Preparing Your Car For Winter Storage: What You Need To Know
Posted on: 17 November 2017
Do you own a car that you only drive for a portion of the year? If so, then you most likely store your car during the winter months. This is especially common among those who own sports cars, as they typically don't make the best vehicles to drive during the winter. If you're in the process of preparing your car for winter storage--whether it be in your own garage or another location--there are some things to keep in mind.
Top Up Those Fluids
Before your car goes into storage, you'll want to make sure all fluid levels are topped off. This includes fuel. You don't want your car to have an empty or near-empty gas tank while in storage, as this can lead to engine damage when you attempt to start your car in the spring. Also be sure that your anti-freeze is topped off, especially if you'll be storing your car in a space without climate control.
Remove Your Battery
It's usually a good idea to remove your car's battery and hook it up to a battery maintainer or trickle charger during the off-season. This will help to keep the battery charge maintained so you don't have to jump-start your car in the spring. This can also help to protect the battery contacts from corrosion over the winter, depending on where your car will be stored.
Protect Against Pests
The last thing you want is to end up with rodents or other pests trying to take up housing in your car during the cold winter months--and this is a more common issue than you might think. There are some steps you can take to deter pests from trying to enter your car. For starters, grab a piece of steel wool and place it in your muffler. You can also place moth balls and laundry sheets around the inside of your trunk and vehicle cabin. Just remember to remove them in the spring!
Look Into Insurance Savings
Finally, if you won't be driving your car at all during the winter, call your insurance agent and see about removing your liability insurance until then as a way to save money. Just be sure to maintain any collision or comprehensive coverage in case something happens to your car while it's in storage.
By taking these steps before placing your car in storage, you'll be in good shape when warmer weather rolls back around!
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