If you plan on storing your vehicle for 30 days or more, read the following maintenance recommendations to make sure your vehicle stays in good operating condition.
We engineer and test all motor vehicles and their components for reliable, regular driving. Under various conditions, long-term storage may lead to degraded engine performance or failure unless you use specific precautions to preserve engine components.
General
  • Store all vehicles in a dry, ventilated place.
  • Protect from sunlight, if possible.
  • If you store vehicles outside, they require regular maintenance to protect against rust and damage.
Body
  • Wash your vehicle thoroughly to remove dirt, grease, oil, tar or mud from exterior surfaces, rear-wheel housing and the underside of front fenders.
  • Periodically wash your vehicle if you store it in exposed locations.
  • Touch-up exposed or primed metal to prevent rust.
  • Cover chrome and stainless steel parts with a thick coat of auto wax to prevent discoloration. Re-wax as necessary when you wash your vehicle.
  • Lubricate all hood, door and luggage compartment hinges and latches with a light grade oil.
  • Cover interior trim to prevent fading.
  • Keep all rubber parts free from oil and solvents.
Engine
  • Change the engine oil and filter prior to storage because used engine oil contains contaminates which may cause engine damage.
  • Start the engine every 15 days for a minimum of 15 minutes. Run at fast idle with the climate controls set to defrost until the engine reaches normal operating temperature.
  • With your foot on the brake, shift through all the gears while the engine is running.
  • We recommend that you change the engine oil before you use your vehicle again.
Fuel System
  • Fill the fuel tank with high-quality fuel until the first automatic shutoff of the fuel pump nozzle.
Cooling System
  • Protect against freezing temperatures.
  • When removing your vehicle from storage, check coolant fluid level. Confirm that there are no cooling system leaks and that fluid is at the recommended level.
12V Battery
  • Check and recharge as necessary. Keep connections clean.
  • If storing your vehicle for more than 30 days without recharging the battery, we recommend that you disconnect the battery cables to maintain battery charge for quick starting.
Note:   It is necessary to reset memory features if you disconnect the battery cables.
We recommend the following options for your plug-in vehicle:
  • Leave your vehicle plugged in. The 12V battery maintains power if left plugged in. However, this periodically uses electricity from the household outlet.
  • Connect a battery charger to your 12V battery and leave it on a continuous, slow charge.
  • Disconnect the 12V battery. If your 12V battery is located in the luggage compartment, do not fully shut the luggage compartment after disconnecting the 12V battery. Only leave the luggage compartment open if your vehicle is stored in a locked location.
Brakes
  • Make sure the brakes and parking brake release fully.
Tires
  • Maintain recommended air pressure.
Miscellaneous
  • Make sure you cover all linkages, cables, levers and pins under your vehicle with grease to prevent rust.
  • Move vehicles at least 25 ft (7.5 m) every 15 days to lubricate working parts and prevent corrosion.
Removing Vehicle From Storage
When your vehicle is ready to come out of storage, do the following:
  • Wash your vehicle to remove any dirt or grease film build-up on window surfaces.
  • Check windshield wipers for any deterioration.
  • Check under the hood for any foreign material that may have collected during storage such as mice or squirrel nests.
  • Check the exhaust for any foreign material that may have collected during storage.
  • Check tire pressures and set tire inflation per the Tire Label.
  • Check brake pedal operation. Drive your vehicle 15 ft (4.5 m) back and forth to remove rust build-up.
  • Check fluid levels (including coolant and gas) to make sure there are no leaks, and fluids are at recommended levels.
  • If you remove the 12-volt battery, clean the cable ends and inspect.
Contact an authorized dealer if you have any concerns or issues.

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