| Storing your vehicle during the winter. |
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| Written by David Delaney |
| Thursday, 29 January 2009 22:48 |
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So you have a nice expensive vehicle that you love to show off but are less than thrilled about having to store it away for the winter. You just don’t want to expose it to the corrosive road salts or even worse, the calcium chloride they now use to cover the roads in winter time, that stuff is very corrosive. Corrosion is the main reason that people store their vehicles, but it’s not the only one. Some vehicles are just not practical to drive in the snow such as some very low clearance sports cars. You will need to find and indoor place to store your vehicle, I don’t recommend storing it outside simply because of the temperature fluctuation, and of course the little critters. There are a number of steps to do but first of all, try and pick a dry warm day to do it. Begin by replacing the windshield washer fluid to a winter grade and run it trough the system to make sure it gets in the nozzles. Wash the car thoroughly underneath, wheel wells and get every nook and cranny this time. Any little piece of dirt left will capture and hold moisture and cause that spot to rust. Now that the vehicle is clean and dirt free, you must prevent the fuel from breaking down or varnish formation. Fill the tank up, add a fuel stabilizer and drive the vehicle for approximately 20 minutes to make sure that the stabilizer gets into the entire fuel system. Next on the list is to park it where it will remain for the winter but make sure that the care is completely dry. Jack it up and place it on jack stands, if the floor is concrete you are fine but if it is asphalt, place some plywood underneath the stands or they will sink. Lubricate all the door hinges, locks, key holes and trunk latches. Get some fogging oil, remove the spark plugs and spray it down the cylinders, making sure to turn the crank shaft to get every part of each cylinder. When this is done, put the spark plugs back in and reconnect the plug wires. Disconnect the battery and place a trickle charger on it. Cover the car up and you are almost done. Lastly you will want to prevent critters from taking residence in the vehicle. Plug the exhaust with steel wool and cover the ground underneath the car with moth balls, this will discourage them from coming close to the vehicle. Say goodbye to your baby until spring. |
