Auto Storage Checklist

To reduce deterioration during storage we suggest...

• Give your vehicle a good wash before storage to remove road grit, acid rain residues and, in winter road salt.
• Clean out interior making sure to remove crumbs, food wrappers, etc. (You may be amazed by what you find under the seats.)
• Just before storing, run your engine fully warm to evaporate moisture from oil pan and exhaust system.
• Prevent tire flat spots by raising tire pressure to 38-40 psi.
• If you opt out of battery tender service. Disconnect battery — modern cars are prone to parasitic draw. Older cars with electric clocks will also draw batteries flat. Flat batteries tend to sulfite and die.

If storing a vehicle for more than a few weeks? This may help...

• Add fuel preservative to prevent gum and varnish formation. Modern fuel formulas break down quickly.
• Fill your gas tank to minimize in-tank condensation.
• Then run engine 5-10 minutes to ensure treated fuel is distributed throughout the fuel delivery system.

For longer-term storage consider the following...

• Change engine oil and filter as combustion by-products trapped in your “used” oil contain moisture and are measurably acidic.
• Flush and replace coolant to renew the antioxidants used in modern anti-freeze.
• Flush and replace brake fluid as it is highly hydroscopic and contaminated fluid can cause costly corrosive damage in precision brake systems.