Page 15 - AAA Magazine – AAA Ohio Auto Club – September 2018

Storing Your Car for Winter
By Jessica Barga
If you’ve planned a sunny getaway to escape the Ohio cold this winter and won’t be driving to your destination, make sure your car is ready for its hibernation back home.
Keep your battery fully charged
Prevailing wisdom once taught to disconnect the battery if you wouldn’t be driving for a while. However, the disadvantages of disconnecting the battery on a modern car outweigh any benefits. When power to the vehicle’s electrical system is lost, computer data is erased. This includes simple things like the clock and radio station settings, as well as more complex values such as powertrain calibration adjustments.
A simple solution? “You’ll want to make sure you have a battery tender to keep your voltage topped off so
you aren’t stuck with a dead battery,” said Ray Conkle, manager at AAA Car Care Plus Gahanna. A battery tender or trickle charger is a small device, often available for less than $100, which is hooked up directly to your car battery and can provide a stream of power to prevent a battery from dying. Remember to unplug any devices, like chargers, that can deplete the battery as well.
Monitor fluids
Next, make sure your antifreeze is topped off.
When the engine is cold, raise the hood and locate the reservoir for the coolant recovery system. The reservoir will have upper (hot) and lower (cold) level markings.
If the fluid level is below the lower mark, add coolant up to that point.
Windshield washer fluid is another one to check. “If you still have summer fluid and you go to use it in the winter, that could be a problem,” said Conkle. AAA advises using a bug-removing washer fluid in summer and a solution with antifreeze properties in winter.
Finally, Conkle says a full tank of new gas is no problem to leave over the winter. But if you don’t drive much and the fuel in your car is older, a gas-stabilizer product like Sta Bil can help keep it fresh for storage.
Tires, mice and more
Ensure your tires are inflated properly before leaving, then help prevent flat spots by placing carpet remnants beneath them in the garage. When you return, Conkle says, make sure to check the tire pressure again.
“If it’s not too far down — maybe 24 psi — you can still drive it to the repair shop and let them top it off for you,” said Conkle.
To keep windshield wipers in good shape, pull them up off the glass so they don’t become flattened or stiff.
Finally, to prevent uninvited guests like mice from moving into your vehicle, a few mothballs placed in the tailpipe and on the floor mats can be a good deterrent.
Wherever you’re going this winter, take a few steps now to ensure your car is ready to hit the road again once you return. Learn more about car care you can trust with AAA at AAA.com/carcare.
Jessica Barga is Brand Management coordinator for AAA Ohio.
SEPTEMBER 2018 | 13
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