Your car, especially if it’s vintage, can take serious damage during the winter season if it is not in storage. So, like most people, you opt to store your car away to bring it out when the weather starts to warm. And with spring now on its way, you have the perfect opportunity to bring that car out again. However, taking out your car isn’t as easy as taking it out of your garage and starting the engine. You will have to check various things before you’ll get a chance to ride in it. Here is a handy list to help you remember.
1. Checking the Engine Oil
Engine oil is essential to keeping your engine nice and healthy. But if there isn’t enough, starting the car without it can be dangerous. Use the dipstick to check if there is enough oil for the engine. Add some more oil to ensure your engine runs smoothly. Of course, you should also change the oil in your car as soon as possible. The older oil might not be doing its job right, so you should simply change it.
2. Install the Battery after Storage
If you disconnected the battery from your vehicle before storing it, then now is about the time to put it back in. But before you can put the battery back in, you should check the terminals for corrosion and oxidation. Idle batteries are infamous for their terminals corroding. Don’t forget to check the charge in the battery as well.
3. Inspect the Fuel
Apart from engine oil, the car has a plethora of different fluids. One of these fluids is fuel, and it can take quite a hit if you didn’t add fuel stabilizer before storage. The older fuel takes longer to process and can make the engine rougher. Even if you forgot, you can still add octane booster along with high octane gas. This will mitigate most of the damage that old fuel could do.
4. Check the other Fluids
Speaking of other fluids, you might also want to check the others as well. They are just as important as your engine oil and can control features like the A/C, power steering, and the brakes. Look around for leaks or other signs of damage. If you do find out that something like your brake fluid is leaking, try to call a towing company.
5. Replace the Tires after storage
One essential piece of advice that most drivers receive when storing their car away is to change their tires. Replacing the tires with older or cheaper ones can save your good tires from flattening. It can also save your suspension from damage. Of course, if you didn’t change your tires in the first place, be sure to check the air pressure. Make sure that the tire has just the right amount of pressure in it.
With spring just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to hop into your car and cruise about. But with the amount of time your car has been in storage, you will first have to check the above things before starting it.