How to store a car for a year?

Question

I am going overseas for one year and quite not sure what to do with my car. I can either ask my friend to drive it once a week or store the car for a year. What is the best way to store a car and what are the details I need to know to properly take care of the car while I am gone? Thanks

Answer 1

Hi
The easiest way to address this is to let someone drive it once a week while you are away. If not do the following
1. Drain oil & gas as they both will break down when sitting for a long time
2. Lift the car on jack stands to keep the weight off the tires and to control dry rot.
3 Put the vehicle in a sealed environment ie a closed garage.
4 Drain all cooling fluids, as they can induce rusting and corrosion when being stored.
5 Wrap the car in plastic to keep moisture out

Now when you get back, you will need to do the following things.
1 Have brakes checked, when brake seals dont get fluid on them on a regular basis they will not hold pressure once pressure is applied.
2 Have transmission seals checked,,,same reason as above
3 Reverse everything mentioned in 1, 2, 3,4 & 5 above

Answer 2

Wash the car to remove any salt residue that may have accumulated over the winter and any dirt on the paint. Clean the inside to remove any food that might attract varmits.

Unless the coolant is relatively new, flush the cooling system and refill with the proper mix of antifreeze. Drain the oil and refill with clean oil, run long enough to circulate the new oil. Be sure to cycle the heater "on" to circulate the new coolant though the core. Put the car up on blocks inside a barn or garage and disconnect the battery. Lock the doors, cover the car with a tarp and walk away.

Do NOT have somebody drive it once a week - this merely guarantees you 52 start-ups with absolutely no oil in the engine. This will generate excessive wear.

When you return, recharge the battery and turn the engine over a few times with the spark coil disconnected - the purpose is to circulate oil through the block. Once you have done this a few times, start the car and let it idle. Do NOT rev it up until it has had time to thoroughly warm and circulate the fluids.

Answer 3

One answer that I didn't see was to not close doors all the way and loosen the trunk lid and hood so as not to crush the seals. All answers given are good ones though also leave windows down about 1/2 inch.

Answer 4

have your friend drive it every so often. the a/c needs to be cycled every week. the cylinders can get surface corrosion if moisture finds its way in there. not to mention tires. if you MUST garage it, put it on jack stands in a climate controlled garage.

Answer 5

Change the oil,flush radiater,and put moth balls in front of each tire to deter rodents,in fact put on on the ground i meant in front and back of each tire.Be sure theres plenty of anti freezze in the radiator.

Answer 6

drain gas and coolant unconnect battery to help start up better