Manchester and Lancashire Car storage

Car Storage Storing your car should involve good preparation. However, many drivers who park their vehicle for an extended duration fail to do some basic yet important tasks. Indeed you must properly prepare your car for storage to avoid the common pitfalls. You can then drive away every time with no rust, no engine seizures and no faded paintwork. If you plan to leave your car unattended for more than six weeks at a time then read on! Dehumidified Car Storage Storing your car in a humidity controlled garage is always the best option. If this is not available then you may need to store your car outside. This is due to the fact that moisture evaporates slowly indoors and some garages can have a very high moisture content in the air; this is called a high humidity. To store your car in a garage the humidity must be below 70% and would ideally be below 55%. Otherwise, you could be left with a significant rust problem. An inexpensive and easy way to check the humidity of your garage is to buy a hygrometer. These digital measuring devices have an electronic display that can be checked in a matter of seconds. Simply leave the hygrometer inside your garage for a week and then come back – it will show the maximum humidity over the week. If this is under 70% you are safe to store! Heating your garage will also provide a better car storage environment. Outdoor Storage If you are unable to store your car indoors or if your garage is too damp then the best option is to store outdoors. The natural air movement will allow moisture to evaporate quickly and make rust less likely. However, you should use an outdoor car cover which is vented. The cover offers weather protection (especially from paint fade due to UV sunlight) and the vents allow air to flow under and around the car to aid moisture evaporation.

General Car Storage Tips

To protect the paintwork: • Wash and wax the car prior to storage. To protect the bodywork from corrosion: • Wash dirt away from all areas, including underneath and behind the wheel arches. • Use a vented car cover outdoors or a breathable dust cover indoors. To prevent a dead car battery: • Use a battery conditioner or disconnect the battery connectors entirely. To prevent flat spots on your tyres: • Place rubber pads underneath the wheels. These can be bought from an auto accessory shop. To prevent mould inside your car: • Ensure the seals on your car are good and not cracked so the inside does not get damp. • If you are storing indoors, good heating will offer perfect protection. To prevent a future engine seizure: • Perform an oil change recently before you store the car. • After storage - Run the engine to operating temperature before moving the car. To prevent other problems: • After storage - Check water coolant and brake fluid levels before driving the car. • After storage - Drive the car gently for the first 100 miles after a long storage period. Classic Car Storage This article has been provided by the classic car storage specialists at Lancashire Car Storage. Check back soon for more car storage articles and tips.

Manchester Car Storage