Massachusetts’ winters are nothing to scoff at. The recreational vehicles, sports cars, convertibles, and car projects all make their way back to the garage for hibernation (AKA winter storage.) It would be nice to be able to just turn the car on, park it in the garage, and turn it back off for three months until you’re ready to drive it again, but unfortunately that’s not quite the best way to maintain your car’s condition.
In order for your car to survive winter storage, there are a few essential steps you need to take to make sure your vehicle will run (and run well) come spring.
5 Essential Steps to Store Your Car in Winter:
- Fill the gas tank
- Store vehicle somewhere that’s climate-controlled
- Check and change the car’s fluids
- Remove the car battery
- Clean and wax the car
COMPLETELY FILL THE GAS TANK
It’s a common misconception that you should leave minimal gas in the tank when storing your vehicle for winter. The issue is that moisture can build up inside the tank while it sits, which can lead to internal rusting.
If you leave yourself a full tank of gas, you’ll one, thank yourself come spring when you realize you don’t have to hit the gas station, and two, a full tank prevents any possible rust from accumulating on the inside.
ENSURE THE FACILITY IS CLIMATE-CONTROLLED
It’s not always feasible, but storing your car in a climate-controlled garage or facility will be your best bet at keeping it in good working condition once winter is over. It’s best to store the vehicle in an attached garage if possible, that way you can control the heat level and moisture in the air.
If you can’t control the climate your car is stored in, be sure it is lifted slightly off the ground and away from any possible inclement weather.
CHECK AND CHANGE FLUIDS
It’s a good idea to get an oil change, fluid flush and fluid replacement before storing your car for winter. This will ensure no debris gets stuck or builds up in any fluids during the cold months.
It’ll be a good feeling when you go to start the engine a few months from now and the car starts right away!
REMOVE THE BATTERY
The fluids inside the battery may freeze in cold temperatures, so it’s a good idea to disconnect it and store it in a warm place. Be careful not to store the battery unit on a concrete floor (like the garage floor) because the concrete can drain the battery.
When removing the battery, it’s a good idea to plug any potential entry points into the vehicle. Just as humans like to stay in warm places when it’s cold outside, so do pests and vermin. Cover any openings under the hood, trunk, wheel wells, and in the cabin (particularly, the air filter).
If you find your battery drained come time to start driving the car again, come visit our Massachusetts Salvage Store or shop our online car parts inventory to find the exact replacement part you need.
CLEAN + WAX THE CAR
One of the best ways to prepare your car for winter is to wash and wax it. The wax polish makes the vehicle more resistant to scratches and moisture, both of which are more likely to happen during winter storage.
Winterizing your vehicle is always a good idea before storing it for the season, especially to protect it from any potential winter salt damage.
Closing
By taking these preparatory steps, your car will be in great shape come springtime. Plus, it will give you one less thing to worry about when the winter storms come rolling in. When it becomes time to take your car out of winter storage, you might find you still need replacement parts for anything that might have frozen, leaked, broke, or chewed through by vermin.
Contact our Massachusetts salvage yard for any replacement parts your vehicle might need!