What Happens to a Car after Five Months with No Use? - Vol.329
In order to continuously function in optimal conditions, a car needs to be used regularly. This regular use prevents the hazards of oxidation that can seriously hamper your car's performance. If you expect to leave your car out of commission for more than a few months, this article will give you some important pointers on how to ensure it will be in top notch operating conditions when you use it again.
Alternatives to Long Storage
Because a car benefits from being regularly used, the best idea is to not store the car at all. Having a trusted friend or relative come around each week to drive the car and keep it maintained is the best idea.
Commercial storage companies exist that provide care and maintenance for cars - especially high value luxury cars - that will not be used for long periods of time. As you may have guessed, these services are well beyond the budgeting capacity of most people. For this reason knowing how to properly store your automobile properly is an essential economic skill.
Storing your Car for longer than a Few Months
The most important factor you will want to consider is "where?" The location you park your car, will decide its conditions when you return. The best idea is to find an indoor arrangement that is safe, clean and dry.
It would also be a good idea to make sure the location is secured or that there will be a friendly set of eyes making sure it is not vandalized or stolen. Indoor environments provide protection from the elements, environmental hazards and even local wildlife that is always looking for a nice warm place to stay.
Following is a list of important preparation considerations to apply to your car before it is decommissioned for an extended amount of time.
A Thorough Cleaning - while you may think this part is less than necessary, having your car cleaned thoroughly inside and out, will prevent water marks, bird droppings and any other damage that can come from dust, grease, grime and moisture from becoming a permanent feature of your car. Protect the exterior paint job with a coat of wax and lift the wiper blades off the windows.
Fill the Tank - without a full tank of fuel, moisture has a better chance of entering into the fuel system and oxidizing the materials. This can cause no end of problem to the fuel system of your car, so fill her up to the top before storing your car.
Oil Change - if you haven't had an oil change in a while, add this to the list too. Oil contains contaminants that can damage the engine if left to settle for a long time.
The Battery Charge - one good reason for having a buddy come over and drive your car around the block a couple times it to keep the parts lubricated and the battery from dying. If this is not possible your next option will be dependent on the age of your vehicle.
Old models will usually be OK if you disconnect the negative battery cable. This will mean that you will lose presets on the radio and may need to reset different functions on return. For newer models, this is not an option as disconnecting the power for extended periods of time can hamper with dashboard settings. For new cars, you will need a "trickle charger", which can keep your battery with just enough power to keep the functions working.
In Conclusion
This was only a short summary of the most important consideration for long car storage. There are a few points that have not been covered here, like tire pressure, disengaging the parking brake and the importance of maintaining insurance. If you will need to put your car out of service for longer than a few months, consider taking it to a trusted mechanic for a better insight into your specific needs.