For whatever reason, regardless of the season there may come a time when you need to store away your vehicle for a long period of time. Whether you’re travelling, heading off to college or leaving town for work, proper storage will help preserve your vehicle’s engine and ensure that it starts once you return.
Vehicles that have been through long term storage may come across many problems such as rusting, interior discolouration, a dead battery or a damaged engine.
Here are some simple preparations you can do to help save you thousands of dollars in the long run and assure your car is safe to drive:
Storage Location
If you’re storing your vehicle indoors, find a safe, dry and cool place to store your car. Ideally, a garage is the best place to store a vehicle to protect it against extreme temperatures.
For outdoor storage, the best thing to do is get a weather-proof car cover to help keep the car clean and dry.
Keep your Car Clean
Although you’ll be storing your car away for months, it’s highly recommended to give your car a good wash and wax. This will get rid of any dirt build up, tree sap and dead bugs, which may cause rust and damage your paint over time.
Oil Filter
Used engine oil can cause damages to your engine. It is a good idea to change your vehicle’s oil and oil filter right before storage to prevent your engine from rusting.
Tires
It’s better to inflate your tires to a higher air pressure as over time, tires will begin to lose pressure. Make sure not to exceed the recommended air pressure by finding your vehicles proper air pressure. This information can be found on the:
- Driver-side door
- Side of the tire
- Glove box or center console door
- Engine compartment
- Owner’s manual
Fuel
Fill your fuel tank to the top with gas to prevent moisture from collecting inside the fuel tank; this may lead to rust inside the tank. It’s also recommended to use a fuel stabilizer to help prevent the gas from deteriorating.
After these preparations, you can now leave feeling assured that your vehicle has been properly stored. To get your oil filters changed or vehicle serviced, contact us at one of our 6 locations. See below for details:
| Destination Chrysler 1600 Marine Drive, North Vancouver, BC Service: (604) 990-4364 |
Destination Toyota 4451 Still Creek Drive, Burnaby, BC Service: (604) 571-4399 |
Kingsway Honda 368 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC Service: (604) 874-6632 |
| Destination Hyundai 445 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC Service: (604) 292-8190 |
Destination Mazda 1595 Boundary Rd, Vancouver, BC Service: (604) 291-9666 |
Destination Honda 4780 Hastings Street, Burnaby, BC Service: (604) 294-6632 |
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