Questions on storing car

I

imported_RedlineIRL

New member
With cooler weathing coming on quick, I figured its time to get started on getting my car stored in the next few weeks. At the moment I have no garage, so I plan on renting a 12 x 24 or larger storage building to keep it safe from the crap called winter. The stoage building I was planning on using is only a couple miles from my house, so I probably won't keep the car undriven the entire time (I'll take it out and drive it once every few weeks on nicer days, and probably check on it daily). I am new to storing a car over longer periods of time, so I was wondering if I could get a few tips on what I need to do.





As of now here's what I have planned:

Put many mice traps and dcon baits in the storage building surroundig the car

Change the oil and filter before storage

Fill the gas tank to 3/4 full and add some Stabil

Thoroughly wash the car and clean and treat the interior

Air the tires up to around 40 PSI, and sit the car on stands

Get a Battery Tender and keep it connected

Place a few bags of grilling charcoal in the building (I have heard that this will reduce dampness and humidity)



The only thing I don't plan on doing, which many people do when storing, is to use a cover. Reason for this, I plan on taking the car out once in a while as long as the roads are clean and dry. When its real cold out there's no way I can wash it properly, so adding a cover to it after driving will only just mar the vehicle up.





Is there anything else that you all can suggest I do before storing it?
 
Have you considered sitting the car on stands with the stands padded supporting the A-arms and other suspension?



This way you don't have to deal with flat spots, and you keep your suspension loaded like you should.
 
RedlineIRL- As you can probably see from any linked threads on this subject, I hardly do anything special when I store my cars and I've *never* had any problems at all :nixweiss



I do inflate the tires a lot higher than 40psi though (that's more like a normal driving pressure for me), more like 50-55psi and I drive the car with that pressure for a while when I first get it out. "Flatstoppers" would be a better idea if you don't mind the rather high price (still cheaper than tires).



I generally fill the gas tank all the way, but I've never used/needed a stabilizer even when storing for some pretty long periods (just lucky? :nixweiss ). OK OK, it's cheap insurance...



And what autoaesthetica said about keeping the suspension loaded :xyxthumbs It's not critical on *every* vehicle, but sometimes it really is. Sitting isn't as tough on a suspension as driving anyhow, and consider that new cars often sit on the lot for months at a time prior to sale with no problems.
 
Accumulator said:
I do inflate the tires a lot higher than 40psi though (that's more like a normal driving pressure for me), more like 50-55psi and I drive the car with that pressure for a while when I first get it out. "Flatstoppers" would be a better idea if you don't mind the rather high price (still cheaper than tires).
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I guess I ought to be doing that. Sounds like you have to take a spin around the block, then let some air out, then continue on at normal pressure? I have a set of Tire Cradles that I never use, still never had flat spotting without using them.
 
There are also cradles you can buy that you mark on. These have rounded tops to keep your tires round. They work!
 
Bill D- Some "summer-only" tires I've had tended to flat-spot quite readily (having them on heavy cars didn't help), and if I get another set of those I'll probably use the Tire Cradles.



I actually drive a bit more than "just around the block" with the tires over-inflated, at least when dealing with tires that tend to flat-spot; as long as you don't overdo it in a big way I wouldn't expect a problem [insert :nono: disclaimer Re dangerous practices here]. Then I park it, let it cool down, and reset the pressure to whatever the norm is for that vehicle.
 
I was thinking of taking the Audi out, still have a little time before an appointment, but maybe next time I'll figure out a good point where to drive to and from the house with the tires overinflated, then adjust them per your practice.
 
Bill D- What kind of tires do you have on it? Or maybe a better Q would be "do you have a problem that needs dealt with?"



The tires on the V8 and A8 (and the Jag), for instance, never develop flat-spots even when parked for quite a while with no extra psi/etc. (the V8's original owner would park it for *months* with no problems). This is one of those things that I only worry about when I have a reason to. The Jag would sometimes get a temporary issue after being parked for a *really* long time, but as with those summer-only tires on the S8, a few miles of driving at ~50psi always sorted it out just fine.
 
