Winter Storage Checklist

A few hours of prep in the fall can save a lot of trouble in the spring. This checklist works for any generation. Adjust it for your car and your storage space.

Before it goes in

• Wash and dry the car thoroughly. Road salt, bird droppings and bug residue left on paint for months can cause damage. Clean the wheels and wheel wells too.
• Clean the interior. Remove food wrappers and anything else that might attract rodents.
• Change the oil if it's close to due. Used oil contains combustion byproducts that you don't want sitting in the engine all winter. Use the oil spec in your owner's manual.
• Fill the fuel tank and add a fuel stabilizer according to the product's directions. Drive a few miles so treated fuel reaches the fuel system.
• Check the coolant for the correct mix and level as described in your owner's manual.

Tires and suspension

• Inflate the tires to the upper end of the range in your owner's manual, or follow your tire maker's storage advice. This helps reduce flat spots.
• For longer storage, some owners use tire cradles or put the car on jack stands at the proper lift points. If you use stands, make sure the car is stable and the suspension isn't hanging in a way your service manual warns against.
• Don't set the parking brake for months at a time if you can avoid it. Chock the wheels instead.

Battery

• Connect a quality battery maintainer (not a basic trickle charger). See our battery maintainer guide.
• If the car will be somewhere without power, disconnect the battery or remove it and store it on a maintainer elsewhere.

Pests and moisture

• Block the exhaust tips and intake opening with something obvious, like a rag with a bright tag, so you remember to remove it.
• Place rodent deterrents around the car rather than inside it.
• Use a breathable car cover. Plastic tarps trap moisture.
• In a damp garage, a moisture absorber in the cabin can help.

In spring

• Remove the exhaust and intake blocks.
• Check the tire pressures, fluid levels and for signs of leaks or chewed wiring.
• Start the car and let it reach operating temperature before driving hard.
• Check the brakes during the first few stops. Light surface rust on the rotors is normal and should clean off quickly.

Safety note

Never run the engine in a closed garage. If you put the car on stands, use stands rated for the car's weight, place them only at the factory lift points, and never get under a car supported only by a jack.