Winters can be extremely cold in Minnesota. If you are planning on storing your vehicle over the winter months, there are several steps to take to help protect it and ensure it starts properly when you are ready. Tires can lose pressure, fuel can go bad, and rodents could make a nest in unwanted places.
1. Fuel Stabilizer
Fuel can go bad in as little as 30 days. This is why it is essential to add a fuel stabilizer before storing your vehicle. Bad fuel can lead to rough running and starting problems.
2. Clean the Vehicle
A car should be cleaned both on the inside and out. Washing, waxing, and buffing will help protect the finish during storage. A good deodorizer should be installed inside the vehicle to keep it from smelling musty.
3. Rodent Prevention
Rodents look for a dark place that they can hide from predators in. A car in storage is a good hiding spot without taking proper precautions. Blocking off vents, intake, and exhaust pipes will help prevent them from entering the vehicle.
Placing mothballs on the inside and scattered around the car will also help. A bar of soap might also do the trick.
4. Oil Change
Changing the oil and filter before storage is recommended to remove moisture, carbon, and other byproducts from burnt combustion. Leaving the old oil in can lead to condensation seeping into the rest of the engine.
This is also a good time to change the washer in the sump pump.
5. Cooling System
If your vehicle hasn’t had the cooling system back flushed for a couple of years, doing it before storage is a good idea. Grime and rust can build up in the system which could potentially clog up the system. After backflushing, make sure the coolant is rated for 40 degrees below zero, to help keep anything from freezing during the cold Minnesota winter.
6. The Battery
A battery should be hooked up to a trickle charger to keep a full charge in it over the winter months. A better option is to remove the battery and store it inside in a heated area. Extreme cold weather can cause a battery casing to crack.
Even if the battery is stored inside, it should be kept charged. It should be cleaned of all corrosion whether it is left in the vehicle or stored inside.
7. Jack Stands
Putting the vehicle up on jack stands will keep flat spots from developing on the tires. Some aluminum wheels could also develop flat areas if the weight of the vehicle is left on them for an extended period of time. Removing the wheels could also help keep rodents from entering the vehicle, especially if you lubricate the stands so they can’t climb up them.
Preparing your car for storage over the cold winter months doesn’t have to be expensive. With a little work involved, your vehicle will be ready to go when spring comes around.