Car Storage San Clemente

San Clemente Self Storage has been one of Orange County’s leading providers of long term car storage for the past 12 years.  Long term car storage can have negative effects on your vehicle if it is not properly prepared for storage.  In activity can cause major problems to electrical wiring, rubber, leather, metals, paint, and fluids.   As a result of our experience in storing hundreds of cars over the years, we have put together this Car Storage San Clemente - Preparation List to help you get your vehicle ready for storage.

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Car Storage San Clemente - Car Preparation List

1. Store Your Car in an Indoor Facility or Fully Enclosed Storage Unit:Temperature changes, weather, dirt, and moisture all have a roll in the deterioration process.   By storing your vehicle in a environment that is safe from the elements is the first step in protecting it.


2. Put a Car Cover on Your Vehicle - A car cover that is specifically made out of material that can breathe can go a long way to additionally protect your car from dirt, dust, and pests.


3. Be sure to Remove Your Car’s battery - A battery will drain from non-use. Electronics seems to be the most problematic area associated with car storage.  After you remove your car battery, your are going to want to keep it charged will it is not in use.  Consider getting a Battery Trickle Changer (or the similar), it will keep your battery fresh while it is not being used.


4. Clean Your Car’s wiring and Battery Terminals - Pre-existing dust, dirt, and excess fluids can systemically deteriorate wiring and connecting devices in the vehicle. To prevent corrosion of your battery posts, use felt washers to cover them.  Additionally, purchase a protectant from your local auto store and apply it (spray) on all of the engines connections.


5. Fill up Your Gas Tanks: It is possible for moisture to find its way into your gas tank. As a result, rust can occur if areas are exposed. A full gas tank will stop this from happening.
 

6. Apply Fuel Additive in the Gas Tank - If gas is not used over a long period it can start to become “goo like” and clog up carburetors and injectors. A good fuel additive will go a long way to stop this condition from occurring.


7. Get a Tune Up:  Before you place your car in storage, you want to make sure it is in its best shape beforehand.  Proper fluid levels, oil, wiring, and spark plugs that are in good condition will deteriorate at a lesser rate.  New oil and fluids will also slow the clogging process.


8. Make Sure Your Car is VERY CLEAN - A good car detail will go a long way to help protect paint, leathers, fabric, and tires. Clean your vehicle thoroughly before storing it.


9. Increase Your Tire Pressure or Put the Vehicle on Storage Blocks - Tire pressure will deflate over time (particularly if the tires have the significant weight of a car sitting on them).  Consider removing your tires and storing your vehicle on storage blocks.  If you decide not to use storage blocks, inflate your tires to the highest levels to slow down the deflation process.


10. Lubricant Hood Latches and Door Locks -Door latches and hood locks
can stiffen up due to non-use.  Consider applying graphite based dry lubricant to these devices.


11. Keep Your Car in a Place That is Free of Direct Sunlight - The UV rays from sunlight can cause rubber areas to crack and split.


12. Put a Drip tray underneath Your Car - You never know what can happen when your vehicle is not being used, if for some reason fluids should start to drip, a Drip Tray will go a long way to protect the areas around your car.


13. Release the Parking Break - Due to in activity, parking brakes can stick or rust and get attached to the brake disks.  Put your vehicle in neutral before storing it and place floor blocks around the wheels to prevent the car from moving.

14. Starting Your Car After Long Term Storage - If your vehicle has been sitting for a long time, it is likely that oil has dripped to the lowest levels of the oil pan leaving areas of the engine unprotected.  If you start your car in this situation, you can cause damage to it. To avoid this from happening, you need to get the oil back into the valve train of the engine.

So How Do You Get The Oil Back Up to The Valve Train? Prior to staring the engine, just remove the leads off of your spark plugs, or disconnect the positive distributor lead, or disconnect your coil.   After you have done one of these, you then give your engine a crank or two to get the oil back up.  This process can take a few times to do this; the idea is to just get the oil reflowing again. Once you have got the oil going again, you can reconnect your devices and start your car.

If you take the time to properly get your vehicle ready for long term storage you certainly can lessen the chances of it falling victim to the deteriorating process associated with non-use.   If you are going to put your car into storage, we strongly suggest that you use the tips outlined in our Car Storage San Clemente – Car Preparation List.  If you should need car storage in San Clemente, please give San Clemente Self Storage a call today at 949-366-1133 or check out our Car Storage San Clemente webpage now.