3 “Do’s” and “Don’ts” of Storing Your Car

It may not seem obvious, but properly storing your vehicle can be a challenging endeavor that requires a lot of care and attention. At GK’s Custom Polishing, Inc., we have been storing cars, boats, motorcycles and more for the people of the Greater Cleveland area for several years. In order to help everyone avoid many common mistakes made with vehicle storage, here are some “do’s” and “don’ts” on properly storing your car.

DO put cushions under your tires.

You may have already read about this in one of our previous posts, but flat-spotting is a condition in tires that occurs when the weight of the car causes the tires to flatten in one area. Flat spotting causes your car to feel uneven while you are driving it. Usually this disturbance only lasts for the first few miles after taking it out of storage, but it can potentially cause permanent damage to your tires. Putting cushions under your tires can help prevent this from happening.

DON’T put your car on blocks.

While this used to be a very common practice in car storage, this can actually be damaging to your car. Keeping your car on blocks was a common way to try and prevent flat spotting while storing your car. Removing all of the weight from your car’s suspension will cause your shock absorbers to fully extend. This will leave the silver rods in your shock absorbers exposed which can make them susceptible to rust. Allowing rust to build up on these silver rods can destroy the shock absorber seals, which would be evident when the car is let down from the blocks.

DO store in a climate controlled facility.

Storing your car in a climate-controlled area is important for several different reasons. First of all, the ideal location to store a car is in a location that is dry and warm. Moisture can permeate the crevices in your exterior and cause rust to build up. Dampness can also cause mold and mildew to grow in your interior. A constant and neutral temperature will also ensure that the air in your tires is not expanding and contracting. This can cause problems in your tires if not monitored frequently.

DON’T store your car outside.

This may not come as a surprise, but outside in the elements is one of the worst possible places to store a car. Even when covered, the car will be fully exposed to spontaneous weather patterns and inconsistent temperatures. This exposes your car to rusting, mildew, mold and many other problems. When storing a store, at the very least, make sure it is safely indoors.

DO tend to your battery.

One common mistake when storing a car is a lack of attention paid to the battery. Allowing your car battery to remain plugged in without use for an extended period of time can cause it to lose charge over time. Keeping your battery plugged in can ensure that it stays charged so your car is ready to go after taking it out of storage. We currently use the Battery Tender Plus to keep our customer’s batteries charged.

DON’T leave your car uncovered.

Using a car cover is a good way to protect the exterior of your car while it is in storage. When a vehicle is left sitting inside without a cover, the paint can be exposed to thick layers of dust and other sediment. When this sediment comes in contact with the paint, it can become embedded. The longer the sediment is allowed to sit on the paint of your car, the more damage it can create. Classic cars often have very thin coats of paint, so this can easily cause permanent damage that can be very expensive to repair.

Are you looking for a safe and secure place to store your car? GK’s Custom Polishing, Inc. offers climate-controlled storage for automobiles, watercrafts, RVs and motorcycles. Our facility has a state-of-the-art DVR monitored camera system, so your vehicles will be 100% secure. We also offer several services while your car is in storage such as applying a tender to your battery, covering your vehicle, putting cushions under the tires, checking tire pressure, checking tire treads and adding windshield washer fluid. Keep in mind that this is all 100% free of charge. We will even detail your car (at an additional charge) while it is in storage, so it is ready to go when you want to pick it up. For more information about our climate controlled storage, please visit our website. To get a free estimate, give us a call at (440) 937-4457.