Tips for Taking Your Car Out of Winter Storage

After a well-deserved rest, it is finally time to get your storage car back on the road. If you took the necessary steps this fall to prepare your car for storage, taking your car out of storage should be simple. When a car sits for an extended period of time though, some precautions need to be taken before your car is ready to drive. Following the steps below will help to prevent or reveal any dormant technical problems that could arise from your car’s wintertime hiatus.

• Check Tires – When you take your automobile out of winter storage, your tires should be one of the first items you inspect. Check the pressure in your car’s tires and add air if needed. If the vehicle was stored properly, cushions were used to prevent tire flat-spotting. If not, this may have caused damage to your tires. Also, if your vehicle was not stored in a heated facility, inspect the tires for any bulges or cracks that may have been caused by the cold temperatures.
• Inspect Battery – Nothing is worse than starting up a cold engine with a poorly charged battery. Hopefully the battery in your vehicle was tendered while in storage. Check the charge on your battery to make sure that it is fully charged. If not, place your battery on a charger before starting your engine. You may also want to check your battery connection points for oxidation or erosion. If there is any present, you may want to replace your battery.
• Test Engine Oil – Check the dipstick in your engine and see if there is an adequate amount of oil. Depending on how long the car has been sitting, the engine oil may have become old and will require changing. Due to the inexpensive nature of an oil change, it is a small price to pay for a healthy engine in the long-term.
• Check Fluids – After checking the oil, don’t forget to replace other fluids that may be low. Take a look at your engine coolant and brake fluid. Inspect your engine to make sure everything is properly lubricated. If you used fuel stabilizer in your gas tank, then your gasoline should not need replacing. If not, you may need to drain your gas tank and replace it since gasoline can go bad when it is left to sit for an extended period of time.
• Wash & Wax – Most people want their car not only to run good and look great before they take it out of storage. This is why early spring is one of the most popular times for an auto detail. Not only will a detail clean off any dust or debris left on your clear coat during the winter (which is why you should always use a car cover), but the wax used in most details will protect your paint and bring out the car’s natural beauty.

Do you need advice for getting your storage car ready for spring? GK’s Custom Polishing, Inc. is your Cleveland headquarters for automotive detailing, storage and transporting. Give us a call at (440) 937-4457 to speak with one of our knowledgeable experts. To learn more about what our company offers, visit our website or send us an email with any of your questions.