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 the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- The most recent one is from October 2026.
- This comes up 8.7× more often in r/AskMechanics than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1disconnecting the battery and using a trickle charger2 people mentionedDid this help you?
- 2Using a battery tenderDid this help you?
- 3Disconnecting the negative battery terminalDid this help you?
- 4Adding fuel stabilizerDid this help you?
- 5Filling the tank completely with gasDid this help you?
- 6changing oil before storage so the engine sits in clean oilDid this help you?
- 7waiting to change oil after storageDid this help you?
- 8inflating tires 5psi past specDid this help you?
- 9Changing the oil, checking belts, inspecting brakes and brake pads, and replacing the coolant.Did this help you?
- 10Over inflating tiresDid this help you?
- 11Stuffing steel wool in tail pipe and intakeDid this help you?
- 12Adding fuel stabilizer and a full gas tankDid this help you?
- 13Buying a new battery, changing the oil, checking other fluids, inspecting brakes, and letting the car idle to check for leaks.Did this help you?
- 14Waiting until after storageDid this help you?
- 15Checking all fluids before starting and letting the car warm upDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, 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 ↗
“VW camper, 3 years old, done 100 miles only within first year and nothing since. Had no servicing within that time. Mechanically is that an issue?”source ↗
“i have a 2010 volkswagen beetle and i unfortunately have been letting it sit for two years without using it. my hope is to buy a new battery and get working on some stuff but what advice would you give on what to do with a car that’s been sitting for that long?”source ↗
“Leaving my car for 1 month, do I need to do anything?”source ↗
“This is my first time leaving a car for long period.”source ↗
“So, I am going to be storing my car, a 2021 Mazda 3 Select AWD (hatchback) with a 2.5L non-turbo engine, for about a year without it getting driven during said time as I will not have anyone to drive it”source ↗
“Is there anything else I may be missing?”source ↗
“I was told by my dad to fill the engine and tranny to keep the gaskets from drying out.you should change the fluids anyway before you start it up after storing.this is definitely a debatable thing to do,so if there are any other thoughts on this please chime in.”source ↗
“Should we get the service done before or after the five-month idle period?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 3What needs to be fixed on a car that sat unused for years?
- 10How to safely start a car that has been sitting for years
- 11How to plan a long road trip when you have no clue
- 3What can I safely store in a non-climate-controlled garage?
- 9How to blow out water lines and winterize an empty house
- 2Where to invest monthly for a car purchase 6 to 9 years away?