Long Term (Winter) Vehicle Storage

[togwt]

With the Concours d’élégance and racing season wrapped up and the temperature beginning to drop, it is time to start thinking about what you are going to do with your vehicle. Many of you will drive your car over the winter months; many others will store your vehicle for the winter. Information on storing your car will not apply to all, especially those in the sunny southern states. However, if you plan to store your car during the winter months, this is a must read.



Ranging from a convertible that`s reserved for sunny days to a vehicle who’s owner has store it due to an overseas assignment; for whatever reason, it only requires a few precautions to ensure that it is preserved and will be operational after it’s in winter hibernation All cars hate to sit idle, so don`t expect to top off the fluids and drive out of the garage. Also, notify your insurance company that you are storing the vehicle and tell them to make adjustment to the policy. A little work now can protect a vehicle from rust, animals and other storage-related headaches.



To help vehicle owners keep their stored vehicles in good shape, here are a few storage tips.



Place several boxes of rodent killer (d-CON) around the car, both inside and out, in the trunk and under the hood. Rodents due to their size (3or 4 inches long) are able to squeeze into many small places where they leave droppings, urine or nest and sometimes die. The areas to check would be the engine heat shield, exhaust pipes, heater box opening, and glove box, under dashboard and seats, door storage, the center console bumper covers and the trunk.



Vehicle Storage



1. To avoid capillary action from foundation dampness; place a tarpaulin on the garage floor and it will also form a moisture barrier. A standard tarpaulin that is available from a builders merchant is fine, the thicker the better. Then place four pieces of regular lumber under each wheel position on top of the tarp.



2. Some cars have a storage switch or fuse that can be tripped to keep things like dome lights and non-essential systems from needlessly draining the battery. Check the owner`s manual for the switch location or special fuse location.



3. Change the oil and filter.



4. Replace brake fluid with DOT 3



5. Do not drain the fuel tank, as an empty tank will cause condensation and it will start to rust! Top off fuel tank, then pour Stabil into the tank and run it for a few minutes (to get it into the fuel lines) If you don`t cycle your fuel through the tank every two months, it starts an oxidation process and will turn into varnish over time, this can clog your fuel lines, One ounce protects three gallons of any type of fuel.



6. Release the fuel system pressure by removing the relay and allow the engine to run until it stalls and then replace the relay



7. Top off coolant with a 50/50 water and corrosion inhibitor and fill all fluids



8. Spray distributor with WD-40



9. Protect the paint, give the vehicle a good washing, dry it thoroughly and then apply an oil rich polish, buff the polish and then apply a second coat but do not buff



10. Clean the interior of the car, apply a generous coating of Leather Master’s Protection to all leather surfaces, and use a box of DampRid moisture absorbing products, also leave a bar of scented soap under the seats (vermin don`t like the smell)



11. Apply Wurth HHS-2000 clear spray lubricant to seat rails and sunroof guide rails



12. Apply a conditioner to `rubber` weather stripping (Zymol Seal)



13. Close trunk, and hood, and stuff the exhaust so as mice do not enter, steel wool works better than rags as they cannot chew or use it for nesting material.



14. Close windows but leave a small gap to ensure rubber seals are not completely flattened, same for doors, close to first `click`



15. Over inflate the tyres (50psi) and put car on Tyre Cradles to avoid flat spots; cars with low profile tires will flat spot. It is a rule of thumb that if your car`s tires have an aspect ratio of 50 or less, they will flat spot.



16. Do not place car jacks as these will unload the suspension and may do harm. Some vehicles should not be stored with the suspensions unloaded (check with manufacturer)



17. Store the car in gear; do not apply the emergency brake.



18. Remove sparkplugs and inject a little oil down into each of the cylinders.



19. Remove the battery, clean and store separately (the myth about storing a battery on concrete is just that, a myth) coat the terminals with Wurth battery and terminal cleaner, do the same thing with the cable terminals, coat battery hold down bolts with WD40.



