So your car has been sitting idle for a few months, huh? If the winter weather kept you curled up on the couch instead of racing down the roads, you need to do a few things to your vehicle before taking her back out. The sun will take care of clearing the snow, but the rest is up to you. Enjoy the weather, but make sure your vehicle is in good shape before you take it out on the road.
Tips on bringing your vehicle out of winter storage
- Oil builds condensation over the winter months. Before starting the car, change the oil.
- Check all fluids before driving, including the coolant and differential fluids.
- Remove any snow tires and check the tire pressure. Your owner’s manual will indicate the ideal pressure for your tires.
- Check the battery. If your vehicle battery is more than three years old, have it tested at a certified automotive repair facility.
- Let the vehicle fully warm up and check transmission fluid levels before rolling out of the driveway.
- Thoroughly check underneath your car for any leaks.
- You may also want to add some type of fuel injector cleaner to fight condensation and lubricate the injectors.
Tips to Consider before winter storage
- Adding gasoline stabilizer to your tank can make startup easier and prevent you from having to remove fuel if the vehicle does not start after storage.
- Disconnect the battery and remove it, if you can, after the vehicle is parked where it will be kept.
Please note:these tips for winter storage are applicable to short term storage (i.e. during one season of winter) and are not geared towards long term storage (i.e. a couple of winters).
We hope these tips will help you get your car going this spring!
British car owners in the Houston Central or Houston Midtown area can bring their vehicle to one of our Motorcars LTD service facilities for a full inspection. British car owners everywhere can find belts, hoses, brakes, and other parts in our Motorcars Ltd online catalog.