How to Prepare Your Vehicle to Store for Winter
Whether it’s your convertible, a classic Dodge muscle car, or your summer off-roader, sometimes you have a vehicle that you just don’t drive in the winter time. This means you likely have a vehicle which needs to be stored for the cold months, and you’ll want to be sure it’s well taken care of while it’s sitting idle. Read on with the service experts here at Hinton Dodge Chrysler as we run down a few key things you’ll want to do as you prepare to store your vehicle for the winter.
Fluids Check
One of the most important things to do is make sure your fuel lines aren’t harmed by storage over the cold months. Make sure your gas tank is nearly full, and then add a fuel stabilizer to ensure your fuel doesn’t separate while the vehicle is idle. Also, top up the antifreeze, washer, and brake fluid. While you can certainly wait until the spring to get the oil changed, it might be a good idea to have it looked at before it goes into storage. Take the vehicle for a last drive to get all those fresh fluids moving through the system.
Top Up Your Tires
Cold weather can cause your tires to deflate, so before you stow the vehicle for the season, make sure to inflate the tires up to their maximum PSI rating. If one of your tires is flat or leaking, you should also seriously consider getting it replaced before storing. Letting the vehicle sit on a rim for an extended period could damage the wheel.
Battery Care
A battery left idle for months in the cold will almost certainly die. To prevent this from happening, remove the battery and connect it to a trickle charger or battery tender with an automatic shutoff. Keep it stored in a nice warm location so the battery casing doesn’t get damaged by the cold weather.
Sparkling Clean
One of the last things you should do before storing your vehicle is making sure it’s good and clean. Get all the summer grime and dirt off, and give it a fresh coat of wax while you’re at it. Tree sap and salt from the road can be especially harmful to your vehicle’s exterior if left unattended for a long period. Don’t leave the interior untended, either. Pick up trash and give the interior a vacuum. This will discourage pests from trying to get in.
Protect It
You should stop up your exhaust pipe with a sock to discourage anything from trying to crawl inside, then blanket it with a well-fitted cover to keep out moisture. If it’ll be parked outside, make sure the cover is waterproof, but ideally you should try to get it stowed in a dry and secure location such as a garage. Make sure you don’t park on gravel or dirt; you want your vehicle on solid ground so it doesn’t sink in the wet during a melt! Make sure it’s parked in neutral or park with the parking brake disengaged. If you’re concerned it may roll, stick some wooden blocks behind the tires.
Get Your Vehicle Winter Ready in Perth, On
Our certified service team here at Hinton Dodge Chrysler is happy to help you get your vehicle ready for winter storage. Book your next service appointment with us, today. When your vehicle requires maintenance or repair, make Hinton Dodge in Perth, ON, your first stop!