Tips On Protecting Your Car During Winter Storage

Posted on: 28 November 2015

Winter can be brutal on your car, with freezing temperatures, snow buildup, animal infestation and salt damage all quite capable of wreaking havoc on your car while in storage. If you are planning on storing your car this winter, read on for car winterizing tips to help protect the finish, tires and interior.

Protecting the finish and interior

Before putting your car in storage, give it a thorough scrubbing with a non-abrasive towel and soapy water so as to remove any dirt particles, bird droppings, tree sap and other contaminates that could gradually corrode the finish or scratch the paint while you put on the car cover.

You should then let the car dry properly before applying a protective coat of wax to the paint so as to protect from corrosive salt or pest droppings. Any unpainted metal parts on the undercarriage are vulnerable to rust, so be sure to spray them with a protective layer of rubberized undercoating to keep out moisture.

For the interior, remove trash such as food wrappers and soda cans so as to minimize the risk of an insect infestation and to keep off foul smells from the cabin. A set of seat covers can help protect your seats from settling dust, while a few packs of desiccant can suck up interior moisture and prevent moisture buildup during storage. It is a good idea to have your interior carpets steam-cleaned so as to keep the car clean and fresh till the spring, but be sure to have this done far enough in advance so as to allow the carpets to dry properly and avoid a potential mold infestation.

Protecting the tires

To ensure your tires won't deflate completely while the car is in storage, inflate them to a higher air pressure to accommodate the loss in air pressure that usually occurs due to drops in temperature, but be sure not to exceed the tire's maximum air pressure. Have a mechanic inspect all tires for wear and tear and replaced damaged tires. Failure to replace tires with leaks could cause them to completely deflate over the winter months, causing the car to end up kneeling on its rims.

To avoid getting flat areas on your older tires and wheels over long periods of storage, put your car on jack stands to take the weight off the tires and suspension. Finally, avoid engaging the parking brake during storage and use blocks of wood to wedge against the tires instead, as the brake could get stuck due to freezing temperatures and become extremely problematic to disengage.

For more tips on storing vehicles, contact a storage facility, such as Ship Creek Storage

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