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Auto Storage
Just like your home, a personal car is one of the most prized possessions that we treasure. It is not just a mode of transportation which adds convenience to daily living a car is also a symbol of the owners’ social status and personal taste. Lastly, the family car is loved by each and every member of the family. It is not surprising then, that people go to great extent to take care of their cars – insuring them as well as storing them when not in use. You may not use your car, when you are going out of town for a long period or during harsh winter months when it is impossible to drive around. These are times when you need to organize storage facilities for your car. If not carefully planned and unless you prepare your car for storage, you might land up paying a lot of money to bring it back to normal working condition. There are several things which you have to plan and execute before you put it away for storage so that you get it back in fully running condition and do not have to pay a penny for further retrieval.
The first step in auto storage is to locate a convenient storage facility for your car. Not only should the place be safe and secure, it should be free of moisture, humidity and condensation – three of the biggest culprits for the exterior, interior and the engine of the car. Over and above the rust and corrosion which damage the exteriors, mildew can thrive in the interior areas as well. The other things that can spell havoc for the car are rats and similar pests. If possible keep rat poison around the car or better still keep a noise box that repels rats and mice from the storage space. These are available from the local store and safe for pets and children.
Once you have identified the storage space, the second most important job is to replace the oil with a synthetic. Changing oil prevents rusting and corrosion of the engine. It also prevents moisture formation. Synthetic oil is good since it has coating properties and does not break easily like conventional oils. You might find a lot of people who empty the gas tank before storage. This is wrong since the moisture residue left in the tank encourages rust formation. Thus it is recommended to fill up the gas tank as much as possible and add a gas stabilizer. If your planned auto storage is for a short duration, you could hook up your car battery with a batter charger – so that even the stereo settings remain unaltered, but if the car is to be stored for a longer period of time, it is better to disconnect the battery. Batteries tend to crack with acid spilling everywhere. The next area that requires attention is the external weather stripping and the tires. It is best to use products with a lithium base rather than petroleum base, since petroleum based products ultimately dry up and damage the rubber. Spray the grease on a rag and then wipe it on the tires and weather stripping. The gaskets in the doors, sunroof and trunk also have to be covered with grease. The interior of the car can be protected by using a leather or vinyl conditioner which protects it from cracking or drying. The exterior of the car must be thoroughly washed and cleaned before storage. A coat of wax should be applied immediately after washing. You could use an air buffer which will ease the process. Then cover your car with a superior quality car cover.
Taking these basic steps could keep your car safe during storage so that when you return, your car is in an immaculate condition, just right to take it out for a drive!
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