The Helpful A-B-C’s & 1-2-3’s of Car Parking

by PAS CEO | Nov 6, 2023 | Blog

10 easy steps to make it easier,

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Parking costs sky rocket at Portland International Airport

” Theft is on the rise and crime out of control “

Police recover stolen cars at Poland Airport Parking

Independent private secure car parking facilities are the new way to go,

1. To store a car, typically the space needed for about $80 per month. Suitable for small cars, but larger vehicles or RVs may require more space. If you plan on storing your car for an extended period, it’s important to follow car storage tips to ensure it remains in good condition for when you’re ready to hit the road again.

2. Before storage cleaning and maintenance prior to storing your car, wiping down both the interior and exterior is essential. This includes running it through a car wash or using soap and water to remove any dirt or grime. Additionally, wiping down the inside of the car is crucial to prevent the attraction of pests due to leftover food debris. By taking the time to give your car a proper cleaning, you can protect its paint job and ensure its overall condition during storage.

3. When storing a car or vehicle over time, Changing the engine oil is highly recommended. the engine oil and air filter. This helps prevent engine issues caused by old oil and clogged air filters. You can easily find an oil change package at your local auto parts store, where they can also assist you with the right oil for your specific car’s make and model. Additionally, getting a fresh air filter ensures proper engine performance and makes it easier to start your vehicle when you need it again after car storage. Remember to dispose of the old oil properly by taking your car to a shop for an oil change.

4. When deciding to store a car long term, it is important to check and top off the coolant. This will ensure that your vehicle is properly maintained, for added cold weather assurance to prevent freezing and ready to use when you retrieve it from storage. You have the option to either take your car to a shop for this maintenance, or follow the simple steps to replace the fluids and check the anti-freeze on car parts yourself. Auto Parts is a helpful resource for this task.

5. When considering car storage for an extended period, it is important to take certain precautions to ensure its well-being. Firstly, always fill up your gas tank and consider adding a fuel stabilizer. This simple step can save you from potential issues down the line. Avoid leaving your car with an empty fuel tank, especially during the winter months. An empty tank can lead to condensation, which in turn can cause rust. To prevent this, make sure your gas tank is full before storing your car. To further protect your car’s fuel, add a fuel stabilizer. This will help extend the life of the gasoline in your tank for up to a year. Investing in a good fuel stabilizer, such as STA-BIL, is worth it for long-term car storage. It costs only $5 for an 8 Fl. oz. bottle and provides excellent value.

6. Preventing flat spots on your tires when storing vehichle long term, there are a few methods you can try. Firstly, consider over inflating your tires to help them maintain their shape. Another option is to use tire blocks or chocks to keep your vehicle in place and reduce the pressure on the tires. If you want to take extra precautions, you can remove the tires and store your vehicle on jack stands. This will completely remove the weight from the tires and prevent any damage. However, it may not be the most convenient option. Lastly, if you’re able to access your vehicle regularly, try moving it once a month to rotate the tires. This will help distribute the weight and prevent flat spots from forming. By taking these steps, you can protect your tires and ensure they’re in good condition when you’re ready to hit the road again.

7.Long term car storage can be hard on a vehicles’ battery, it’s important to disconnect it, hooking up a trickle charger. You can keep the battery charged and ready for use when you need it.. Alternatively, you can remove the battery and store it at home while keeping it charged. If you don’t have this option, it’s best to bring another vehicle and a pair of jumper cables with you when you take your car out of storage. Here are the simple steps to safely remove your car’s battery. By following these steps, you can ensure that your car battery remains in good condition and ready for use when you need it. Whether you choose to use a trickle charger or store the battery at home, it’s important to take the necessary precautions to keep it charged and functional.

8. Consider using a car cover to protect your vehicle. Whether you are storing it indoors or outdoors, a car cover can shield your car from dust, debris, rain, UV light, and rodents. There are various car covers available at different price points, so you can choose one that suits your needs and budget. For indoor storage, many affordable options on online, such as E-bay or Amazon .

9. When selecting a car parking facility, it is important to consider the duration of storage and the level of protection required. While outdoor parking is generally sufficient with proper car care, it is advisable to periodically check on the vehicle during long-term storage. Outdoor car parking options, whether covered or uncovered, are available at varying monthly costs. For enhanced security, secure car parking may be more suitable for your needs , both short term & long term are available at a grow as t savings.

10. PDX Auto offers both long-term and short-term secure car parking at an amazing rate

5 Tips for Storing An Automobile Through the Winter Months Courtesy of PDX Auto Storage

by PAS CEO | Oct 22, 2023 | Blog

When it comes to PDX Auto Storage, we don’t only store vehicles- we also act as a resource for the community. This is why we are giving you five useful tips on storing your vehicle this winter. There are some things you’re going to want to do in order to maintain your car’s condition as the holiday season unfolds. Here are some things to take note of:

1. TIRE INFLATION

Before you put your car away for the winter, it is best to check and top off your tire air pressure. This is because tires tend to deflate over time, and weather temperature fluctuations can increase this issue. When the temperature changes, so does the air pressure in your car tires, causing them to deflate over long periods of time.

Without tending to this, one can expect auto repair costs. As tires deflate, they can end up causing a lot of damage to the tires by damaging the rubber from sitting on the wheel, tires crack, loose air pressure and become unsafe to drive on.

This leads to costly repairs when it comes time to use your car again as tires need replacing and don’t come cheap. Prevent this problem by using these simple little storage hacks to prevent unnecessary and unwanted repair costs and frustration.

To learn more about how weather can affect your tires, check out this post. You can also talk to us experts at PDX Auto Storage

2. ANTIFREEZE

Antifreeze is used to prevent the engine from freezing and cracking your engine block radiator and hoses. This can cost as much as thousands of dollars in unexpected costly repairs. When putting antifreeze in your car, it is usually mixed 50% with water. However in the winter, you might want to go with 60% antifreeze and 40% water. Note: We do not provide antifreeze at our facility. To ask more about using antifreeze, contact us at PDX Auto Storage at (503)257-1140.

3. MOISTURE CONDENSATION COLLECTION BAG:

A Damprid moisture condensation collection bag helps to reduce and even prevents moisture and condensation buildup inside your car / truck. This causes musty odors mold and mildew in bedding your car’s interior and upholstery, due to prolonged winter storage.

4. REGULAR MAINTENANCE STARTS:

Maintenance starts also help on overall performance by keeping your car’s battery active occasionally, this simple little trick can also assist in saving much unexpected and unnecessary added repair costs. Auto batteries like everything else tend to expire over time, but this little trick can also help to reduce the headache of unwanted auto repair costs.

By starting your engine every couple months you help to keep the battery alive, so they do not go dormant and lose their starting cranking power over the winter cold months, causing the need to replace your battery in spring.

5. FITTED CAR COVER

A properly- fitted car cover that fits your car properly can also help with winter Auto Storage protection. By using a fitted car cover to your specific model, this helps with additional weather protection, helps against sun fading due to long exposure to the sun over extended periods of time, as well as nasty winter weather elements. This helps to prevent seats and dashes from weathering and drying out cracking and fading due to the UV Rays, causing repairs and additional costs.

In conclusion, by supplying a quality fitted car cover, having your antifreeze and tires checked, and parking using the PDX Auto Storage service plus package, you will have an additional piece of mind that your car has additional protection against the winter weather elements.