Any tips for storing a modern car for 4 months?

[gordz]

I'm having to take my mk7.5 gti off the road for around 4months due to working abroad 

Having searched this and other forums, I've seen a few tips for storing older/classic cars... but nothing for newer cars. Does anyone have any tips/tricks for storage and also for bringing it back out of storage too?

So far I'm going to:

• Fill tank up to full (apparently stops condensation and therefore rust in tank)
• Cover car (this one I'm 50/50 on, some say you should and some say you shouldnt)
• Deep clean car inside and out just before storage
• Service car as soon as start driving it again

Anything else worth doing?

[SRGTD]

I’d over-inflate the tyres to reduce the risk of flat spots on the tyres.

[Carbon VW]

I was in the merchant navy for years 4month trips.
Everything you say there is fine. I garaged it in heated garage. Cracked all 4 windows. Placed silica gel packs throughout the interior. Put the battery maintainer on. Placed handmade breathable cover on and left it at that. Also I left the car unlocked with key away from the car. Did that with current car for 5 years and never an issue.

[Bunnyfugger]

Leave the handbrake off if you can

[Snoopy]

Ive a collection of cars which most ive had decades and most get stored for extended periods of a minimum of 4 months over winter.
From experience Don't cover it. It can leed to micro blistering of the paint. Been there paid the price for full respray!

If in a garage.
Put extra pressure in tyres to reduce chance of flat spots.
Use a Battery conditioner to keep all electronics fully working on modern cars.
Open one of the windows slightly to allow fresh air in or it will go moldy inside.
Park in gear and leave handbrake off.
Thats all thats really needed. Most go way ott.

As an example neither of my GTIs have moved since 17th March.

Harry Metcalf of harrys garage on youtube had a video on this not long ago.
https://youtu.be/cImhs_uwrAU

[dubber36]

• Fill tank up to full (apparently stops condensation and therefore rust in tank)

You have a plastic tank.

Plus, unleaded fuel does go off, so you will be better off leaving a small amount in it, then when you refill it, the stale fuel will be well diluted.

[Gnasher]

I did  exactly what you're doing, for exactly the same amount of time, my car was left in an unheated (but modern) garage and I did the following...

1. About half a tank of fuel - that way, if the fuel goes bad, you can top it up and it'll be okay.
2. Inflated the tyres to around 45psi - could have probably gone higher but that seemed enough.
3. Left the handbrake off and the car in gear (mine's a manual, you could leave it in park on a DSG or you could chock the wheels).
4. Left it uncovered.
5. Left it unlocked (as I couldn't lock all the doors once I'd disconnected the battery - Garage was locked/alarmed though).
6. Disconnected the battery (lots of lights/faults came up when I restarted it but they went away within 5 minutes).

Be aware that if you leave the battery disconnected for 4 months, it will pause the service indicator, so make sure your service still gets done on time.

[gordz]

I’d over-inflate the tyres to reduce the risk of flat spots on the tyres.

Hadn't really thought about the tyres, good shout! Thanks!

[gordz]

I was in the merchant navy for years 4month trips.
Everything you say there is fine. I garaged it in heated garage. Cracked all 4 windows. Placed silica gel packs throughout the interior. Put the battery maintainer on. Placed handmade breathable cover on and left it at that. Also I left the car unlocked with key away from the car. Did that with current car for 5 years and never an issue.

Unfortunatley I can't fit it in my tiny new build garage! Gel packs are a good idea though, will look to get some of them, thanks!

I could leave my car on a military base unlocked, but what's the benefit of this? Could the locks seize or was this just because you had the windows down?

[gordz]

Leave the handbrake off if you can

So I saw this on a few forums, but is this even possible with an electronic handbrake? I can't remeber if the car automatically puts it on when I switch the engine off or not? Will have a play around and see what happens!