Storing a car outside - what cover to use?

Tea drinker

Hi,
I will be storing my car outside for a year, could anyone recommend an off the shelf cover, pretty good quality?
I think what I am looking for is waterproof, breathable and fabric lined.
Halfords have one on their website:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_565261_langId_-1_categoryId_165611
what do you reckon?

I'll be swopping the alloys off the car and putting back on steelies, with covers. Some people seem to recommend putting a little oil down the plug holes. any other general storing tips?

Henry Ford III

Take the wheels off, and put it up on blocks. Protect the chassis before doing so btw. The tyres will go out of round otherwise.

Disconnect the battery too and remove it.

Gary ITR

Just be sure not to start it every so often. A lot of people think this is a great idea but in reality does more damage than good. If at all possible leave the handbrake off and just leave it in gear. Will the alloys be going back on next year? If so I presume you aren't too bothered about the tyres on the steelies?

maidhc

It is only a year.

We have a car at home that is 15 years old and has never been stored in a garage. It spent 9 months idle at one point. There is no rust what so ever on the car.

Personally I would put nothing on the car, any cover is only likely to trap moisture.

As for tyres going out of round, I would imagine that is very unlikely with modern radials.

Tea drinker

maidhc wrote: »

It is only a year.

We have a car at home that is 15 years old and has never been stored in a garage. It spent 9 months idle at one point. There is no rust what so ever on the car.

Personally I would put nothing on the car, any cover is only likely to trap moisture.

As for tyres going out of round, I would imagine that is very unlikely with modern radials.

There is a rake of cats down home and they love climbing up on cars. Unfortunately the old claws do a bit of damage....

Onkle, the tyres on the steelies are pretty good - I'd like to keep them in good nick if possible..... do you think I should put it on blocks? There is a bit of a slope there so not ideal for jacking or putting on blocks.
BTW nice avatar!

Change the engine oil a day or so before laying it off, basically just before the last good run. Make sure coolant is good for possible cold snap while you're gone.

Edit. A small volume of oil in cylinders is always a good thing to stop rusting of cylinder walls.