How To Store a Car Long Term (and for the Winter)
Everyone who uses a car for transportation has one on a daily basis, but what happens to the cars they don’t use every day?
Many of us have seasonal vehicles. Maybe you have a convertible or roofless car that’s only fun to drive when it’s warm and sunny. In the winter, the roads get salted, and you want to avoid the rust that salt inevitably brings.
If you’re not going to use your car for an extended period of time, we recommend taking a few simple steps to ensure that you can drive it again when the time is right.
Seasonal Storage Tips
If you drive your car every year and only store it for the winter, your main concerns are the battery, oil, and tires. As long as you follow the manufacturer’s recommended annual maintenance intervals, you won’t have to worry too much about other maintenance expenses.
Keep your battery charged
When your car is stopped, your battery will discharge slowly. This is especially true in winter, when the cold temperatures put more strain on your battery.
A battery charger is a smart device that allows you to charge your battery even when you’re not driving your car. These are especially useful for boats, motorcycles, and convertibles that are only driven a few months out of the year.
A battery charger helps prevent battery wear and prolong the life of your battery. Once your battery is completely discharged, it will no longer hold the same charge as it did before. Also, if you live in an area with a harsh climate, you need to make sure you have a strong battery.
Oil Change
The more you drive, the more your oil wears down, but did you know that its lubricating properties also decrease over time? If your car has been sitting for a while, it’s a good idea to change the oil before driving it regularly. This is especially true for track and autocross cars, which are exposed to more stress than a simple road trip.
Move your car every now and then
If possible, it’s a good idea to run your car every week or two. This not only charges the battery and circulates the oil to keep the engine lubricated, but it also protects your tires. Tires flex as you drive and may rest in different orientations throughout the year.
Some flat spots may return to their original shape after a period of driving, but in severe cases the tire may become permanently deformed.
Truck and autocross tires are especially susceptible to developing flat spots if stored for long periods of time. These types of tires use a different tread compound than commonly used all-season tires. All-season tires are generally much harder and slightly more resistant to flat spots.
- If it’s raining or snowing, you can take a coffee break in the car and get to work.
- If you have high-performance tires, keep an eye on the temperature; most high-performance tires lose grip when the temperature drops below 4°C.
- If you drive a race car in cold weather, you should drive carefully and avoid driving altogether if there is ice or snow on the ground.
- If you can’t remove it safely, bring the car up to operating temperature and move it back and forth a few feet to put pressure on different parts of the tire. This should be enough to get you through the snow season.
Long-Term Storage
Storing a car for an extended period of time can cause many parts to wear out over time. There are some special considerations if you’re storing your car for years or even decades.
If you’re storing a luxury or rare car, check with the manufacturer to see if any special considerations are necessary. Custom and exotic cars often require more maintenance than mass-produced models.
Store your car indoors
The weather is not good for stationary objects. One of the most important things you can do to preserve your car is to store it in a temperature-controlled garage or warehouse. The ideal indoor environment is near room temperature with moderate, stable humidity (roughly 50% +/- 10% humidity is ideal).
It never hurts to monitor the temperature and humidity in your storage area to make sure they are stable. Take steps to control the environment as much as possible.
Change all fluids
Engine and transmission oils, coolants, and other fluids can contain contaminants that can cause wear on components over time. If you plan on storing your car for more than a year, it’s best to start over with clean fluids.
Cover Your Car
Covering your car protects the materials, from the paint to the interior. When you cover your car, use a high end, breathable car cover designed for indoor storage.
You actually don’t want to use a waterproof car cover, as this could trap moisture between the car’s paint and the cover, causing all sorts of issues over time.
Place Car on Jack Stands
Jacking up the car on all four corners ensure that there is no load on the suspension or the tires.
Conclusion
The amount of prep work needed to properly store a car long term is extensive, and is not always feasible in every situation.
Improper long term storage of a vehicle can actually cause more damage than simply driving the car regularly. If there is any doubt about your ability to store a car long term, it’s best to just drive the car occasionally to keep things moving.
When you don’t drive often, pay close attention to the time intervals on the manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations. You will likely run out of time before you hit the specified mileage, but it’s still important to keep up on maintenance.
The clock is ticking on those parts whether you’re making memories in your car or it’s just sitting in a garage.