1. Keep It Covered

The best place for long-term car storage is a garage. Garages protect cars from natural elements and keep them at a relatively stable temperature. When a garage is not an option, you may want to consider renting a public storage facility unit. In situations where you must leave a car outdoors, get a weatherproof car cover for it to keep it clean and dry.

2. Clean It Up

It may seem counterproductive to get a car washed before putting it into long-term storage. However, this is a simple, inexpensive step that you should not skip. Leaving bird droppings or water stains on a car compromises the paint. Take the time to clean the wheels and the fender undersides to clear away grease, mud, and tar. If you want to provide additional protection for your car, give it a coat of wax.

3. Change the Oil and Fill the Gas Tank

Are you planning to keep your car in storage for more than 30 days? If so, it is best practice to get an oil change and fill the tank with gas. Leaving used engine oil with contaminants can cause damage to the engine.  Filling the tank keeps moisture from building up inside the fuel tank and prevents the seals from drying out. Some people recommend purchasing a fuel stabilizer to keep ethanol from accumulating and to offer engine protection from varnish, gum, and rust. Additionally, a fuel stabilizer keeps the gas from deteriorating for up to one year.

4. Keep It Charged

A battery that is left unattended eventually loses its charge. Whenever possible, have someone start the car every two weeks, taking it for a 15-minute drive each time. Driving the car on a regular basis keeps the battery charged, helps the car “stretch its legs,” and keeps the engine and additional components lubricated appropriately. Have the person driving the car run the air-conditioner on a regular basis as well to keep its parts in proper working order and the air quality fresh.

If you are not able to have someone start the car, other options are possible. One option is to disconnect the negative battery cable to preserve the battery; unfortunately, you will lose your clock and stereo settings (i.e. radio presets). If you want to keep your settings and ensure that the battery starts immediately upon your return, purchase a battery or trickle charger. This device plugs into a wall outlet and hooks up to the car battery. It provides just enough electrical power to keep the battery from losing its charge.

5. Avoid Flat Spots

Before you put your vehicle in storage, check your tire pressure. If necessary, inflate the tires to the recommended level. When a car sits for an extended period of time, the tires may develop flat spots as the vehicle’s pressure weighs down on them. This is a heightened risk for cars with low-profile or performance tires and in cold temperatures.

Sometimes having a person drive the vehicle is enough to maintain standard operating temperature and thus eliminate flat spots. In more serious instances, a flat spot can turn into a permanently flat tire that must be replaced. Some people avoid the issue of flat spots altogether by removing the wheels and putting the car up on four jack stands. While this measure takes more effort, it ensures that the tires are in optimal condition upon your return, thus preventing the risk of needing a whole new set of tires. Removing the tires completely is appropriate only for vehicles that are stored for longer than one month.

6. Avoid Using the Parking Brake

Typically, best practice is to use a vehicle’s parking brake to keep it in one place. However, when the brake pads are in contact with the rotors for an extended period of time, they may fuse. Instead of applying the parking brake when putting a car in long-term storage, consider purchasing a chock or tire stopper to keep the car from moving.

7. Keep Up with Car Insurance

Many people give into the temptation to give up their car insurance when they put their cars in long-term storage. Although this measure may save you money on a short-term basis, there is a possibility that your insurance company will increase its rates during the gap coverage, which may result in larger payments than you would have had if you had maintained your original insurance payments. As rates can vary with different insurance companies and different regions of the country, it is important to contact your specific company to discuss your options.

8. Keep the Mice and Rats Out

A garage’s dry, warm environment is enticing for mice and rats. Plug any open areas such as air intakes and exhaust pipes with steel wool to keep critters out. Place cotton swabs or mothballs covered with peppermint oil all around the vehicle.

About the author:

Doug Climenhaga is president of SVI International, Inc., a leading supplier of parts for industrial lift equipment, including brake lathe parts. With more than 20 years experience in the hydraulic and automotive lift industries, he holds two patents and has designed scores of problem-solving products. 

