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Advice: outdoor storage while out of town?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by mrken, Aug 16, 2010.

  1. mrken

    mrken Junior Member

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    Apologies if this has already been answered; I tried searching 'storage' 'long term' and 'out of town' but didn't find a thread on this issue. I'll be going out of the country for about three months, and my parking space in Washington, DC is outdoors (in a secluded alleyway). Any suggestions on what I should do to the car before going away? I suppose a car-cover would be a good investment to start with, but I was wondering if there's anything else I should do.

    Thanks

    mrken
     
    #1 mrken, Aug 16, 2010
  2. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    1. Replace the engine oil and oil filter. The purpose of this is to have fresh oil in the system during the storage period.
    2. Inflate tires to maximum pressure per the tire sidewall, which is usually 44 psi. The reason behind this suggestion is to reduce tire flat spots while the car is sitting.
    3. Disconnect the 12V battery, either at the dedicated positive jump start terminal within the main relay/fuse box near the inverter, or else at the battery itself. The point of this is to reduce the likelihood of ruining that battery during the storage period when it will be discharged.
    4. Regarding the car cover, this is a good idea - but do you plan to lock it in place, and is someone around to keep an eye on it in the event that a gust of wind dislodges the cover?
     
    #2 Patrick Wong, Aug 16, 2010
    1 person likes this.
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