It is best to store your car in a warm garage with good ventilation at a temperature of about +5°C and a relative humidity of 40–70%.
If you do not have a garage, we recommend parking your car in a covered parking lot or under a canopy to protect the body from direct sunlight and precipitation.
Preparation for storage
1. Wash the car thoroughly and wipe the body dry.
2. If there are traces of corrosion on the body, sand them down to the metal or treat them with a rust converter.
3. Touch up damaged paintwork with car enamel. If the old primer is damaged, apply a layer of primer to the metal before painting. At low temperatures, apply Movil or another preservative to the damaged areas.
4. Inspect the underbody and wheel arches. Apply anti-corrosion mastic to areas where it is damaged.
5. Drain the washer fluid from the reservoir. Then turn on the washer to drain any remaining fluid from the washer hoses.
6. Start and warm up the engine (the coolant temperature should be at least 50°C). Stop the engine, remove the spark plugs and pour 25-30 g of engine oil heated to 70-80°C into each hole. Then turn the engine crankshaft 10-15 revolutions and screw the spark plugs back in. This will protect the engine cylinders from corrosion.
7. If the car will be stored in an open parking lot or in an unheated garage, remove the battery and radio from it (radio).
8. Loosen the alternator drive belt tension (see subsection 3.7.).
9. Plug the exhaust pipe with an oiled rag to prevent moisture from entering the exhaust system.
10. Remove the hot air supply hose to the air filter and plug the cold and hot air intake pipes inside the filter with oiled rags.
11. To protect the fuel tank from corrosion, fill it to the top with gasoline.
12. Place the vehicle on strong, stable supports so that the wheels do not touch the ground.
13. To protect the engine compartment from dust, cover the engine with a tarpaulin or thick cloth.
14. Cover the car with a cover. To avoid damaging the paintwork and to ensure ventilation under the cover, place soft pads at least 20 mm thick under the tarpaulin or install a roof rack.
Maintenance during storage
For better preservation, it is necessary to inspect and service the body, components and assemblies of the car once every two months.
1. Remove the cover from the car and carefully inspect the body. If there are traces of corrosion on the body, clean these areas with fine sandpaper and touch up the paint or apply Movil to the damaged areas.
2. Remove the spark plugs, engage fourth or fifth gear and rotate one of the front wheels two or three times, thereby restoring the oil film in the engine cylinders. Replace the spark plugs.
3. Turn the steering wheel one or two turns in each direction.
4. Press the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals fully several times.
5. Raise and lower the parking brake lever several times.
Removal from storage
1. Remove the spark plugs, wash them in gasoline and dry them.
2. Adjust the tension of the alternator drive belt (see subsection 3.7.).
3. Remove rags from the exhaust pipe and cold and hot air intake pipes. Connect the hot air supply hose to the filter.
4. Fill the washer reservoir with water or antifreeze (depending on the ambient temperature).
5. Check the oil level in the engine crankcase and gearbox housing, the brake fluid level in the brake master cylinder reservoir, the fluid level in the expansion tank of the cooling system, as well as the air pressure in the tires and, if necessary, bring these parameters to normal (see chapter 3.).