Less than 30 days 1. Wash the vehicle exterior completely to remove any surface dirt. 2. Check the engine coolant level and if necessary increase antifreeze protection. 3. Check battery and charge if below 1.255 specific gravity to avoid freezing and deterioration. Both battery cables should be disconnected at the battery to prevent gradual discharge and possibility of fire due to short circuits.NOTE: IF YOU HAVE THEFT-LOCK PROTECTION ON YOUR RADIO, MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE SECURITY CODE PRIOR TO DISCONNECTING BATTERY CABLES. 4. Check tire pressure and if low, inflate to recommended pressure. 5. Vehicles are best stored in a clean, dry, closed or roofed area. If a vehicle is subject to corrosive fumes or bird droppings, the vehicle should be covered. If the vehicle is to be stored where the wind might move the cover, it should be tightly secured to prevent rubbing through the paint. 6. Run the engine at a fast idle for a minimum of 15 minutes before turning off the ignition. 7. Make sure that all windows are completely closed. 8. Leave the parking brake in the "off" position. If the car is equipped with a manual transmission the shifter should be placed in reverse. 9. Check the trunk and glove compartment for personal items that might freeze or deteriorate with time. Beyond 30 days 1. All steps above. 2. Start and run the engine until completely warm. Drain the engine oil and replace the filter element, refill with fresh oil. After the oil has been replaced, remove the air cleaner assembly and pour one-half to one pint of 10W or lighter oil into the carburetor air intake, with the engine running. Pour slowly at first, then rapidly, using the last quarter to stall the engine. Replace air cleaner assembly. If the car is equipped with air conditioning the unit should be operated during its final engine warm-up to lubricate the compressor seals. 3. Drain the coolant from the radiator, cylinder block and heater. 4. If freezing temperatures are expected, the battery should be removed from the vehicle and stored in a cool, dry area at above freezing temperatures. CAUTION: AS PART OF THE NORMAL FUNCTION OF AUTOMOBILE BATTERY STORAGE, HYDROGEN GAS IS TOXIC AND EXTREMELY COMBUSTIBLE WHEN MIXED WITH AIR. DO NOT STORE THE BATTERY WHERE IT IS EXPOSED TO SPARK, OPEN FLAME, CHILDREN OR ANIMALS. 5. Place blocks under the front and rear suspension so that the tires do not come in contact with the ground. 6. Drain all gas from the tank, fuel lines and carburetor to reduce the hazard of fire and to prevent gumming of the fuel as it evaporates. 7. Remove the windshield wiper are and blades and store them inside the vehicle. 8. All rubber weather-strips such as around the doors, deck or trunk openings and window vents, as well as the rubber gaskets with exposed edges around the taillights, cowl, ventilator lid gaskets, etc. should be coated with a silicone grease that can be purchased from your local dealer or any good autopart stores near you. 9. Doors should be left closed and the trunk and decklid should be locked to prevent rats, mice and squirrels from destroying anything. Trim All upholstery and floor coverings should be thoroughly cleaned. The entire interior should be sprayed with a stainless moth preventative such as dichloride. Apply a high quality furniture wax to any decorative wood inserts in the interior. Convertible cars 1. Convertible tops should not be stored in the collapsed position. 2. Care should be exercised to keep the oil or grease of any kind from convertible tops and leather upholstery. Put a paper cover over the top to prevent dirt and dust from penetrating the fabric. 3. Coat folding top chromium plated parts on convertibles with body wax/polish. 4. Do not store in direct sunlight or near a radiator. Placing the Car in Service after Storage It is especially important to take every precaution and to make sure that the tires, battery, engine and other units especially prepared for storage are properly attended to BEFORE the car is put back into service. We therefore suggest that you mount the tires and wheels on the car, put in a fully charged battery then call your local dealer or a reputable shop and have them tow the car to their facility where the vehicle can be thoroughly checked and any necessary adjustments can be made to ensure best operation of your car. Suggestions for Proper Storing of Cars Since extremely high and low temperatures, precipitation, freezing and thawing, sunlight, soot and other conditions found outdoors have a very detrimental effect on a car in storage, outside locations should be avoided. An inside storage location should be selected having a reasonably cool, even temperature, a minimum of dirt in the air and an absence of direct rays from the sun. Sunlight can easily cause uneven aging of the painted surfaces and upholstery, as well as accelerate the deterioration of tires, and other rubber parts. If it is necessary to store cars near windows, painting the windows black or blue effectively reduces the sunlight. Avoid storing in a place where coal, smoke, ammonia and other detrimental fumes are present. Preparing the Car for Storage Tire storage 1. Place the car in the location where it is to be stored and support on jacks or stands at all four wheels to relieve the weight from the tires. 2. Six conditions should be observed in conjunction with the storage of tires, either on or off the car. a. Cool place b. Dark place c. No air currents d. Under no load e. Dry place f. No contact with grease or oil 3. Normal seepage will soon relieve pressure in the tires. Under no conditions should direct sunlight be allowed to reach the tires. If this cannot be avoided some sort of light-proof covering should be placed over the exposed tires. If the tires have picked up grease or oil on the tread, the accumulation should be cleaned off with a cloth wet with alcohol. NOTE: DO NOT USE KEROSENE, GASOLINE, CABON-TETRACHLORIDE, DUCO THINNER OR ANY OTHER PETROLEUM PRODUCT. 4. Drain the gas tank and run the engine until it stops. Disconnect the tank to fuel pump line at the fuel pump and blow the line out with air. Crank the engine over 5-6 times to empty the fuel pump and reconnect the gas lines. Cooling Solution If coolant is left in the engine, make sure that enough anti-freeze in the cooling system and heater to insure adequate protection from freezing. If the car is stored for more than 6 months, drain the coolant from the radiator, cylinder block and heater (disconnect the hose at the heater to drain it completely, then reconnect hose). Engine 1. It is not necessary to prepare the engine if the car is not to be stored longer than 60 days. However, for longer periods of time remove the spark plugs and squirt oil into the spark plug holes. Replace plugs finger tight. When preparing the car to run remove the plugs and crank the engine momentarily to assure excess oil is removed from the combustion chamber. 2. If the car is to be stored for a year or longer, remove the cylinder heads and coat all internal parts of the engine (cylinder bore, combustion chamber, valves and seats, valve stems, etc.) with cup grease. You local dealer can assist you in performing this operation. 3. Move the alternator towards the engine as far as possible to relieve tension on the fan belt. 4. Place paper bags over the carburetor, air cleaner, crankcase ventilation outlet and tailpipe securing them with twine. This is especially important when storing a car in locations near the ocean where salt might enter the engine or exhaust system. NOTE: DO NOT DRAIN THE ENGINE OIL! Battery Remove the battery and take it either to your car dealer or to a reliable battery charging station for storage so that it
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