Time To Head To College? 4 Ways To Keep It Safely Stored Away

1 September 2016
 Categories: , Blog


If you're going to be traveling abroad for college, and you won't be taking your car, you might want to put it in storage. Leaving it in your parent's driveway might seem like an easier solution, but it's not necessarily a good idea when it comes to the safety of your car. Leaving your car sitting in the elements for an extended period of time can leave it susceptible to all types of damage. Here are four steps you should take to safely store your car while you're gone.

Put It Indoors

The best thing you can do for your car is store it indoors. You don't want to take up valuable space in your parent's garage, so rent a storage unit instead. A storage unit will ensure that your car is protected from all of nature's elements, including the sun, wind and snow. Be sure to let the storage facility know that you'll be storing a vehicle. They may have a specific location, or special handling instructions for storing vehicles.

Protect Your Tires

You don't want to come home and find out that your tires have rotted while you were away. You can protect them with just a few simple steps. First, apply a generous amount of tire dressing to the exterior wall of the tire. This will help preserve them and prevent rot. Second, check the tire pressure. Your tires should have the right amount of pressure before your car goes into storage. Improper inflation can cause your tires to wear out while your car is in storage.

Remove the Spark Plugs

If your car isn't going to be driven for an extended period of time, you should remove the spark plugs, Leaving the spark plugs in place could lead to corrosion, which could destroy your car. To protect your car, and prevent corrosion, remove the spark plugs and place them in an airtight container. Carefully rub a small amount of engine oil inside each of the cylinder housing compartments. The oil will protect the cylinder housings and prevent moisture buildup and corrosion.

Pest Proof It

You don't want to come home and find out that pests have invaded your car. To prevent pest infestation, you should pest-proof your car before you close up the storage unit. First, make sure that all of the windows are closed tightly. Next, place steel wool inside the opening of the exhaust pipe – don't forget to remove it before you drive your car again. The steel wool will seal off the access point to your car. Finally, sprinkle moth balls on the ground around your car. The moth balls will act as a deterrent and keep the pests away.

It's time to head off to college. Make sure your car is well-protected while you're away. The tips provided here will help protect your car in a storage unit, and keep it safe until you return.


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