With temperatures finally starting to fall, it’s time to begin making plans for what needs to be done to protect your transportation for the winter. Some of you are likely to drive your car or truck during the winter time; however others are planning on stashing your vehicle in some kind of storage during the cold months. Facts about storing your vehicle may not affect every one, particularly those of you in the warm southern regions.
Having said that, if you are planning to store your car or truck through the winter season, these tips will be must read info:
The First Step May Not be Obvious, but it is Critical
Cleaning your car or truck now is going to be incredibly easier compared trying to do so after a long period of not using it.. Thoroughly clean your vehicle inside and out. A comprehensive “cleaning” needs to include the inside, exterior, undercarriage and underneath the hood.
Any sort of dirt and grime that’s built up on the car or truck is going to be faster and easier to get rid of today as compared to after it has set for a few months. Beginning with the interior, make certain you vacuum and thoroughly clean everything. The cleaner the vehicle is, the more effectively it’s going to cope with being stored for a long period.
Be sure you completely clean the undercarriage of the vehicle. This is the “sneaky” grime and dust that wears cars out from the inside-out. The dirt and grime allowed to remain on the undercarriage can cause rust or corrode metal surfaces even when you do everything else perfectly. Wash the exhaust system completely, particularly any chrome or stainless steel exhaust points as doing this will prevent corrosion. When you are finished with the undercarriage, it’s time to start working on the exterior.
Thoroughly wash your vehicle – it is going to be worthwhile to spend the extra time it takes to make it glisten. When the vehicle is thoroughly clean, give it the very best wax job possible. Wax every place you can find paint – your vehicle and your pocketbook will both love you for doing this. Shine and polish all chrome and metallic surfaces on the vehicle to maintain a tough finish to survive the cold months of winter. Examine the vehicle carefully to be certain you haven’t missed anything and confirm it’s completely dry prior to storing it. Any type of moisture that remains can corrode any metal components while the car or truck is stored.
Think “Preventative” Maintenance
Preventative maintenance can make a huge difference in how well your vehicle works “after” it has been sitting throughout the winter. The following fluids should be changed before storage:
Engine oil, brake fluid, coolant (anti-freeze), windshield washer fluid, transmission fluid should all be freshly changed.
When a car or truck is driven after an oil change, minor levels of moisture build-up or condensate starts appearing within the engine. When the automobile isn’t driven, the moisture adds to the chance of corrosion on internal engine areas. By simply changing the oil just before storing, you can diminish the moisture in the engine. You may also want to use synthetic oil, since it offers improved coating and will not deteriorate as easily as standard oil.
Although it seems counter intuitive, you need to top-off your vehicle’s gas tank. Because most fuel tanks are metal, filling-up the gas won’t enable moisture to develop as a result of gas fumes that can cause corrosion. A gasoline stabilizer really should also be employed, since gas can breakdown during a prolonged stretch of time.
Following that, detach the battery connections. In fact, in the event the car is going to be put away for an extensive stretch of time, take it out entirely. Old age coupled with very low temperatures during the winter can lead to batteries cracking, which can expose your engine compartment to battery acid. It’s also wise to utilize a battery trickle charger or tender.
These kinds of appliances hook up to your battery terminals and can provide a continual, steady charge. These devices will automatically shut off regularly to avoid overcharging. Cars and trucks contain electric powered accessories that will use power even though the vehicle is not operating and definitely will discharge the battery.. These battery trickle chargers will prolong the life span of the battery in your car.
There are a handful of alternatives on the best ways to take care of the tires. It is possible to jack up the vehicle and set it on jack stands, dress the tires in lithium grease, or you can over-inflate the tires.
If you place your vehicle on jack stands, this should stop the tires from forming flat areas will also decrease the stress on suspension bushings as well as other components. The second option is to dress the tires with lithium grease. This is a preventative measure to prevent the tires from drying out, and developing cracks or leaks. You should never apply petroleum based lubrication, like petroleum jelly or any of the protective sealants, since they will ultimately dry out and can realistically dry and crack the rubber of the tires. The final option is to over-inflate the tires, which will prevent the development of flat spots.