20. Disconnecting the battery will cause the radio pre-sets and the seat position memory to be lost. Once the battery is re-connected the engine control unit (ECU) will reset automatically (a good thing to do occasionally anyway)



Alternatively use a Deltran Battery Tender®, a fully automatic two-stage lead acid battery charger, lightweight, compact size, trickle charger that assures batteries are maintained after charging. Ideal for all lead-acid, sealed maintenance free and gel cell batteries. After full 14.4 VDC charge is reached, converts to float charger and monitors battery at 13.2 volts. When voltage drops below 12.6 VDC, charger resumes charging back to 14.4 VDC, a two-colour LED indicator, Spark-proof; reverse polarity protected, twelve-foot output cord and quick-connect harness. Comes with a set of quick disconnect clamps and rings



21. Cover the car with a good quality cotton car cover. If you are storing the vehicle outside use a UV sunshade on the windshield and rear window, plus a car cover



22. Store convertibles with the top up; convertible tops can actually shrink if they are left in the down position, for an extended period of time.



23. Inspect the vehicle from time to time and check to ensure that the DampRid is still operational





Vehicle Storage Cover



Sometimes having a safe, dry, cosy place to keep your car, truck or SUV adequately protected is not enough. A Kimberly-Clark Corporation Dustopâ„¢ car cover can be your answer by protecting your vehicle from some of the things you can`t control.



This car covers are designed as our best solution for storing your vehicle indoors. There are a total of 4 layers that make up this fabric. The first two layers are polypropylene/polyethylene and act as outer protection for your vehicle against dings, dents, scratches and heat. PP offers excellent strength and stability, while PE brings superior softness. Combined, they form a soft barrier that protects your car when bumped or something is dropped on it. When temperatures rise, this outer combination can also keep the surface and interior of the vehicle much cooler.



The top two layers of the car cover can prevent sharp claws from cats and other animals that have been known to rest on your investment from scratching the painted finish. The third is a melt blown polypropylene film that traps dirt and dust and prevents it from getting to your vehicle.



Tests have demonstrated that multiple layer materials are more effective than one layer woven fabrics at keeping dirt and dust out. This is an important factor in keeping the finish of your car, truck or SUV always looking its best. Finally, the fourth layer or inner layer is a soft, high-loft spun bound composite that pampers and protects your vehicle`s finish.



• 4-ply developed by Kimberly-Clark and made in the U.S.

• Soft flannel-like fabric designed as our "best" indoor cover

• Nearly dirt and dustproof, keeping vehicle surface clean

• Breathable characteristic allows for moisture evaporation

• 4-ply material provides ultimate ding and scratch protection

• Mold and mildew-resistant to protect delicate car finishes



Caring for your Car Cover



By regularly cleaning your Dustopâ„¢ car cover you can prevent the "fogging" effect from occurring on your vehicle`s windows.

a) Machine wash - begin by inserting the cover in the washer allowing the warm water to fill then proceed to add ¼ cup laundry detergent. Run the rinse cycle twice to get all the detergent rinsed out. Allow cover to air dry before placing back on vehicle or storing. A large commercial washer without an agitator can also be used to wash your car cover.



Notes:

1. Remove your washing machine`s agitator before washing your Dustopâ„¢ car cover.

2. Do not use a fabric softener on a Dustopâ„¢ car cover.

3. Air Dry ONLY.



b) Hand wash - leave your Dustop cover on your vehicle. Mix an ounce of mild dishwashing liquid per quart of warm water. Spray or sponge soapy water onto your car cover and clean with sponge or soft bristle brush. Rinse with plain water until no suds are evident and allow to air dry. Only store cover when completely dry.



Tyre Storage



The Tyre Garage lets you to safely store seasonal tyres outside, which frees up extra space in your storage areas. This innovative, new product is made of the same rugged, weatherproof material used for boat covers and awnings. It retains its colour and strength for years of normal exposure to sunlight and rain. It also resists mildew and cleans easily Also great for inside storage, it will cover up that unsightly pile of tyres - TOTL



• Pack each tyre separately in tyre covers (TireTote) storage bags will work just as well, provided that they are sealed.

• Store the winter tyres in a cool, dry place. Basements and garages are good storage places, as well as temperature regulated, water proof sheds. If none of these options are available, contact a reputable tyre dealer that offers tyre storage.

• Stack the tyres flat on their sides, not more than four tyres high. Tyres stacked more than four high are unstable and can tip over.

