Storing Your Car for Winter?

Let’s get it ready to hibernate. Thinking about storing your car for winter? Whether you’re tucking away a classic, a summer-only performance car or a work vehicle that takes a seasonal break, proper storage prevents spring surprises like dead batteries, varnished fuel, flat-spotted tires and sticky brakes. We treat storage like a slow-motion service interval: stabilize what sits, refresh what ages and position the car so it wakes up clean, charged and eager to drive when the snow melts. 

Call to book your winter inspection and prep: 587-802-5515 

We begin with fluids because old oil and contaminated fuel do the most silent damage while a car rests. Fresh oil removes acids and combustion by-products that etch bearings and cam lobes over months of inactivity. A full tank reduces condensation in the fuel system, and a measured dose of quality stabilizer slows oxidation so injectors and pumps don’t gum up. We run the engine long enough to pull treated fuel through lines and into the rail so the entire system benefits, then let it cool before the next step. 

Cooling system condition matters in storage. Proper coolant concentration prevents internal corrosion and protects against freezing in an unheated garage. Belts and hoses get a close look because nothing ruins a spring start like a cracked belt that snaps as soon as you blip the throttle. We check for seeping gaskets, top up washer fluid and make sure the heater and defrost controls move freely so the first post-storage drive clears the glass quickly. 

Batteries hate sitting. A healthy battery on a smart maintainer stays ready without overcharging, while a borderline unit sulphates and dies quietly by February. We test your battery’s reserve and cranking amps, clean the terminals and either connect a maintainer or disconnect the negative cable depending on your setup. Vehicles with complex electronics often prefer a maintainer to preserve learned settings, window indexes and throttle calibrations. 

Tires and brakes need attention before the long nap. We inflate tires toward the upper end of the recommended range to reduce flat spots and park on clean concrete to avoid moisture wicking into the rubber. If your storage spans several months, rolling the car a half turn when you check on it helps distribute load. Parking brakes can seize as pads bond to rotors in damp conditions, so we use wheel chocks and leave the brake off when safe. We measure pad thickness and look at rotor condition beforehand so you aren’t storing a car with near-metal pads that will drag in spring. 

Storing Your Vehicle for the Winter 

During storage, resist the urge to start the engine for a few minutes every couple of weeks. Short runs invite condensation without getting the oil up to full temperature, which creates the very acids you replaced the oil to avoid. If you want to move fluids, plan a proper warm-up drive on a dry day or simply leave it be until spring. If the vehicle sits on a trickle charger, glance at the indicator monthly and look for any fluid spots under the car that suggest a slow leak. 

Spring wake-up is simple when storage prep is solid. We begin with a walkaround, check pressures, remove any intake or exhaust covers and reconnect the battery if it was disconnected. A start-up with the door open clears any vapours, and we listen for misfires or belt squeal that hints at a loose tensioner. Surface rust on rotors usually clears with a few gentle stops, but persistent vibration warrants a quick inspection. If the car was on stands or took a pothole just before storage, an alignment returns steering to its crisp baseline and protects your tires for the season ahead. If oil is time-based on your model, we’ll swap it again so you start the year fresh. 

Putting a car away properly is a gift to your future self. A few smart steps now save hours of troubleshooting later and protect the value, reliability and feel that made you enjoy the vehicle in the first place. Tell us how long you plan to store it, the space you have and how you’ll use the car next season. We’ll tailor the checklist to your vehicle and make sure your spring turn of the key is the start of a great drive, not a to-do list.