How to Store Cars in a Hot Garage in the Summer

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Things You'll Need

  • Soap

  • Bucket

  • Wax

  • Rags

  • Baking soda

  • Car cover

  • Trickle charger

  • Ventilation fans

Storing a car in a hot garage requires some preparation.

A car that is parked for an extended period of time with no activity can begin to experience mechanical problems. The tires will deflate over time, the gas may begin to solidify slightly and could clog up the fuel system and the battery could lose power. While vehicles are generally more sensitive to extreme cold than heat, high temperature storage could also damage the car's interior is care if not taken with it. Storing a car in a hot garage in the summertime requires some preparation and regular maintenance.

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Step 1

Get an oil change right before storing the car and have all the fluids switched out. Fresh oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid and coolant will help prevent corrosion in the engine and transmission. Get your fuel level down as much as possible through either driving or siphoning, then fill the car completely with high quality gas. This helps prevent condensation buildup in the fuel system, and fresh gas can last for a year or more.

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Step 2

Wash the car and wax it to preserve the paint before storing it. This will also prevent dirt and other debris, such as bird excrement, from being cooked into the body over the summer from the heat of the garage.

Step 3

Place an open box of baking soda inside the car to help absorb odors during storage. Roll down the windows slightly as well, so the interior doesn't build up too much heat. The heat could damage interior components in the dash, stereo or upholstery.

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Step 4

Cover the car with a car cover to protect the vehicle's exterior from dirt and debris. The garage will get a lot of dust buildup from outside, and the cover will keep it from getting on the car.

Step 5

Disconnect the car battery and store it off the floor. Hook it up to a trickle charger once a month to examine the charge. Recharge the battery if it starts getting low, and also add water to it if the water level starts dropping.

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Step 6

Check your tire pressure weekly and add pressure whenever the levels are lower than recommended.

Step 7

Ventilate the garage by opening the garage door when you are outside and can make sure no one approaches it. This will help let out excess heat. Use ventilation fans to further remove hot air and jettison it outside.

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