Advice needed about storing car in uninsulated garage.
Posted by Hondanny@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 11 comments
Hello all! I've had my rust free Integra for just over a year now and I'm about to experience my second winter with it which means it's time to store it again for the season.
Last year I had the car under a cover made specifically for the car and stored in a non insulated or heated garage as unfortunately it's my only option for storage. When late April came around and I took the cover off the car for the first time in 6 months I noticed the car was wet. Not soaking but definitely wet with some sort of condensation droplets all over the car. This concerned me as I figure if this condensation had occurred the whole 6 months it was in storage from temperature fluctuations there's probably water condensation inside the frame which could lead it to begin oxidizing.
I'm wondering how I can store my car in a more proper way to prevent this kind of water buildup around the car and prevent anything that could lead it to rust. Unfortunately I'm not able to have a dehumidifier in the garage either. The car has been rust proofed every year and I'll be going to get that done again in a few days. Is the cover trapping too much moisture within it? Is it better to just leave it in the garage with no cover? My worry with not having a cover on it is salt from dirty snow shovels and salt bags that will be stored in the garage just a couple feet away from the car (it's a small single car garage that barely fits the Integra).
My car is mint and rust free and I REALLY want to keep it that way. Any and all advice about proper storage of my car would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!
semorebunz@reddit
dont cover it , an unheated garage isnt ideal but its better than leaving it outside
my cars have been in unheated garages over winter for years and nothing too bad happens ,given the oppertunity open up the door when its a dry breezy day to air it out
Hondanny@reddit (OP)
Awesome thank you! Have your cars rusted at all from being stored in an uninsulated garage?
Took me years to find a rust free example of this car and I'm terrified it'll rot ðŸ˜
semorebunz@reddit
nope mine are my pride and joy , park up in autumn washed and dried , get them out again april or may , no bad effects and been doing it 20 years
Deadlight44@reddit
Park on a tarp and make sure that cover is breathable or skip the cover. Depending on garage they make buckets of damprid that I keep in my shed and 1 inside car, migh not do akot but will be something
D-Laz@reddit
Ok this is an extreme example. But they make giant plastic bags for cars. You could vacuum seal it or keep a blower attached to make an air barrier.
D-Laz@reddit
Here is the bubble
_clever_reference_@reddit
You don't need to cover it. Covers aren't great for the paint anyway.
donald7773@reddit
If it's parked indoors and its closed on all sides the car will be fine
v8packard@reddit
Is your cover made to breathe? Many are not, the intent is to keep the car dry from the outside of the cover. Unfortunately moisture builds up on the inside of the cover.
Is it a dusty area? If not, you might make do without the cover.
machONE1969@reddit
Definitely a vapor barrier serves it's purpose.
foxbawdy@reddit
I always park mine on top of a plastic tarp. Come spring when I pull it out the concrete floor is damp- I don’t know if it actually does anything but it makes me feel better.