With so many things to look out for and so many ways to take care of your car, the question now is where do you start and what do you do at certain points in time. With a car maintenance schedule, you’ll make sure that every part of your car is looked after and you’ll know exactly which part to have checked up at specific times.

1. The first thing you have to check off the list of car maintenance is car wash. This is the simplest and also the cheapest car job you can do in the way of maintenance. You can do it yourself on your free days or you can go to a car wash center. You’ll only be paying somewhere $5 to $10 per washing.
2. The next items to take care of with car maintenance happen every week or every time to you go to the gas station to refuel. Check your car fluid levels and fluids cover for oil, coolant, wiper fluid and power steering fluid. If they need to be replaced, go ahead and replace them. This will help with your goal of increasing the life of your car and it also helps preserve your car engine’s character. Don’t forget to use quality branded engine oil. One that’s synthetic oil treated and has additives will help control the friction in your engine. Again, check car fluid levels when you go for a gas fill up. You should also check car fluid levels before you go on a long trip. It will cost you somewhere between $50 and $120 to get an oil change.
3. You also have to check your tire condition, pressure and alignment while you’re at the gas station for a fill up. When your tires are properly inflated, it will help you with regard to fuel economy, it improves it. Alignment helps improve gas mileage for your car and this will only cost you about $60.
4. When your car mileage hits 3,000, or after three months, it’s time to change engine oil and filter. With air and fuel filters, you’re keeping things in check so that no harm is caused to your car engine. This will cost about $10 to $15 for air filters. You have to check hoses for any bulging or leaking and you also have to check the wiper blades.For the tires, tread depth has to be looked into too. Battery terminals as well as the cables should be checked for corrosion. While the battery is the most important part of a car, it can be the most ignored part. If you take care of the battery, paying about $50 to $120 for its care, you’ll have a longer battery life.
5. After six months have passed or every time you rake up 7,500 more miles on your mileage, it’s time for you to get a check up on your service battery, the rotation and balance of your tires and the wear of your brake pad. Again, car for your battery will increase its life and it will only cost you $50 to $120 to look into the condition of your batteries. Your brake pad can be at the mercy of your foot and it needs to be replaced every six months.You ensure a smoother ride when you have your tires checked for rotation and balance and this will cost you $60 and for the suspension work on your car as it relates to alignment, it will be worth $60 to $100. If the suspension system needs to be replaced you need to shell out $1000 to $2000 or more if you drive a luxury car.
6. Every year or every 15,000 miles, car maintenance consists of flushing and filling transmission fluid and changing the transmission filter. You also have to replace the air and fuel filters at this time. PCV and breather elements need to be replaced as well as the carbon canister filter. Again, in maintaining the integrity of your car’s filters will amount to $10 to $15 for the air filters and fuel filter change will be worth about $25.This is also the time to lubricate the parking brake, locks, hinges and doors of your car. Go ahead and check your car’s lignment as well as the CV joint boots of your car.
7. After two years or with every 30,000 miles listed on your mileage counter, your radiator coolant must be flushed and replaced. Brake fluid should also be flushed and refilled. The parts of your car like the distributor cap, wires, rotor, spark plugs, differential/transfer case fluid and the cabin air filter have to be replaced as well. Finally, for the two year car maintenance, you have to inspect the exhaust system of your car.The small parts will be fairly priced and inspection can also be done for you by your mechanic for a small amount.
8. When four years have passed or with every 60,000 miles added to your mileage counter, the power steering fluid of your car has to be flushed and refilled. The timing belt or chain also has to be replaced. If your car has a long warranty, you can get the parts you need replaced for a discount and you can get labor charges on your car waived.

It takes a little bit of effort to making sure your car is in top condition. With the little things you do, you’ll be saving yourself a lot of money from having to get your car repaired or having to buy a new car because you’ll be lengthening your car’s life using the car maintenance schedule. Little attentions here and there go a long way.