9 Tips For Preparing Your Classic Car For A Storage Unit

To preserve the integrity of your classic car, moving it to storage could be a smart move. Even if you are only planning to store it for a short period of time, you need to prepare your car. Here are some tips for getting your car ready for storage. 

  1. Fill your car's tank. The fuel helps to keep moisture from building up in the tank, which can quickly turn to corrosion. As an added precaution, add fuel stabilizer to the tank.
  2. Change the oil and filters. The contaminants in the oil and on the filters can get into your car's various components and cause damage. 
  3. Detail clean the car. Ensure that all the dirt, mud, and other debris are removed from the exterior of your car. If left in place, it can damage your car's paint.
  4. Replace the brake fluid. If you are storing your car more than a month, flush the current brake fluid and replace it with a silicone brake fluid. Silicone brake fluid does not have the same contaminants and does not require occasional replacement.
  5. Disconnect the battery. While sitting idle over a long period of time, the battery can run down. To prevent this, connect your battery to a battery tender. 
  6. Protect the interior. Apply a silicone conditioner to the car's interior parts, such as the leather and vinyl. This will help to protect your interior from a moisture buildup, which could cause cracks and other damage.
  7. Place the car on jacks. While sitting for a long period of time, your tires can develop flat spots. To protect your tires, you need to take the car's weight off of them. When you leave the car on jack stands, the pressure is alleviated. 
  8. Spray graphite in the door locks. Graphite is typically used to improve the grip in the door lock mechanism. When storing your car, it can help moisture from building up in the locks, which is important for keeping corrosion from occurring. 
  9. Opt for climate control. To better protect your car, look for a climate controlled storage unit. This will help to protect your car's exterior and interior from extreme temperatures. 

The storage unit provider you choose can provide you with additional tips you can use to help store your car and protect it from the elements. The better you prepare your car now, the more likely it is that you can drive it from the storage unit without any problems.

About Me

using self-storage to clear out guest rooms

What do you do when you have too much stuff and not enough space? My husband was constantly picking on me because I had two spare rooms in the house that I could never use as guest rooms because I used them to store the things that I couldn't put elsewhere. When my mother called and said that she and my sister were coming to town, I had to scurry to find something to do with all of those boxes and things in those two rooms. That was when I was introduced to the glorious world of self-storage. Find out all about it right here.

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