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Vehicle StorageThere are differences between short-term and long-term storage. A little upfront protection will help your car be ready when you need it--without maintenance headaches!
Short-term storage - 8 days to 6 weeksShort-term storage involves protecting the battery and tires. 1. Storage switch. Some cars have a storage switch or fuse that can be tripped to keep things like dome lights and non-essential systems from needlessly draining the battery. Check the owner's manual for the switch location or special fuse location. 2. Use a battery charger to maintain battery charge and eliminate data loss in on-board systems that happens when the battery wears down or is disconnected. The electronics in modern cars can drain the battery in as little as 8-10 days. Tow companies make good money at airports from stranded drivers with drained batteries. During winter months, drained or discharged batteries will freeze and become permanently damaged or useless. There are two types of battery chargers:
3. Tires. Check tire pressure and take note of any tire that is lower than the others. Have those tires checked for leaks and repaired prior to storage, so you don't return to discover a flat tire. Long-term storage - 6 weeks to 6 yearsLong-term storage involves protecting the battery and tires PLUS the motor oil, fuel, interior, and exterior. Please also read short-term storage recommendations above. 1. Motor oil. Change the engine oil prior to storage of more than 3 months to remove dirty oil. Dirty engine oil will thicken after long-term storage and cause hard starting when the car is later revived.
3. Tires. Tires left standing still with the weight of the car on them can sometimes develop a flat spot on the casing. Flat spots cause a thumping noise or a vibration at low speeds of 5 to 20mph. Flat spots can smooth out with use after storage or remain permanently. Tire damage is more likely to effect cheaper "S" or "T" rated tires. "H" rated or higher tires are better at tolerating storage. I do not recommend that the car be placed on jack stands, as this adds greatly to the effort required to store a car and removes the opportunity for quarterly start-up if stored in a garage. For all tires, raise tire pressure 10 psi from the normal of 32 psi For "LT" rated SUV tires, you can raise pressure to as much as 45 psi or 50 psi. Check tire pressure monthly at first. Check less frequently when you know the pressures remain stable over the months. Repair any tire that loses pressure faster than the others, as under-inflation will damage the casing and sidewall quickly. Small air compressors suitable for this task are available at auto parts or hardware stores. See my maintenance tips for more on tires. See my maintenance tips for more on tires. 4. Gasoline. Gasoline will break down after as little as 3 months and start to separate into its base components which cause varnish buildup that can lead to starting problems and expensive repairs. Varnish is much more likely to be present in cars that are stored outside where temperature changes are more extreme. However, cars built in 1996 or later have a tighter fuel system that might allow little or no air into the gas tank to cause fuel breakdown.
5. Interior. The interior of the car will need no special maintenance if the car is stored inside out of the sun.
6. Exterior. Exterior paint preparation will prevent paint fading and make the revival process quick and painless. Have 7. Quarterly start-up. A quarterly start-up will assure that the car is ready when you are. Remove the battery charger. Check the engine compartment for damage or nests. Start the car, check for proper brake pedal action, back it out of the garage. Let the vehicle warm up for 20 minutes while you cycle all the switches one at a time to activate all the systems of the car. This quarterly start-up will circulate the engine oil and other fluids like air conditioning refrigerant. Stirring the fluids allows the systems to be properly preserved. When finished, park the car and confirm that all switches and lights are turned off. Reconnect the battery charger and replace the interior shades and blankets. 8. Revival. After long term storage, open the windows to air out the car while checking the fluid levels under the hood. Check and adjust tire pressure back to normal spec. Perform the quarterly start-up (above). Then go for a short drive to the car wash. The brakes will likely be noisy after storage due to rust accumulation on the brake rotors. This brake noise is normal and should go away quickly. Follow the trip to the car wash with a long drive of about one hour to ensure the systems have all come up to operating temperature and the rust has been rubbed off of the brakes. If the ventilation system smells moldy, have the cabin filter changed. Sometimes after storage a ticking noise is heard that was never there before. This may need to be confirmed by your technician. A "Lifter Tick" may come to life and can sound bad but it may be nothing to worry about. The tick noise should go away within a few minutes to as much as an hour, and may return in the morning with a cold start, but should be back to normal within a few days. Happy Motoring!
Posted 26 November 2005 We are happy to authorize reprints of this article. Please contact us.
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