The cold weather can be very harsh. With winter just around the corner, it is time to start thinking about preparing yourself.
While you may think your car is unfazed by the winter weather, the cold temperatures can start to take their toll on your car. Because the winter months can be so hard on vehicles, many decide to put them away to avoid damage.
However, before you decide to put your vehicle in storage for the winter, you first have to take precautions to ensure you are storing it properly to avoid any potential damage.
Here are some steps to take before putting your car in storage for the winter.
Before putting your car in storage, be sure to give both the exterior and interior and thoroughly clean. To ensure that nothing is missed, clean your car by hand rather than going through a car wash. After washing, wax and polish the car, these steps will ensure your car’s exterior will be well-preserved.
Cleaning the interior is just as crucial as preventing pests, reducing mould, and leaving a good smell in your car.
There is a large selection of vehicle covers available. Some are custom-fitted, while others will fit any car, regardless of what you use, be sure that it is appropriately secured.
If you are lucky enough to have a garage, you are already good to go, but you may want to rent out a storage space for those who don’t. Storage spaces, like self-storage units, can be climate-controlled to ensure that the cold and wet weather from the winter doesn’t reach your car.
To learn more about climate-controlled storage, check out our ‘Climate-Controlled Self Storage Units and What You Need Them For’ article.
In the cold winter months, condensation can begin to form in the empty spaces of your car’s fluid tanks, which can lead to corrosion and other issues. To avoid this, you have to fill up all of your car’s fluid like fuel, antifreeze, windshield washer fluid, and brake fluid. After you have filled up the fluids and before you put it in storage, take your car for a quick right so the fluids circulate.
If you are storing your vehicle in a space that isn’t head, be sure to fill up on antifreeze and windshield washer fluid.
When storing your car for a long time, pressure is extremely important. Over time, your tires will begin to form flat spots as the rubber sits and is continually compressed. Putting a few extra pounds of pressure could help slightly alleviate this. You can also use jack stands to help take the weight off the tires.
Be sure your battery is fully charged before putting it away for the winter. You may also want to try removing the battery entirely and keep the battery somewhere it isn’t going to freeze up, or use some dielectric grease on the terminals to prevent corrosion.
Properly storing your car will ensure that when you pull it outcome in spring, it is as pristine as the day you had put it away.
If you are looking to rent a storage space for your vehicle and want to learn more about what’s on offer, check out our ‘Different types of storage units explained’ article.
