Your car is a major investment and you will want to keep it looking sharp and running smoothly. If you have a classic or custom car that you store away for the winter, you have to make sure you prepare it for storage so it will be in pristine condition when you take it out. To keep your custom car looking its best you have to keep it in the best shape possible, inside and out.
You need to take extra care and greater precautions when you are driving a custom car regularly and it is being parked outside. Make sure you have it covered with a properly fitted car cover which can protect the vehicle from the elements which predominate in your area. You ought to have it covered whenever it is not in use and if you are going to put it in storage, there are a few preventive maintenance measures you can take to make sure it stays in good condition.
Before you store it away you should give it a good detailing and it should be squeaky clean. You will want to wash all the road grime off of the car including all body parts and undercarriage. Another, very important thing is to make sure the car is completely dry before you cover it up with a car cover as this will ensure moisture is not being trapped which may cause musty smells and promote mold growth.
You will want to make sure the car cover you choose has a high quality soft interior that will not scratch you car and will protect it from dust. If you plan on storing the car for a short time, you can drain the cooling fluid and refill it with antifreeze. On the other hand, if you plan on storing the vehicle for an extended period of time, you can drain the entire system and take the radiator cap off so air can circulate through it.
It is recommended you put the car on car stands or jacks to lift the tires off the ground. This will help keep your tires from deflating or being ruined and more than this, remove the battery and clean the battery cables.
When you get your car out of storage, clean it up with a soft cotton cloth that is designed for specifically cleaning cars. It is also important to use the correct car wash and not abrasive detergent. To help prevent rust and metal corrosion you should have any dents, cracks or chips repaired as soon as you notice them.
Wash and dry your car properly after a road trip and make sure you blot dry any water to avoid rusting of the metal surfaces. You should also make sure you remove any gas spills, bird dropping, dead bugs and tree sap as soon as possible. All of these things can do serious damage to your vehicles paint finish. There are quality removal products, which don’t have high acidic content, available for removing these types of things.
When you are not using your vehicle you should cover it up to protect it from the elements. You want to make sure the cover has a soft lining that will not harm your paint job. If you follow the tips above you will keep your custom or classic car in mint condition for years to come.