Snow, ice and freezing temperatures are right around the corner. If you’re one of the people that stores their extra vehicles over the winter this is an article you’ll want to pay attention to. By following a few simple practices you’ll save yourself a lot of time and money, and also keep your car in shape while it’s stored away from the cold!
Tires
Tires are like shoes for your vehicle. When it’s cold and wet outside you wear boots, a similar practice should go for your car. Ice and slush can cause bald spots to form on your treads. If you’re planning on storing your car, it’s a good idea to invest in tire cradles. These miniature ramps distribute your car’s weight evenly and prevent your tires from making direct contact with ice and slush. Need to easily get your car out of storage? Just back over them!
Fluids
If you don’t use your car too often in the winter months, it’s a good idea to add a corrosion inhibitor to your cooling system. This will neutralize the acids within the fluid, and stabilize your antifreeze. While your at it, add a fuel preservative to your gas tank. Preservatives chemically isolate any oxygen that builds up overtime, preventing rust and also neutralizing any corrosive compounds start to build up over the winter.
Battery
Batteries have a tendency to go dead over a long winter, especially if you don’t make sure to take care of them! Because of this, you’ll want to invest in a battery management system.A battery management system monitors the charge levels of a battery, and also keeps your system from overcharging. The last thing you want to hear when you pull out your car from storage in the spring is a click click click.
Engine
Your car’s engine is like its heart, so obviously you want to take good care of it! Prepping your car’s engine for winter is as easy as changing the oil. As you drive your car, byproducts from combustion build up in the oil and produce harmful acids.
Taking the extra time to prep your car for winter storage will make a big difference when you’re ready to rev up the engine in the spring. Investing in good storage practices will also keep your vehicle in shape for years to come!