No problems to be dealt with. I have all seasons on all my cars.



I just came in from taking it from a brief spin, added a tiny bit of air, everything looked okay and it drove just fine.
 
Bill D said:
No problems to be dealt with. I have all seasons on all my cars...
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Ah, then I'd be pretty surprised if you had to worry much about flat-spotting. Not like that's a really heavy car. Or at least I wouldn't *think* of it as one, but then modern cars always seem to weigh more than I'd expect. Wonder how its weight compares to that of the Cadillac :confused:



I just came in from taking it from a brief spin, added a tiny bit of air, everything looked okay and it drove just fine.
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Heh heh, I suspect a lot of people would be kinda :eek: about the pressures my wife and I run all the time, so I'm not surprised that it drove OK with slightly high pressure.



I just noticed that the Dunlops on the S8 are rated at 51psi, so my usual "overinflation to round 'em out" wouldn't even be remotely excessive for those tires, considering how conservative those ratings are (liability, gauge variation, etc.).
 
I used to know the weight of the Cadillac vs the others. IIRC it is heavier, but not really by that much.
 
TOGWT said:
You might find some useful info here -

http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-...-term-winter-vehicle-storage.html#post1451318
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Thanks for the link, that was helpful. I am going to use a plastic sheet under the car to keep moisutre from going through. Maybe even use a dehumidifier too for extra assurance



autoaesthetica said:
Have you considered sitting the car on stands with the stands padded supporting the A-arms and other suspension?



This way you don't have to deal with flat spots, and you keep your suspension loaded like you should.
Click to expand...

I did, but I will probably drive it once every few weeks as long as the weather is nice before putting it up. I don't think that sitting a couple weeks at a time should do much to the suspension. I will be putting on a spare set of wheels and tires for storage, since I don't want to mess up my recently installed summer performance tires





Any other suggestions, since I plan on putting it up in the next couple weeks?
 
RedlineIRL said:
T Maybe even use a dehumidifier too for extra assurance..
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That's a good idea even if the car's not "in storage" :xyxthumbs I keep a dehumidifier running year-round.





.. I will probably drive it once every few weeks as long as the weather is nice before putting it up. I don't think that sitting a couple weeks at a time should do much to the suspension..
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Shouldn't even be an issue if you let it sit for a few *months*. With that spare set of wheels/tires on it you should be just fine.
 
I store my 20 year old garage queen winters as well. I do just about everything on your list plus these items;



• I lay down a double layer of visqueen to prevent moisture from seeping up through the concrete floor.

• I add Stabil Marine to the fuel. This is a heavy duty form of the original Stabil that is four times as effective at preserving fuel, especially fuel containing ethanol.

• I also fill the gas tank. The less room for moisture to condense in the tank the better.

• I cover the car to keep dust or any thing else from getting on the paint. You might have fly specks, a wayward rodent or bird etc. A cover is cheap and easy protection. I can understand your concern about a cover but I'd probably just use a couple old sheets to lay over it if your concern is about marring. I just QD and D156 the car after a drive. If the weather is at all bad it doesn't go out.

• I also place a couple dcon baits in the trunk and engine compartment, just in case a nester finds his way in. I stuff a wad of steel wool in the exhausts and air cleaner intakes too and put a note on the dash that I've done so.

• During the winter I periodically start and warm up the car a few times. I run it through the gears to warm the tranny and differential and I shift it's parked position so as not to flatspot the tires.

• I constantly count the days until spring ;)
 
For anyone who has a "keeper" that is regularly stored at least seasonally, I highly recommend a Car Jacket or if you want to get more extreme, a CarCoon. I've had a Car Jacket for years. Easy zip and close. It cuts down the steps to the storing routine a bit.
 
Bill D said:
For anyone who has a "keeper" that is regularly stored at least seasonally, I highly recommend a Car Jacket or if you want to get more extreme, a CarCoon. I've had a Car Jacket for years. Easy zip and close. It cuts down the steps to the storing routine a bit.
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I have been thinking of getting a Car Capsule myslef. Is the Car Jacket as effective?
 
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