If you have a car that you don’t use much, but you don’t want to sell it right now, you can always store it. Storing a car saves it from rust and preserves its resale value. Since cars are expensive commodities, it makes sense to properly protect them from damage and harm before you can use it again or you can resale it. If you don’t take proper care of your car before you store it, chances are that some or more parts of your car will be damaged beyond repair. You have to replace them or may have to resale it at a lower price.
This is the reason why, it is always advised that you store your car properly so that when you resale it, you can actually get what that car is worth. Here are some tips that will help you store your car properly and help you protect its resale value. If you take these tips seriously, you will be able to make the maximum profit on your car.
Change Filter and Oil
First of all, you should change the oil and the filters of the car. If you are planning on storing your car for a long period of time, it is best to use an oil that has fewer additives. This will help you to protect your car engine. Since there will be less oil deposits, the oil will keep everything lubricated without damaging the car engine and its components. You should also change the air filters and oil filters in the car. These will keep dirt, debris and deposits from entering your car and its mechanics.
Keep the Fuel Tank Full
It is very important that you fill the fuel tank with good quality or premium fuel. When vehicles are stored, the fuel tank faces condensation issues which can water to accumulate inside the fuel tank. Always make sure that the fuel tank is filled with non-alcoholic fuel. If your car uses gasoline, you must know that it can get gummy with time. It is very important that you use a gasoline stabilizer so that your car’s fuel tank has less probability of water accumulation. Also, make sure that the gas you use does not have ethanol, ethanol is very corrosive and can release water into the fuel tank. So, always ask the distributor before you add any fuel and fill your fuel tank with it.
Coolant Levels and Tyre Pressure
For a better resale value, always make sure that the tyre pressure of your car is perfect. You need to make sure that the car tyres are not over inflated or the tyres are not properly inflated. You need to check the car’s manual to know the perfect tyre pressure and always fill your tyre according to that. You can also find the exact number under the driver’s side door. You can also check the numbers of the side wall of the tyres, but that is maximum number of pressure the tyres can maintain. So, always follow the car manual and fill your car tyres according to it.
Make sure that the coolant levels in your car’s cooling system are perfect. The best way will be to take your car to a mechanic and let him assess the situation. However, if you can see that coolant levels are visibly low, you need to buy some more and fill the system up so that your car’s cooling system has proper lubrication.
Wash Your Car
Here is the thing, if you store a dirty car, the car will have more chances of getting rust that can seep inside the car and kill it. However, if you wash it properly from inside and out, your car will be protected from rust. However, make sure that once you wash your car, you need to air dry it and make sure that there is no moister on the surface of the car anywhere. If the car some deep dents and scratches that go all the way through the interior of the car, make sure you have it fixed before you wash it. If not, moisture can seep into the car and become rust over time.
Place a Vapor Sheet under the Car
You should consider placing a vapor sheet on the floor under the car so that when you store the car, the vapor sheet will prevent the water vapors from building in an unheated garage, especially in the winter and on cold days. The vapor sheet also makes it easier for you to spot the moisture or find any leaks when you will remove the car to resale it.
Leave a Window Open
If a car is not used over a long period of time, it can start to smell really bad. All the gasses and other fluids’ smells will be accumulated inside the interior of the car and you will not be able to get rid of it when you are going to resale the car. The best way to handle it is by leaving a car window slightly open. Just open the window enough so that air can easily pass through it. Do not open it wide enough for a small animal to climb inside. If it is a convertible, put the top up. For any car, take a rag and clog the air intake and exhaust to stop any animal from making a nest inside the car.
Use a Battery Maintainer
If you are going to store your car for more than a month, it is best to use a battery maintainer. Basically, these are smart battery chargers that can work independently. You do not even have to take the car batteries out for you to use it properly. Simply plug this in with the car battery and let the smart battery chargers do their work. This process will make sure that your car batteries are properly maintained when you store it.
Protect the Windshield from Windshield Wipers
There are two ways through which you can protect the windshield from the windshield wipers. You can either take them off or you can place a plastic wrap on the windshield wipers to create a barrier. Since the windshield wipers can melt with heat and time, you will have a lot of issues with your windshield if you don’t take proper precaution.
Spark Plug Care
When you store your car, make sure that you remove the spark plugs and spray a small amount of oil into the cylinders where the spark plugs are taken out from. This will prevent the cylinders to build rust. Once you have properly lubricated the cylinders, insert the spark plugs again. Also, make sure that you use anti–seize lubricant on the threads of the spark plug. This will make sure that the threads will not stick and will be easily removed when you want to remove them.
Protect the Tyres
You need to protect the car tyres, especially if you are going to store the car for a long time before you can take it out to resale it. It is always advised that you should jack the car up on the axle stands so that the tyre will not get flat spots.
Some Minor Things to Do
- If you keep the parking brakes on, the brake pads can easily stick to the rotors. Always remember to place chocks under the tyres to stop this from happening and turning the brakes off.
- Close the car properly. Lock the doors, the storage area and the hood of the car.
- Always make sure that you cover the car with its fabric cover. Make sure that it has no holes and that properly seals the car from any external elements.
- When you take the car out of the storage, remember to take off everything that you placed inside or over the car. Don’t leave the rags inside the car and take the plastic wrap off of the windshield wipers.
Keep these things in your mind while you are preparing your car for storage. If you follow these tips and advices, you will be able to preserve your car and retain its resale value, even after you take it out of the storage after a couple of years.
