Temporary car storage during travelling is a serious concern for many car enthusiasts. It is not an efficient move to leave your car in the garage or idling outside in an open environment. Cars require proper care and maintenance to remain in their original condition. This is why, before storing a car for 6 months or less you should take some precautionary measures.
In this guide, we will provide complete details about car storage tips and things to consider if you are going away for more than a month.
How to Store Cars for More than a Month
Leaving a car for a month or more requires proper care and arrangements. These measures will provide you with an additional edge in securing your car from environmental factors and unpredictable conditions.
Following are the things to do before storing your car for more than a month.
Remove Spark Plugs
Removing spark plugs before storing the car temporarily is an adequate decision. You can either spray motor oil or fuel additives after removing the spark plugs. This secures the spark plugs from rusting and prevents moisturizers from entering into the cylinder head.
This is an economical and efficient solution. The starting price of fuel additives is AED 40.
Disengage Hand Brakes
Leaving your car with engaged hand brakes can negatively impact the car’s performance in the long term. Brakes can get stuck into drums or discs that will seize up the tyres. When storing a car it is suggested not to use hand brakes, instead use wheel chocks or a jack to keep your car secure at a point. However, do not forget to engage your car in the first gear to avoid any motion or movement.
Change the Oil
This step is required if you are leaving the car for 1 month or more. Old car engine oil can get accumulated in different parts of engine and convert into a slug which negatively impacts engine performance. Therefore, it is suggested to clean the engine and change the oil before storing the car. If you are not sure about changing oil, check the user manual of your car. It suggests changing the oil before storing it.
Fill Up the Tank
Filling up the tank is essential if you are storing your car for a longer period. Top up the tank with fuel to avoid moisture penetrating into the fuel tank and rusting its inner parts. Moreover, fueling up the tank also prevents seals and other components from drying out. You can use a fuel stabilizer with a starting price of AED 60 to increase efficiency.
Clean the Interior
Cleaning the interior properly is necessary to avoid any sort of fungal growth inside the car. Clean and properly dry interior to avoid dirt, debris and fungal or mold growth. Ensure that no food items, empty wrappers, or soda cans are left inside the car as they can attract rodents. It is suggested to use specially built car interior cleaning products for better results.
Use Adequate Car Cover
The best car cover will provide protection against dust and debris. It prevents dust particle accumulation on external and internal car parts. Moreover, harsh weather conditions impacts can also be reduced by the car cover. The cost of a car cover varies depending upon the car type and manufacturer. However, the general starting price of car covers is from AED 70.
Check Tyre Pressure
Storing cars for a long time with lower tyre pressure can result in flat tyres. These flat tyres will impact the overall car performance even after being mended. Moreover, it can create permanent tyre spots which can become a potential source of air leakage. Therefore, always check the tyre pressure manually or use tyre pressure monitoring system before storing your car.
Where to Store It
Lack of parking space can cause trouble for car owners. Car owners are suggested to park their vehicles in a proper and legal space to avoid any hassle. If you do not have any other option you can secure your car in a parking lot or utilize multiple places to store a car in the UAE. The following are the most suitable ones.
Garage
If you have a parking space, garage, or carport at home, then those are the best spots for vehicle storage. However, ensure that the garage is covered with shade, and is not open air.
Storage Facility
There are a number of car storage facilities which you can use to store your car. These facilities are fully air-conditioned and provide a clean environment for car resting. These facilities also provide a number of packages as per your demand and time of storing.
That is all the important information about temporary car storage solutions. If you are a regular traveler and have to store cars more often you should consider electric cars. The motor engine and battery system of EVs exempt many precautionary measures when compared to petrol or diesel engines. Browse through these used cars for sale in the UAE, to find the best electric car as per your range.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more information on temporary car storage.
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