# How do I store a car? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [July 27, 2007, 9:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-i-store-a-car/2306 "2007-07-27T21:21:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DanMahon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@DanMahon](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DanMahon)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2007, 9:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-i-store-a-car/2306/1 "2007-07-27T21:21:26Z")
I am going to be storing my son’s 2000 Honda Civic, outside in Northern California (no freezing weather). I will have a cement slab area to store it, and I plan on covering it. What else should I do? fluids, Gas, battery, etc.?? ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2007, 1:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-i-store-a-car/2306/2 "2007-07-28T01:13:56Z")
For how long? ---
**Author:** ![TJScott2012](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e68b1a/32.png) [@TJScott2012](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TJScott2012)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2007, 2:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-i-store-a-car/2306/3 "2007-07-28T02:06:50Z")
put in on something to hold it up to take off pressure off the suspension ---
**Author:** ![Beadsandbeads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Beadsandbeads](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beadsandbeads)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2007, 4:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-i-store-a-car/2306/4 "2007-07-28T04:08:36Z")
You must use a cover that allows moisture to escape from the upper part or water will evaporate from the ground and accumulate. If it is not too unsightly for the area, I would go as far as to put a moisture barrier (durable plastic sheet) on the slab and drive the car onto it. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-i-store-a-car/2306/5 "2007-07-28T15:19:59Z")
Put the car on jack stands to take the load off the suspension and tires. Cover it with, as others have mentioned, a breatheable car cover. Outside is far from ideal, but at least you’re in northern Cal instead of, say, Michigan. Also, if you have a non-cement area to store it, that would be preferable - - cars stored on cement tend to get more moisture accumulation. And as a final step, put some mothballs in the engine bay and around the car under the tarp - - rodents LOVE to nest in cars that are just sitting there. I parted out a car after it’d been sitting for only 2 months and found a nest of baby mice sitting on top of the fuel tank. ---
**Author:** ![profhandy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b5ac83/32.png) [@profhandy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/profhandy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2007, 8:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-i-store-a-car/2306/6 "2007-07-28T20:01:17Z")
After you get the car up on jack stands, I would pour in a bottle of Sta-Bil fuel extender (or equiv.). That’ll extend the useful life of your gas for 8 months-year. Then start the engine and let it idle for about 3 minutes. That should get the Sta-Bil into your fuel lines and into your caerb., TBI, or injector system. Shut the engine off. Let it cool. Pull all spark plugs and put about 1/2 oz. of motor oil into each cylinder. Replace the plugs and wires. Disconnect and remove the battery. Place it on a rubber mat or on a piece of 2" X 8" framing lumber–never directly on the ground and especially not on concrete. If you have a 115-volt household current receptacle available, preferably indoors, buy a trickle charger for the battery. Get one with an automatic cut-out so you don’t “overcook” the battery. Typically under $20. Auto parts stores, J.C. Whitney and a bunch of other places have them. If it is not a maintenace-free battery, check the water level. Top it off up to the split ring. (About the water. Distilled water will cause a motorcycle battery to last about 1 year. Regular tap water will cause the battery to last about 12 months. This can be transposed to automotive batteries of all kinds, but spend the money for a gallon of distilled water—just to be safe.) Doing an engine oil change and new oil filter is also a good idea. Keeps the acids in the used oil from eating seals, metal parts, etc. Do this before you do the Sta-Bil treatment. That way, you’ll be able to circulate the new oil when you start the engine to circulate the treated fuel. I have a few more tips but I’ll put it into an additional post.–Prof. Handy ---
**Author:** ![profhandy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b5ac83/32.png) [@profhandy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/profhandy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2007, 8:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-i-store-a-car/2306/7 "2007-07-28T20:14:03Z")
P.H. again. I tried to post another reply, but it seems to have disappeared into cyberspace. I would also clean out old fries, onion rings, wrappers, soda and soda cans out of the inside. A couple of moth balls in each front and rear works well here, too. If it’s gonna be stored for over a couple of months, I’d consider washing the outside and waxing it. How long is this vehicle going to be stored?–Prof. Handy