Caring For Your Classic Car
Without considerable attention from its owner a classic car will soon deteriorate and will lose its looks and its value. The engine must be given as much attention as the interior and the bodywork. If you settle into a routine and regularly polish the paintwork and interior trim, add to that regular engine checks and make small adjustments to tyre pressure, oil pressure and the timing as required, you can not only keep your classic car in top driving condition but also looking like new and slowing the effects of car depreciation down, perhaps even adding value to your motor over time.
If the owner uses the classic car almost every day, it will be open to the elements and will therefore need extra protection. Just as the summer sun’s ultra-violet rays attack your car’s paintwork, so the winter’s rain and salt corrode the metal work.
Although everyone knows how expensive motoring is, you can keep your classic car in mint condition without undue cost by preventive measures. There are a variety of things you should do before you store your car for any amount of time. Without proper pre-storage preparation a stored classic car will deteriorate.
Whether you own a classic car, classic pickup van or even a used minibus from decades past you must give the vehicle a good detailing before you put it in storage. It’s essential that the car is completely clean. All salt and road grime must be washed from the undercarriage and all the body parts.Before putting your completely wrapped up vehicle into winter storage it is essential that it is totally dry from end to end. Any cover that you use should be a high quality soft fibred one, not a cheap one with coarse fibres. If you can, you should store your classic car in a shady and dust free environment.
For short periods of storage your classic car will benefit by the complete draining of the cooling system and refilling with pure antifreeze. The entire system should be drained and the radiator cap removed if you intend storing your car for a long time; this allows air to circulate around the cooling system. In addition to this you should change the brake fluid, oil, and oil filter before storing the vehicle.
During the washing process make sure you look for any scratches or chips in the paint finish. You can prevent metal corrosion by having any spots, chips or scratches touched up with a paint pen prior to putting your car into storage. By using primer first you will ensure that the new paint sticks and that the ultimate level is correct. You will have to order the paint from the manufacturer to match your vehicle’s paint colour. If you are looking for a more professional touch, have a look at purchasing SMART for your car, it is a form of additional car insurance which is an absolute must for long term car owners. SMART stands for Small Accident Repair Technology.
Tyres.
You will also want to do something with the tyres because the rubber will actually perish if they are left inflated with the vehicle’s full weight on them. You can put the car on axle stands and deflate the tyres or remove the wheels completely. This will put less strain on the suspension system and also deter theft at the same time.
Car Batteries.
Never put a car into storage with the battery connected. After removing the battery and cleaning its terminals you must choose how best to maintain it. For the many older unsealed batteries that leak, cleaning the terminals is best carried out with a bicarbonate of soda and water solution. If you intend storing your car only for a short time, as often happens in severe climates, putting your battery on trickle charge is a good idea. A flat battery is an unwelcome experience for anyone who stores a classic car for long periods or who rarely uses their car. Having to replace a dead battery is an exasperating and expensive experience.
Keeping the Battery Charged Up.
The short term solution is to keep the battery topped up with a trickle charger. A trickle charger charges a car battery at approximately the same rate as it is discharging, so if the car you’re storing is used once a month for example this is a great option. No matter that the battery is fully charged, the trickle charger, unfortunately, will continue to try to charge it. It therefore needs to be connected and disconnected periodically or it will eventually boil your battery and permanently damage it. A float charger is worth considering for a long term solution. No harm will be done to the battery if the float charger is left connected indefinitely. To avoid your modern classic’s battery from being exhausted by months of powering the immobiliser or alarm system, use a float charger. There are so many car chargers on the market in the USA and the UK that buying the right one shouldn’t be a problem. Always place the charging battery in an open space where air is free to circulate. Make sure that the air is free to flow around the battery; otherwise a fire is possible!
Final Prep.
