spnx
01-26-2002, 11:27 PM
A friend was asking about car storage recently, so I sent him this email.
If you can think of anything to add, or you wish to debate anything I've written, feel free to add to this thread.
First, you have two storage "alternatives", and different procedures for
each of them.
1. Car will be started and driven occasionally.
2. Car will *not* be started at all, for a year or more.* (BTW, a car can be
stored for up to three years without being driven, if it's stored well,
until things start to deteriorate.)
Basic Storage:
If you're going with option #1, just slap a cover on it, and maybe put it on
jackstands to take the load off the suspension.* If the car will be driven
around once a month, don't bother with the jackstands.* You could also take
the battery out and put it on a trickle charger, or charge it once in a
while.* Store the battery on wood, not concrete.* Putting it on concrete
saps the charge.
Make sure everything's super clean and waxed.* Changing the oil is a good
idea too.
Whole Hog Storage:
Wash the car throughly, including the undercarriage, cleaning all
drainholes.* Clean under the hood as well, using as little water as
possible.
Wax it.* Vacuum it.* Doing all the cleaning properly should take a weekend,
IMO.
Change the oil.
Flush and refill the radiator with fresh fluid, including a rust inhibitor
additive.
Change the brake fluid.* Actually, if it's stored for a few years, change
the brake fluid *after* it's taken out of storage as well, as it absorbs
moisture over time.
Take it out for a long drive at operating temps (highway), so there's no
residual moisture in the exhaust system, engine, etc.* This makes a HUGE
difference in long-term storage.
Silicone spray (I just use the generic Canadian Tire spray) all the
weatherstripping around doors, etc., and rubber hoses and parts under the
hood.
Jack it up, put it on four jackstands.* Take off the wheels and tires, cover
them with garagebags or tirebags, store them on their sides, preferably in
the garage, but nowhere near an ozone source/furnace, etc.
Take off the emergency brake and leave the car in gear instead.
Take out the sparkplugs, spray "engine fogger" (from Canadian Tire) down the sparkplug wells on the cylinder tops, as per instructions on can.* Replace
sparkplugs.* Spray fogger lightly all over the engine's external metal
parts, (valve cover, etc.)
Take out the battery.* Store it properly, out of the car.
Add "Stabil" to the gas tank, to prevent the gasoline from gumming, which
happens when it's stored for a long time.* If you don't do this, it turns to
tar, and you *will* need a new gas tank.* Don't ask how I know this! ;-)
Put open containers of baking soda and silica gel in the passenger
compartment; to absore odour and moisture, respectively.
Put a car cover over it.
Some people stuff rags into the intake and exhaust, to keep out moisture.* I
don't.* I figure if there's moisture in there, you're trapping it *in*.* I
just leave them open.
If you can think of anything to add, or you wish to debate anything I've written, feel free to add to this thread.
First, you have two storage "alternatives", and different procedures for
each of them.
1. Car will be started and driven occasionally.
2. Car will *not* be started at all, for a year or more.* (BTW, a car can be
stored for up to three years without being driven, if it's stored well,
until things start to deteriorate.)
Basic Storage:
If you're going with option #1, just slap a cover on it, and maybe put it on
jackstands to take the load off the suspension.* If the car will be driven
around once a month, don't bother with the jackstands.* You could also take
the battery out and put it on a trickle charger, or charge it once in a
while.* Store the battery on wood, not concrete.* Putting it on concrete
saps the charge.
Make sure everything's super clean and waxed.* Changing the oil is a good
idea too.
Whole Hog Storage:
Wash the car throughly, including the undercarriage, cleaning all
drainholes.* Clean under the hood as well, using as little water as
possible.
Wax it.* Vacuum it.* Doing all the cleaning properly should take a weekend,
IMO.
Change the oil.
Flush and refill the radiator with fresh fluid, including a rust inhibitor
additive.
Change the brake fluid.* Actually, if it's stored for a few years, change
the brake fluid *after* it's taken out of storage as well, as it absorbs
moisture over time.
Take it out for a long drive at operating temps (highway), so there's no
residual moisture in the exhaust system, engine, etc.* This makes a HUGE
difference in long-term storage.
Silicone spray (I just use the generic Canadian Tire spray) all the
weatherstripping around doors, etc., and rubber hoses and parts under the
hood.
Jack it up, put it on four jackstands.* Take off the wheels and tires, cover
them with garagebags or tirebags, store them on their sides, preferably in
the garage, but nowhere near an ozone source/furnace, etc.
Take off the emergency brake and leave the car in gear instead.
Take out the sparkplugs, spray "engine fogger" (from Canadian Tire) down the sparkplug wells on the cylinder tops, as per instructions on can.* Replace
sparkplugs.* Spray fogger lightly all over the engine's external metal
parts, (valve cover, etc.)
Take out the battery.* Store it properly, out of the car.
Add "Stabil" to the gas tank, to prevent the gasoline from gumming, which
happens when it's stored for a long time.* If you don't do this, it turns to
tar, and you *will* need a new gas tank.* Don't ask how I know this! ;-)
Put open containers of baking soda and silica gel in the passenger
compartment; to absore odour and moisture, respectively.
Put a car cover over it.
Some people stuff rags into the intake and exhaust, to keep out moisture.* I
don't.* I figure if there's moisture in there, you're trapping it *in*.* I
just leave them open.