There are many pros and cons about keeping a vehicle in a garage, but when it comes to winter and when you need to store it for longer than just until the next day, pros usually overbalance cons. In the garage, your vehicle will be protected from snow, ice, and salt (which means you won’t have to brush it constantly and fight with the corrosion) and direct sunlight (which means the paint on your car will stay bright for a longer period time). Cons are generally about the danger of moisture that threatens your car in an enclosed place where it cannot dry up fast. Retailers of high-quality tyres in the UK – tyres-outlet.co.uk and 123spareparts.co.uk give tips how to properly keep your car in a garage during winter.
Making your garage car-friendly
The idea of storing a car indoors in a secure, locked and enclosed place sounds good if you have good ventilation arranged to fight with moisture you bring on and in your car from outside. Otherwise, moist car parts will be even more prone to corrosion than if the car was stored outdoors. If you store your vehicle in such a place without cleaning and drying it before, you reap more problems than benefits.
Taking care of the exterior, tyres, and power
- The car must be cleaned and dried before storage. To avoid corrosion of metal details that aren’t covered with paint, treat them with a rubber coating (spray) or WD-40. Remove, clean, and dry all wet carpets to avoid trapping moisture inside. Use desiccants to soak up any unwanted moisture in the cabin.
- If you need to leave your car for a long time, inflate its tyres slightly more than you usually do. They are likely to deflate while idle. Replace the leaking tyre because it will deflate totally and your car will kneel on the rim. Sometimes putting your car on jack stands can be better if you don’t plan to use the vehicle for a long time. It will save tyres and suspension.
- If you plan to lock your car for more than 3 months, use a fuel stabilizer: it will prevent the fuel from corroding fuel lines and the car’s engine. Remove your battery for storage or connect it to a battery tender or a trickle charger.
