You take good care of your car, no matter whether it is an expensive Ferrari or a daily-use ordinary family car. After all, the model and the make of your car reflect your personal taste, social status and more. The regular auto care also includes putting the vehicle under proper insurance coverage and so on. But do you also take care of auto storage, when the car is not in use? Taking care of the car also includes a good and safe storage facility for the car, especially when you are out of town for an extended period or perhaps during winter months too.
Why is auto storage important? If you do not store your vehicle in the right way, you are likely to incur future expenses to restore its condition and bring it back to a drivable condition. However did you know that there is a lot of work involved before you put it away in auto storage? You are putting it way in safe custody so that when you need your car again, it is in the same condition in which you had left it.
The first step in auto storage begins with finding a convenient storage unit which is accessible from home. While you are focusing on safety and security of your car, do not forget about the three worst enemies of your car engine: moisture, humidity and condensation. Therefore the venue you choose for storing the car must be free of these three elements. Of course rust and corrosion can damage the exteriors of the car and mildew can ruin the insides. Rats and other pests also put the car inside at risk. Some rat poison or noise box can help you prevent pest invasion. You can easily procure these items from the local store and they are safe for pets and kids.
Once you have found a convenient location, your next job is to change the oils to something that is synthetic. Changing oils to a synthetic substance is the best way to prevent rusting and corrosion. It is also important to remember that the gas tank should never be emptied before auto storage, as the residual moisture from the gas tank helps in rust formation. Not only should you keep the gas tank full but could consider adding a fuel stabilizer. In case the storage is only for a short time, hook up the car battery with a battery charger. Otherwise, the best option is to disconnect the battery.
For proper storage of your car tires, use lithium based preservatives and not petroleum based ones as the latter has a tendency to dry up faster and this cracks the rubber of the tires. All you have to do is to spray a rag with grease and then wipe the tires with it. After washing the car, you need to put a wax polish on. Then the car should be covered with a high quality car cover.
With the above suggestions, it is expected that your car remains safe even when you are not using it for long months.