Do I need to do anything before leaving my car parked for months?
Preparing a car for extended storage involves essential maintenance like deciding whether to change the oil before or after parking. Skipping these steps can lead to mechanical issues when you finally return to drive it.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Using a battery tender
- 2Disconnecting the negative battery terminal
- 3Adding fuel stabilizer
- 4Filling the tank completely with gas
- 5changing oil before storage so the engine sits in clean oil
- 6waiting to change oil after storage
- 7disconnecting the battery and using a trickle charger
- 8inflating tires 5psi past spec
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I plan on leaving my car unattended for 6 months. Is it best to change the cars oil before or after storage?”source ↗
CrimsonVanquish · r/AskMechanics · 2 upvotes
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 4How to safely start a car that has been sitting for years
- 2How to plan a long road trip when you have no clue
- 2What can I safely store in a non-climate-controlled garage?
- 4How to learn basic car maintenance with zero experience
- 2What to do when your car is wedged against a garage wall
- 2Should I sell my unused second car or keep it as a backup?