Tips for Getting Your Vehicle Out of Storage
If you haven’t driven your vehicle in months due to being out of town, or because you didn’t want to expose your vehicle to wintery conditions, jumping into your vehicle might not be as easy as you expected. Factors like how the vehicle was stored, if you prepared it beforehand, and how long it wasn’t driven can all affect what you need to do to get it back on the road. The Porsche Southpoint team can make the transition easier with a few tips.
Battery
If your vehicle doesn’t start immediately, don’t panic. It’s probably just a dead battery. The best course of action was to unhook your battery when you parked the vehicle and place it on a battery tender. If for any reason you missed this crucial step, you may need a new battery. Over time, your vehicle’s battery will drain naturally, but even more so if it is connected to the vehicle because it is constantly powering some things, like the clock and anti-theft alarm. Left connected without starting your car for months, it could completely discharge the battery, leaving you unable to recharge it.
Fuel
Another step that makes getting back into your vehicle after months of storage is adding a fuel stabilizer when you put the car away. The fuel stabilizer will keep the fuel from degrading over time. It only takes three to six months for fuel to go bad. If your car has electrical power to all the features but the engine won’t run, poor fuel could be the cause. Even if it starts, you might notice poor idle. If so, it’s best to take it to a certified technician to resolve the issue. Sometimes it’s as simple as removing the bad gas and replacing it with new fuel, but other times the fuel system may need to be fully cleaned.
Oil
Even if you changed your oil right before storage, it’s a good idea to get an oil change. Oil protects all of the engine’s moving parts from excessive heat and wear. Ensuring that the oil always has optimal viscosity is important to the longevity of your vehicle’s engine. After sitting for several months, the oil won’t be able to lubricate as easily as when it was new. That’s why many automakers have a mileage suggestion as well as a time frame suggestion for when to change your oil.
Inspection
You should thoroughly inspect your vehicle. Look for leaks, which could have developed due to temperature changes. If you notice any puddles under your car that weren’t there before, it’s important to identify where the fluid is coming from. Check your fluid levels as well, as this could indicate a leak that might not be obvious by checking the ground. Closely inspect your tires. Look for dry rot, deflated tires, and flat spots. These are all common things that happen to the tires when you don’t drive often and may lead to unsafe handling conditions.
The Porsche Southpoint team is dedicated to getting you back on the road. Schedule an appointment with our service team online. Our factory-trained technicians can look over these key points, as well as tons of others not included, like brakes, transmission fluid, differential fluid, axles, belts, and more.