Car Shipping Pro

If you drive your car at least once a month for a minimum of a half hour, then you should not pursue a car storage solution. But if you have a car that is of sentimental value but is not seeing much action, or you live in an area that seasonally gets harsh winter weather, then storage is a viable option. If you are still going to store, please check out the following pre-storage list to check off before hitting the lights.

Drive the car (duh). When you get back, add (save 4-6 tablespoons for later) carburetor and valve cleaner to the gas tank, then fill the tank with fuel. This process will ensure  upper cylinder lubricant.

Change the engine oil and filter. If you own a Spica-injected car, the injection pump oil filter too.

Drain/flush the cooling system. Leave the heater valve is open. Refill cooling system with a 50/50 mixture of fresh antifreeze and distilled water.

Top up the trans/differential/steering box. Transmission and differential oil should be changed every 30,000 miles. If your car is due for a change, take care of it before storage.

Top off the brake fluid. Your car’s braking system should be flushed and bled with new fluid every 2 years.

Wash and wax the paint and bright-work. Thoroughly vacuum and clean the car’s interior.

Remove the battery, then clean the battery and battery case with a solution of baking soda and water to neutralize acid. Take battery inside and place on an automatic trickle charger.

Push (or temporarily reinstall the battery and drive) the car into the (hopefully indoor) storage area. If you are storing the car in an area with an earth or gravel floor, lay a big piece of plastic down first, then drive the car onto that. The plastic sheet will provide a vapor barrier and help keep the car from rusting.

Raise the car on jack-stands. Place the jack-stands under the various suspension components so that the suspension is compressed and at normal ride height. Fully extended shocks tend to get stuck in that position, hence the last instruction. If space is tight in your garage, you can rest the car on a set of Auto Dollies, so you can move it easily into a corner.

Slip a plastic baggie over the exhaust tip(s) and snap a rubber band around it to keep it in place. Do the same to the air cleaner inlet. This will help keep moisture out of the engine.

Place a couple of mothballs in the trunk, the interior, and the engine compartment. Hopefully this will dissuade little furry creatures from building nests. A quality car cover will also help keep the animal kingdom out of your car. An even better solution is to cocoon the car and cover in a Car Pocket. If the car is being stored indoors, crack the windows about 3/8″.

Finally, if possible, rotate the drive axles a few turns once a month. This will help to keep the differential gears and transmission main shaft and counter shaft coated with oil.

All these tips should keep your car in tip-top shape while it’s in storage.