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Probably the easiest way to store a car is to not store it at all. If you're planning to actually drive your car (instead of simply idling it in the garage) at least once every 4 weeks for a minimum of 30 minutes at a time, then you and your car are better off without the deep storage routine. But if you have two homes or live in an area that gets a lot of harsh winter weather, storage is the only option. What follows is sort of a "knock list" of pre-storage tasks:
- Warm the car up fully and go for a drive. When you get home, add most (not all, save 4-6 tablespoons for later) of a bottle of Liqui Moly Carb and Valve Cleaner to the gas tank, then fill the tank with fuel. This high-tech solution will act as an upper cylinder lubricant.
- Change the engine oil and filter. If you own a Spica-injected car, don't forget the injection pump oil filter too.
- Drain/flush the cooling system. Ensure that the heater valve is open. Refill cooling system with a 50/50 mixture of fresh antifreeze and distilled water.
- Top up the trans/differential/steering box. Transmission and differential oil should be changed every 30,000 miles. If your car is due for a change, now's a good time to take care of that. We recommend you use the correct Spirax or Redline or Liqui Moly oil.
- Top off the brake fluid. Your car's braking system should be flushed and bled with new fluid every 2 years. If it's due, now's a good time to take care of that task.
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 Wash and wax the paint and brightwork. Thoroughly vacuum and clean the car's interior. We recommend AutoSport Car Care products.
- Remove the battery, then clean the battery and battery case with a solution of baking soda and water to neutralize acid. Take battery inside and place on an automatic trickle charger like our AutoSport Charger/Maintainer, the Battery Tender or the CTek.
- Push (or temporarily reinstall the battery and drive) the car into the (hopefully indoor) storage area. If you are storing the car in an area with an earth or gravel floor, lay a big piece of plastic down first, then drive the car onto that. The plastic sheet will provide a vapor barrier and help keep the car from rusting. Or, for the best combination of floor protection and car protection, use one of our Oil Absorbing Mats.
- Raise the car on jackstands. Place the jackstands under the various suspension components so that the suspension is compressed and at normal ride height. We've found that fully extended shocks tend to get stuck in that position, hence the last instruction. If space is tight in your garage, you can rest the car on a set of Auto Dollies, so you can move it easily into a corner.
- Slip a plastic baggie over the exhaust tip(s) and snap a rubber band around it to keep it in place. Do the same to the air cleaner inlet. This will help keep moisture out of the engine.
- Place a couple of mothballs in the trunk, the interior,
 and the engine compartment. Hopefully this will dissuade little furry creatures from building nests. A quality car cover will also help keep the animal kingdom out of your car. An even better solution is to cocoon the car and cover in a Car Pocket. If the car is being stored indoors, crack the windows about 3/8".
- Finally, if possible, rotate the drive axles a few turns once a month. This will help to keep the differential gears and transmission mainshaft and countershaft coated with oil.
All these tips should keep your car in tip-top shape while it's in storage. Spring isn't that far away and you'll be back on the road in no time!
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