Any tips for storing a modern car for 4 months?

[gordz]

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

Yeah the cover or not to cover seems 50/50 across various sites/forums. Thanks for the warning on paint work, that's sold it to me that I shouldn't cover it! I'm planning on leaving it away from trees and giving it a good wax/seal before I leave, will this be ok or is there anything more worth doing to protect the paint work? It's white if that makes a difference?

Can't get it in a garage annoyingly, as that does seem like the golden solution! Hopefully the gel packs suggestion will stop the mold as suggested by Carbon VW.

I've a DSG and electronic handbrake... so can't leave in gear unfortunatley and possibly can't even leave handbrake off!

Handy video thanks, but again based on classics and storing inside... what I'd give to have a bigger garage now!!!

[gordz]

• 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.

Interesting, I guess that makes sense with most sites referring to classic cars which have metal tanks! Thanks.

[gordz]

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.

Thanks for all those tips, appreciate it.

Good shout regarding the battery being disconnected and service indicator. Due a service in December while I'm away, so going to get it booked in for the day I return. Hopefully any issues from storage can be rectified then too!

[Talk-torque]

I've a DSG and electronic handbrake... so can't leave in gear unfortunatley and possibly can't even leave handbrake off!

Disabling Autohold, before turning off the engine, (push the button once to turn off the indicator light) will stop the electric parking brake being applied. Leaving the dsg in Park locks the transmission, so is equivalent to leaving it in gear, in that it will prevent the car rolling. I do this most of the time, when leaving the car parked at home, to prevent the dreaded parking brake sticking on thing.

[Adam T7]

I’m ashamed to admit I left a Toyota Aygo that was originally my daughter’s for nearly 8 months untouched under a tree tucked away in a corner of my drive for 8 months before my son passed his test and inherited it.
Amazingly started first time but took me a while to clear the crap off it but it did pass it’s MOT with an!advisory on slightly pitted disks - now fixed.

So, I’d smother the paint in wax, partially fill the tank and over inflate the tyres and add some desiccant material in a tray, think you will be ok. Sounds like it will be secure where you are leaving it.

I serviced the Aygo before he drove it so maybe do the same?

[Craig]

Interesting comments on car cover because a car I own has been covered Outside for 15 months and It is mint underneath. Granted it was a custom outdoor Lined cover at £320 but no “micro blistering”

So from my point of view. Cover it.
Over inflate tyres
Lock it
Small amount of fuel. It’s only four months.
Trickle charger.

[Jim_mk7.5]

Or, don't any of these things and find a suitable family member or friend to 'look' after it for you! 

[Bunnyfugger]

Turn off auto hold and it should stay off. I have a manual gearbox and often leave it with the handbrake off. The joys of working from home now