• Check the tyre pressure for each set of tyres when it`s time to remount the tyres. Consult the manufacturer`s instructions for the appropriate tyre pressure



Engine Start Up



• When time comes to start the engine, pull the fuel pump relay/fuse and crank the engine without it getting any fuel for a while to prime the lubrication system/circulate the oil. This will avoid washing down dry cylinder walls with fuel before it starts up.

• Remove the steel wool from the exhaust pipes

• Run the vehicles air conditioning system for a few minutes and check for leaks and / or loss of refrigerant as the seals may be dry

• Assuming you heated up the car to full operating temp after changing the oil and filter (pre-storage) at start-up there should be only minimal deposits and contamination.

• Fill the stored car with low viscosity oil during storage and if possible start the engine occasionally to ensure the oil and water gets a chance to circulate

• Drain the oil system and before replacing the oil and filter fill it with oil as this will enable oil priming upon start up and prevent dry cranking





Rodent Infestation



The house mouse (Mus musculus) can at times be harmful rodents; they are carriers of more than sixty infectious diseases spreading them through their parasites and feces. They can transmit pathogens that cause diseases such as salmonellosis, a form of food poisoning. In North America, breathing dust that has come in contact with mouse excrements has been linked to Hantavirus, which may lead to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). So ensure you have the appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) gloves, masks, goggles and coveralls.



Remediation of odour, cleaning, sanitizing replacing components affected by the rodent to include ventilation system and cabin air filters.

Spray down with disinfectants and HEPA vacuum any droppings or materials they have contaminated. The danger from infection comes from mice droppings (feces) which look like black peppercorn and about 0.12 in long, and have a strong musty smell, its urine, which can be seen with a black light, a strong odor is more likely caused from decaying matter especially if the rodent has died.



Rodents are carriers of more than sixty infectious diseases like hanta virus and persons cleaning should wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) gloves, masks, goggles and coveralls, and not stir up droppings or materials contaminated. Spray down with disinfectants and HEPA vacuum any droppings or materials contaminated



Rodents due to their size (3or 4 inches long) are able to squeeze into many small places where they leave droppings, urine or nest and sometimes die. The areas to check would be the engine heat shield, exhaust pipes, heater box opening, and glove box, under dashboard and seats, door storage, the center console bumper covers and the trunk.



The odour is more likely caused from urine and / or decaying matter



Proceed to remove plenum cowling from around windshield and then clean and disinfect entire area and parts. Fog a/c ventilation ducts with disinfectants, remove cabin air filter and disinfect housing, when decontamination is complete replace cabin air filter with new.

Check behind heat shield for nests or decomposing matter, check the interior compartment, under seats to include trunk for any sign of droppings, or nests. Check electrical wiring for any damage.



Inspect all interior areas and under seats and include trunk for any sign of droppings, or nests and / or decomposing matter. Check electrical wiring for any damage. Once all areas have been checked, cleaned and disinfected, treat for odor with appropriate chemicals. When you have finished cleaning go over all hard and soft surfaces with Lysol disinfectant or a vapour steam cleaner.



Inspect all interior areas and under seats and include trunk for any sign of droppings, or nests and / or decomposing matter. Check electrical wiring for any damage. Once all areas have been checked, cleaned and disinfected, treat for odor with appropriate chemicals. When you have finished cleaning go over all hard and soft surfaces with Lysol disinfectant or a vapour steam cleaner. (See also Odour, Mould and Smoke Control article).



Products - Microban Mildew & Mold Remover is an environmentally-safe, anti-microbial formula that destroys bacterial odours on contact. When you cannot use chlorine, Microban is a very effective solution. The formula is a water-based, non-flammable bactericide, fungicide, deodorant and anti-microbial, all in one formulation



Application - do not dilute, use full strength, apply via sprayer to porous surfaces until moist, no not over wet, brush into carpeting, allow to dry 10-20 minutes



A vapour steam cleaning of the interior will help to sanitise and kill any remaining bacteria



Caution- use respiratory protection and gloves as the droppings (feces) constitute a health hazard that can cause an allergic reactions and respiratory problems, and cause disease



[Edit: 10.31.2011 Car cover added]

http://www.autopia.org/forum/welcome...l?daysprune=45

[MichaelJulander]

Excellent, exhaustive and comprehensive. This post must be regarded the dummy`s guide to vehicle storage, and preserved!