Dec

11

Storing A Car – Steps You Need To Know

December 11, 2009 | Leave a Comment


Author: Thomas Ajava

Article:
Storing a car seems like it would be the simplest thing in the
world. Just drive the car into a garage, maybe throw a car cover
over it and call it a day. Well, taking this approach is going
to result in a lot of problems. A car is a mechanical vehicle,
which means it needs some love and care.

The first step is to make sure all the fluids are both new and
topped up. This includes…well, everything. You should replace
and top off the coolant, hydraulics and engine oil. You might
even consider the brake fluid if it has been some time. Why is
this necessary? Your car is designed to function, not to sit.
Many of the systems are built with tolerances that assume you
will run the car regularly. When you don’t, the system starts to
fall apart because air in it will oxidize and destroy everything
from seals to rubber parts.

The second step is to deal with your fuel system. The obvious
answer is to fill your gasoline tank to the very top. Before you
do this, however, you need to buy fuel stabilizer from the local
auto parts store. Fuel molecules tend to degrade over time and
oxidize. If your fuel goes bad, your car won’t start. If you are
really unlucky, it will damage the fuel system and even the
engine. Fuel stabilizer is an additive that contains chemicals
that prevent the gasoline from breaking down. Use it!

The next step is to clean the car inside and out till it looks
new. This may seem counter productive given the fact you are
throwing it into storage where it will get dusty and so on. The
truth of the matter is you are really trying to avoid mold and
mildew problems. Dust will not cause this, but contaminants that
were in the car when stored may very well.

Now we can start the storage process. Your first move is to get
a waterproof barrier wrap. Lay it out in the storage area and
drive the car onto it. This wrap will keep water vapor from
rising up under the car and will also keep car fluids from
staining the area. Once the car is positioned, place it on jacks
so that the car is completely suspended in the air. This will
save your shocks, suspension and tires. Fire up the car and then
cut the electrical connection to the fuel pump. When the car
dies, the fuel system will be empty and ready for storage. The
final step is just to walk around the car and seal all entry
points that small animals can get into. Duct tape your exhaust
pipe opening to prevent anything from getting up in there.

Now you are in the final stretch. Make sure the transmission is
in neutral and the brakes are released so they don’t fuse while
in storage. Pop the trunk or hood as appropriate and pull out
the battery for independent storage. Finally, pull the
waterproof wrap on the ground up and secure around the bottom of
the car. Now put a quality car cover over the top.

It may seem like a lot of work to store a car, but it is work
well worth it. When it is time to fire up your car again,
everything should be ready to go with a minimum of fuss.

About the author:
Thomas Ajava writes for
CoveredCarTranspor
tQuote.com – your online source for
transport information for cars and more.




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