Preparing Your Land Rover for Long-Term Storage

While you may have purchased your Land Rover for its reliability and rugged construction, that doesn’t mean you’ll be driving it every day. In fact, if you’re planning on a long vacation or have an extended business trip coming up, it’s probably a good idea to look into long-term storage solutions for your vehicle. You may prefer to store it in your home’s garage, or perhaps you want to pay for professional storage. Whichever method you choose, it’s a good idea to do some prep work before turning off the lights and leaving your vehicle in storage.

Cleaning

Before putting your Land Rover into storage, be sure to give it a thorough cleaning inside and out. Why bother cleaning your car before storing it? The answer is simple: Leaving dirt, debris, bird droppings, tree sap, or water stains on your vehicle for an extended time can damage the paint. Give your car a thorough washing and drying and then turn your attention toward your storage site. Make sure the area in which you will be storing your Land Rover is as clean as possible before parking your vehicle. Check for any signs of rats, mice, birds, or other pests that might damage your vehicle or attempt to make their home.

 

Check Fluids

If you’re going to be storing your Land Rover for more than one month, it’s probably wise to have the oil changed first. The contaminants that collect in your vehicle’s oil may damage the car’s internal systems if left alone for too long. Change the oil and top off your vehicle’s gas tank. This prevents moisture accumulation in the gas tank and protects the seals from drying out and deteriorating.

 

Protect Your Tires

You’ll want to fill your vehicle’s tires with air before putting it in storage. If your tries are under-inflated, they could form flat spots from resting in the same position for too long. This is more likely to happen in colder areas and to vehicles with low-tread tires.

 

Take It for a Walk

If possible, have someone visit your vehicle every two weeks to take it out for a short drive. This helps move the different fluids in the vehicle and keeps everything lubricated. It’s also good for your battery, since an unused battery will slowly but surely lose its charge. You can use a trickle charger or disconnect the battery to preserve it.

 

British Garage in San Diego, CA, can help with all of your Land Rover maintenance needs. If you’re planning to put your vehicle into storage sometime soon, visit us for a checkup and we can help you prepare for long-term storage.

 

 

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