You will want to replace all filters with new ones and remove the spark plugs. If you take out the spark plugs, you will reduce the chances of corrosion caused by moisture that would otherwise be trapped in the cylinder head. There’s a certain proportion of water in petrol and it’s this that causes the corrosion. Make sure that you thoroughly grease all areas paying special attention to places like hinges and locks. The engine should be turned over – a spanner can be used for this – at least once a month. This can be done from the flywheel bolt. This keeps the pistons, valves and tappets moving freely preventing them from seizing in the engine when left standing for long periods of time.
When you have a classic car which you use regularly, you need to be diligent about your vehicle’s maintenance. By keeping the interior and exterior trim clean and polished, you will prevent the polished areas from cracking. All the components of the exterior trim will be damaged by the sun’s UV radiation if the trim is not kept clean and polished.
When cleaning your classic car you should use a microfibre or cotton cloth that is designed for use on classic cars or expensive paintwork of other luxury cars. Cotton cloth, because it’s made from real cotton, is softer than cheap cloth (normally made from nylon and polyester) which can leave scratches. Traditionally made cloths are between 100 and 1000 times coarser than microfibre cloth. Microfibre cloth works so well because unlike when using cheaper traditional cloths, with a microfibre cloth you really don’t need to use abrasive
detergents. The fibres are so closely woven that they are able to pick up far more dust particles than traditional cloth would be able to. This reduces the need for the chemicals needed to loosen and remove the same amount of dust as a traditional cleaning cloth would.
You need only a little water with microfibre cloth to loosen the most stubborn dirt particles from the surface. Apply a fine mist of water and a microfibre wipe after a quick gentle wash with a cotton cloth and good quality car wash detergent and you will produce an excellent result. Avoid using an abrasive detergent like dish-washing liquid and use the correct car wash instead. Strange as it sounds, many car owners do just that and the result is not much better than washing your vehicle with petrol. The paint will immediately start to fade so that eventually the original shine will have disappeared. It is advisable to have any small dents, cracks or chips repaired as soon as you notice them. This will ensure that rust doesn’t develop. Use one of the many high polymer premier car shampoos available and avoid the cheaper products. You almost always get what you pay for in the automotive industry.
Polish your vehicle in the shade rather than direct sunlight. Wax will be baked onto your paintwork by sunlight and will not therefore help in the cleaning process. In order to obtain that smooth professional finish you should not polish in direct sunlight. Use a high quality polish to wax your car. Any paint that’s oxidized will have to be first removed with a rubbing compound made for this purpose or with a high quality polish.
Rubbing compounds have tiny particles in the polish which gently scrub off the oxidized layers of paint, leaving behind a fresh, bright layer, ready for polish. Don’t decide on which rubbing compound to buy before you’ve listened to the advice of an expert. What you learn from him will help you to avoid damaging your paintwork by using the wrong compound.
A dust cover should be used to protect your vehicle at night. The paintwork will be scratched if the cover isn’t made from soft material. Using as soft a cloth as possible will prevent the scratching which otherwise can be caused by tiny dust particles. If you go out for a drive, take a few minutes to remove any bird, bat or seagull droppings immediately. On your return you should also make sure that anything that’s stuck to your car is removed. Avoid parking under trees where your paintwork is vulnerable to tree sap; parking under a roof is better. You can use a quality remover product for this purpose that does not have a high acidic content.
Since rust will develop if any moisture remains you must make sure that the car is thoroughly dried after it’s been washed after a journey. Waste no time in getting rid of any petrol spills, mud, and dust. If you drive in Europe where roads are regularly salted to prevent ice, the underneath of your car is likely to rust. Make sure to wash the underside of your car if you have driven in these conditions. If you get in your car with wet shoes, dry the carpets when you get home; that moisture can cause metal and carpet rot. At the first whiff of dampness you must take action. You must ensure that every nook and cranny – boot, sills, under the bonnet, around rubber seals, in corners – is completely dry after the wash.
It can be very rewarding to own a classic car. You have to baby your classic car to keep it in mint condition. You are so proud of this classic car that there will be no limit upon the time you’ll spend caring for it.
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