Storing a Z Car

Location and Misc.

• Choose a location where you can check over the car.
  

• Check security of location
  

• Ensure you maintain adequate insurance coverage for fire, theft, tree's crashing... etc.
  

• Check for items that can fall on car, leak on car, or cause other damage and resolve.
  

• Ensure the location is flat, dry and well ventilated. In choosing location for storage, remember that moisture, rodents, and direct sunlight are the enemies, to varying degrees in different parts of the country.

 

Initial Car Prep. and Last Ride 

• Change oil and filter; do lube job.
  
• Top up all fluids. Flush clutch and brake fluids if they are dark or you feel spanky.
  
• Check that engine coolant has 50-50 mixture, or that coolant is good for 35-below temperature.
  
• A day or two before storage, wash car and flush with generous quantities of water: the undercarriage, behind inner front fender liners, inside rocker panels (being sure that all  drain holes are unblocked).
  
• Clean all painted surfaces, use touch-up paint as needed, and wax the exterior and door jams, under the hood and trunk lid, and wheels.
  
• Ride the brakes and clutch a bit to work out moisture.
  
• Fill up gas and add gas treatment/stabilizer (that does not contain alcohol).
  
• Use rust prevention gel to spray and lube door hinges and all latches and lock mechanisms.
  
• Spray all the chrome pieces with rust prevention spray. (Bumpers, mouldings, door handles etc).
  
• Spray your wheels and rims with rust prevention spray.  Dab a bit of  rust prevention spray on any paint chips.

  
  

Car Prep.

• Place plastic sheeting/vapour barrier under car to prevent moisture from rising out of floor/ground into car.
  
• When car is parked in storage location. Remove plugs and crank engine at starter to flow oil through engine.
  
• Use a rubber/vinyl cleaner-conditioner on all vinyl and on rubber gaskets, seals, and other rubber parts.
  
• Lubricate door window channels and tracks with silicon (on power windows, keep silicon away from electrical contacts and use white lithium in the metal tracks).
  
• Stuff rags (or crumpled foil should foil rag-eating rodents) tightly into tailpipe in order to keep out rodents.
  
• Tape a note to the steering wheel that reminds you to unplug the pipes before trying to start in the spring.
  
• Jack up car and store on blocks under the jack points; this takes weight off springs, shocks, and tires. (but don't let suspension hang! leave some weight on wheels)
  (Alternative: Store car with at least 40 pounds of air in tires, to minimize flat spotting of tires.)
  

• Transmission in neutral and parking brake off. (Some recommend that you also depress the clutch pedal by using a stick between base of driver's seat and the pedal; however, no one has seen a sticking clutch pedal and some experts question whether you should follow this step, which would put the linkage under stress.)
  

• Open vents and windows or doors (slightly) to prevent moisture build up.
  

• You can buy a huge bag of desiccant gel from several auto outlets, this is a bigger version of what they put inside cameras when they ship.  This absorbs excess moisture in the air.  Put them in a pie tin on the floor of the car.  Take them out about once a month and dry them out in a warm oven (follow the instructions).
  
• Lift wipers and dust blades with talc.
  
• Cover car with a breathable cloth cover (not plastic) only if it will not be disturbed by wind and cause abrasion.
  
• Where mice are a problem, a few mothballs placed in the car will discourage the building of nests. (may stink up car to, so placing moth balls under car on foil in logical locations may be an alternative)

  
  Battery
  

• Disconnect battery and store it where temperature is above freezing and NOT on a concrete floor. (Be sure to record any radio code, which you will need to re-enter when reconnecting battery.)
  
• An alternative approach, at least with indoor storage, is to leave battery in car and use a trickle charger set at 2 amps, approximately once each month.
  
• An even better approach is to use a timer on the charger, set weekly. Best of all is use of an automatic trickle charger which is attached to the battery, plugged in, and then forgotten.
  
• It does NOT work to start the car up weekly or monthly when it is in storage.
  

Monthly Checks

• Check the floor under your car for signs of possible oil, brake, fluid or coolant leaks
  
• Check and top up as required - battery, coolant, brake fluid and oil levels
  
• Check tire pressures
  
• Run car for at least 30min only if you have an air conditioner and run that for a few minutes. IMPORTANT!!!!! It is far better to let your car sit for four or five months without starting it, than to start it once a week, or once a month and let it sit for 10 minutes.  NEVER start your car unless you plan on driving it on the highway for at least 1/2 hour and get it to full operating temp.  doing otherwise will just load the engine and exhaust with moisture to start rust etc.  Plus the colder the day, the more mice/cats etc like a nice warm engine to make home!  However, keep in mind that the rubber O rings in the AC system are lubricated with freon as the system runs.  Might be a good idea to take the car out during a nice spell and run the ac or defroster for a half  hour or longer once or twice per season.
  
• If your car has a manual transmission, depress the clutch pedal several times
  
• Depress the brake pedal several times
  
• Turn steering wheel from side to side
  
• Move your car so that each wheel revolves a few times. (if on wheels) and store in different spot to prevent flat spots.

 

Putting Back in Service

• Remove plugs and crank engine at starter to flow oil through engine until a good and steady oil pressure. This will take 45 seconds or so. Install plugs and away you go.
  
• Check for leaks and proper vehicle functioning.
  
• Replace all fluids.