It’s that time of year again!

With 50 years of experience working on Rolls Royce, Bentleys and other classic cars, keeping classic cars on the road is important to us. But as much as we love to see these cars out and about we appreciate that sometimes, particularly over winter, they need to be stored away and safely looked after.

So, can you just park your cherished vehicle in a garage and forget about it?

Well, no. There is a little more to it than that! But don’t worry, we’re here to help.


So what steps do I take to prepare a vehicle for storage?

Phase 1 (to be carried out by a local, reputable specialist):

• Carry out a lubrication service (change the engine oil & filter, change dot 4 brake fluid every 3 to 4 years, check and reset all under-bonnet levels including coolant, washer fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid).
• Test battery condition and thoroughly clean all terminals. Apply Vaseline to battery terminals to help lubricate and prevent corrosion.
• Recharge battery as necessary.
• Check electrical system for correct operation including lights and charging system.
• Flush coolant system every 2 to 3 years.
• Check all hoses and belts annually.
• Change anti-freeze if due, and label with date for next renewal period.

Phase 2:

• Thoroughly wash and dry vehicle. Polish and wax exterior.
• Clean boot and interior.
• Apply leather cream to all leather work to keep leather supple and prevent future tears.
• Install moth balls to prevent moth damage.
• Check all tyres (including spare) for wear and damage. Reset all tyre pressures.
• Where applicable check wire wheel spokes and rim for damage and check wire wheel rim drainage holes are free from obstructions.
• Give the vehicle a good run, and with a hot engine, park the car in a garage or similar.
• Leave a ½ inch gap on windows and cover the vehicle in a clean dust sheet (ensure car and dust sheet are very clean to avoid scratching paintwork).
• Install rodent protection to storage areas (50 years of working on these cars tells us that mice love an engine bay to nest in!)
• Fit a battery conditioner type charger. We recommend CTEK chargers.
• Where applicable, fit black covers wheels to prevent sunlight from cracking tyres.
• Check tyre pressures regularly.
• Where possible, manually turn the engine over to allow flow of oil through engine. But do not start.

A few jobs for the winter months:

• Remove all tools from various compartments (always worth doing as they can be easy to misplace and winter is a good time to check that you have them altogether).
• Free-off and lubricate the lifting jack controls and handle grips etc.
• Check all spare bulbs and fuses etc are of the correct type and are in good working condition.
• Check that all adjustable spanners are clean and free to operate.

Of course many of the above jobs will be dependent on the vehicle (and the age of the vehicle), so do feel free to pick out the steps most relevant to you. If you are local to Essex, we are very happy to carry out any pre-winter storage checks (particularly services and checks to under-bonnet levels and filters etc) on your behalf. We can even give your car a full valet!

Visit our website at www.harveywashltd.co.uk, email us on info@harveywashltd.co.uk or give us a call on 01376 571174 for any further questions or to book in.