Four Ways To Prepare Your Vehicle For Storage
Placing your vehicle in a storage facility can be a great way to save some space in your garage while you move, or can be a perfect way to protect a summer vehicle from the harsh conditions associated with the winter. However, no matter the reason why you may be putting your vehicle into storage, you should perform some basic maintenance tasks beforehand to ensure that your car does not suffer any damage while sitting idle and is able to run as good as new once you eventually take it out again.
General Cleaning
The first thing that you should do while preparing your car for storage is to have it cleaned from top to bottom. You'll want to remove any dirt or other stuck debris which may hold onto water and deteriorate your paint job, potentially opening up the door for rust to set in. Further, you should also apply a coat of wax to help protect your paint job from scratches and minor aesthetic damage which can occur.
Tires
You should perform two basic tasks on your tires, depending on the length of time that your vehicle is going to be in storage. For short term storage, you should check your tire pressure and adjust it as needed to the recommended pressure printed on the sidewall: this will prevent flat spots developing while your vehicle sits on its tires. For longer periods, you should invest in a series of jack stands to physically lift your vehicle off of the ground, which will ensure that your tires stay in shape and are not placed under undue stress.
Gas Tank
You should fill your vehicle's tank all the way up: though this may seem counterintuitive, doing so will prevent moisture from developing in the tank and causing rust to eat away at the interior of your vehicle. If you're storing your vehicle for more than a few days, you should also add in a fuel stabilizer, available at most hardware and automotive stores, to prevent your gas from breaking down into other chemicals over time.
Trickle Chargers
Finally, if you're planning on leaving your vehicle for longer than a week, you should also invest in a trickle charger. Like the name would suggest, this type of charger will provide a small but constant amount of power to your car's battery, ensuring that the battery does not lose charge over time and your vehicle will still be able to start once you take it out again. For great information, talk with a business such as Stadium Storage.
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