Auto enthusiasts usually don’t look forward to the snowy weather in winter. Months-long harsh weather translates to the inability to drive your classic or sports car around. In some parts of the world, winter conditions are really not ideal for enjoying driving your car around. Road salt, snow, rain, and slippery roads aren’t really a delight for car enthusiasts to expose their prized possession to.
If you’re someone who wants to store away their expensive car during winter, here are 6 tips to help you preserve your vehicle in the right way.
1. Wash It Externally
Before you park your car away until spring, make sure you wash it from the outside. Spend some time cleaning your vehicle yourself so that you are certain you have thoroughly washed away all the dirt from the exterior. It’s going to be parked idle for a long time, and when you take it out again, you want it to look good.
While washing your car, ensure you wash the underside thoroughly. This way, you will have to make minimal effort to clean it when it is time to drive it again. To protect your vehicle’s finish, you can wax the interior once it has air-dried.
2. Ensure It Is Properly Clean From The Inside
When parked in the garage, a car not thoroughly cleaned from the inside can gather bad smells. If you want to take out a clean and fresh car after the winter season, it is important to ensure it is properly cleaned on the inside.
Some things to ensure when cleaning the interior include removing wrappers and any food-related items, looking under the mats, and ensuring the seat covers are properly cleaned. Vacuuming the inside will help get rid of all the dust that settles over time, and it will also prevent unpleasant odors from developing.
If your car doesn’t have seat covers, installing them is a good idea to protect the upholstery. To ensure that extra cabin moisture is absorbed, you can leave some packs of desiccant inside the vehicle.
Check our blog on How to Drive a Car in the Rain
3. Change The Oil And Filter
Another proactive step to take before parking your vehicle away for winter is to change its oil and filter. Even if the maintenance is not due, it’s a wise thing to do. Changing the oil for your vehicle will help prevent corrosion.
It is expected that a car that is standing idle may become susceptible to engine corrosion, so it is better to take all the precautions that you can. Before you park the car for the next few months, make sure you circulate the fluid by running the vehicle for a few minutes.
4. Ensure Proper Care For The Tires
When storing your car for the winter, you must ensure that the tires are washed and clean without any traces of dirt. You also want to make sure that the tires are inflated to the recommended psi.
Another thing to ensure avoiding is flat-spotting. It happens when a car that hasn’t been used for some time causes the circumference of the tires to change due to its weight. To avoid this, you can park the car on jack stands. This will reduce the weight on the tires during the duration it is stored.
Furthermore, if you would like to prevent the floor from getting indented, you can put wood pieces under the jack stands.
5. Disconnect The Car Battery
When you plan to store your car for the winter season, you can remove the battery. That is if you don’t plan on occasionally starting it. The reason for this is that once the battery is out of charge, it can freeze, and then it will become useless.
If your car is newer and has engine computers, then it is not necessary to remove the battery. However, if it’s an older car, you can store the battery in a heated space until you are ready to take it out again.
You can also connect your battery to a trickle charger or battery maintainer if you don’t want to remove it. In this case, ensure the device you get has an auto shut-off feature to prevent overcharging the battery.
6. Cover The Car
Lastly, the most important thing to store your car for winter is to cover it up. Don’t make the mistake of leaving it uncovered, as it can damage the exterior. The cover will protect the paint and wax of the car and keep it safe from dust in the air.
For extra protection, you can also invest in a custom-fit cover instead of a universal fit cover. When purchasing the car cover, some things to consider include a breathable fabric and not choosing a plastic car.
Any moisture that gets trapped beneath the cover will damage the car’s body if you get the wrong one. Plastic car covers are not recommended because they can scratch the car’s finish. So be very mindful when buying the car cover as your expensive vehicle will be under it for a long time.
Conclusion
Following the proper storage steps in winter for your expensive vehicle are important. It benefits in a variety of ways. For one, it will help prolong the life of the vehicle. Secondly, proper care and prior maintenance can help reduce costly repairs afterward.
A car that stands idle in the garage can develop issues. But, if you have stored it with precaution, the chances are minimal. Thirdly, when you take your car out again in spring, it will be a delight to drive and better prepared to take out on the road. You will have to make minimal preparation before driving it.
When it’s about your vehicle, as a car enthusiast, it is always better to take the necessary steps and precautions to avoid costly problems later on. Make sure you make proper space for the vehicle in your garage, so there are no storage and organization issues.
