to a range of problems that you’ll discover when you use it again later.
Here’s what you need to do to prepare your car before it’s stored:
Clean and polish your car
It may seem a little strange to spend time shining your car and then hide it for several months, but leaving dirt, mud and moisture on your car can lead to corrosion.
Filling up with fuel and antifreeze
Condensation can build up in a fuel tank, so Prestige Cars recommends that you fill the tank before storing the car. Adding a fuel stabilizer is also a good idea in case your car will not be used for a long time. Fill the antifreeze tank as well, and then run the engine for a few minutes to ensure that the new fluids circulate. It’s also a good idea to change the oil, as well as the oil and air filters.
Inflate your tires
Make sure your tires are inflated according to the manufacturer’s recommendations before storing your car. If you can, you should lift the car off the ground if it is going to be off the road for a long time to avoid flat tires. Avoid using the handbrake to park your car for long periods of time, especially for older cars. The handbrake can cause the brake pads to stick to the discs, so it’s wise to use some tire blocks instead.
Use a protective car cover
A dust cover keeps dust, debris and small animals out of your car; you don’t want to discover that your engine compartment has become a rodent sanctuary while the car was in storage. Just to be on the safe side, stuff clean rags into areas where small creatures can take refuge, such as the exhaust pipe and around the engine compartment. Don’t forget to remove them before restarting the car.
If you store the car outside, make sure the cover is waterproof and tight. Prestige Cars recommends that you use a soft, stretchy cover instead of a tarpaulin, as this could damage the paintwork. For indoor storage, you should also make sure that the garage or workshop is well ventilated to prevent moisture from affecting the sheet metal of your car.
