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Originally Posted by KnuckleBuckett Is it good practice to remove the battery?
What should be done to preserve tires? |
Todays cars it may be a bad idea as many have computer related devices and by removing the battery, you run the risk of getting a fault that a dealer may have to clear.
As long as the battery is vented with a vent tube, leave it in the car and put a maintainer on it. Good ones will not boil the battery. Don't go cheap on the maintainer.
Inside, trunk, engine, add bags of desiccant and baking soda inside to pick-up odors and moisture. If you have rodents, check all places where they could enter and seal them. I also put steel wool or plastic on all engine openings (exhaust, intake etc). Mothballs in an old sock works well or peppermint oil in a container keeps them at bay.
Condition the body seals and rubber. Any good rubber conditioner. I use 1Z Gummi Pflege for rubber and Cockpit Premium for vinyl/plastic etc.
Tires: Increase tire pressure about 10-15 lbs above the recommended pressure and check every few weeks. Most cars are shipped with tires inflated very high, in my case 60Lbs. I also use
Tire Cradles so the tires do not flat spot. Or roll (not start) the car a little every month. You can use a good rubber conditioner just to keep them clean.
Wheels, make sure ALL brake dust is off before storage and protect with wax or a sealant. Brake dust is corrosive.
I change the oil and filter before storage as well, it gets rid of additional moisture and acids from use that season. DO not start it when in storage. It just does not give the engine enough time to fully come to temp and burn off acids and other harmful agents. It also contaminates the nice clean oil you put in.
Once ready for start of the new season, I remove all blockages (wool, socks etc) check the car for rodents. Then, remove the fuel pump relay and crank the engine until you see oil pressure. Then re-install the relay and run at idle. Check for fluid leaks. Adjust tire pressure to correct settings. Brakes may not have the highest braking efficiency after long storage. Go easy and apply brakes several times at nice, low road speeds. Drive it below 3K/4K RPM until it's fully warm.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Deanski