Why You Should Always Change Your Oil Before Winter Storage

If you have a car or a seasonal vehicle or piece of equipment you intend to store away for the winter without taking out of the garage, it’s important that you perform some simple maintenance beforehand. One of the most important maintenance steps is completing an oil change before you put the vehicle in winter storage in Athens County, OH.

During the winter months, you’re going to be dealing with some chilly weather, especially here in the Midwest. The temperature will get well below the freezing mark, which can be rough on some of the fluids inside your vehicle, including the oil.

If you know you’re going to be storing your vehicle, that means those fluids will just be sitting there, and the warmth of regular engine operation won’t be able to help you out. Changing your oil before you completely winterize your vehicle and store it for the season will keep the vehicle in good condition and prevent any potential damage from occurring in your engine.

Here’s what you should know.

Changing your oil before winter

The biggest reason to change your oil before winter is that it will allow you to remove some moisture and contaminants that could become problematic if they’re left in your oil over the winter months.

Water and acids are byproducts of the combustion process in your engine. This means that after you’ve been using your oil in the engine for an extended period of time, you’re more likely to have a buildup of water and acids in the system. This isn’t necessarily a problem if you’re going to be regularly driving the vehicle—you can simply continue to operate as normal and stay on your regular oil change schedule. But if you’re going to be letting the oil sit in the vehicle for an extended period of time while the weather gets cold, it’s a good idea to change the oil so those substances don’t become problematic.

There are some additives you can put into the oil to combat these substances, but over time those additives will get used up, so they’ll only last you for so long. By changing the oil before you put the vehicle away, this gives you the best possible protection against acid etching, freezing moisture and any other issues that could potentially arise in your engine and oil over the winter months.

Keep in mind that oil will naturally thicken during the wintertime. If you have any sludge built up in the engine from old oil, this means it will get thicker and potentially cause engine problems.

Remember, it’s always easier to change the oil than it is to change an engine. Changing your oil before the winter months will protect your engine and will give you an easier startup in the spring, when you can simply turn your vehicle on and get it moving.

Interested in learning more about how to properly store a car for winter in Athens County, OH? Contact Dana’s Tire Center to schedule your oil change before winter storage.

Categorised in: Oil Change

This post was written by Writer