Leaving Naples for the Season? How to Prepare Your Acura for Long Term Car Storage

White Acura RDX parked inside a home garage with tools and storage shelves

Your flight is booked, the bags are by the door, and your Acura is about to sit until you're back. It may not move for months.

If you leave Naples for the season, that's long term car storage, and Acura counts anything past one month parked the same way. The fuel, oil, battery and tires all need something done before you go, and a few things need checking when you return.

For long term car storage, fill the tank, change the oil and filter, clean and dry the car inside and out, disconnect the 12-volt battery cable, and cover the car with a breathable cover. Then raise it on jack stands or blocks so the tires aren't carrying its weight.

What Should You Do Before Long Term Car Storage?

Start with the fuel, the oil and a thorough cleaning.

Fill the fuel tank with the gasoline your owner's manual specifies.
Replace the engine oil and filter with an oil and filter change.
Wash and dry the outside completely. Clean the inside, and make sure the carpet and floor mats are fully dry.
Have any paint chips repaired.
Replace the engine coolant if it needs it.
Cover gaps like the exhaust pipe and air intake so critters can't get in.
Prop the front and rear wiper arms on a folded towel so the blades don't touch the windshield.
Apply silicone spray lubricant to the door and tailgate seals, and wax the painted surfaces that touch them. Ask us which products to use.

How Should You Park and Cover an Acura in Storage?

Leave the parking brake off, put the transmission in Park (Reverse on a manual), and block the rear wheels so the car can't shift or roll.

Before you shut the engine off for the last time, run it for 15 minutes at normal operating temperature.

Then cover the car with a breathable cover made from a porous material such as cotton. Plastic sheeting traps moisture and can damage the paint.

Should You Disconnect the Battery During Long Term Car Storage?

Yes. Disconnect the 12-volt battery cable before you leave, and have the battery charged before you reconnect it when you're back.

Disconnecting the battery has side effects. The clock resets, and the audio system is disabled until it's reactivated, which on some models means entering the audio security code. Find that code before you disconnect anything. On some models it's on a label in the owner's manual kit.

Disconnecting and charging a battery takes the right tools and know-how, so if you're not sure you're set up for it, ask us before you leave. When you're back, a battery test shows whether it still holds a charge, and our Acura battery replacement guide covers what testing and replacement involve.

Naples Acura Service Center can get your Acura ready before you leave

Oil and filter service, battery testing and tire maintenance are all on our service menu, so you can book what your Acura needs before you leave.

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How Do You Keep Tires From Flat-Spotting While an Acura Is in Storage?

Raise the car on a level surface and set it on jack stands or blocks. Once a car will sit longer than a month, that takes the weight off the tires and prevents flat spots.

Even tires in good condition can lose 1 to 2 psi a month. Check them before the car comes off the stands or blocks, and inflate them to the pressure on the driver's door jamb label. Our Acura tire guide covers how to check pressure.

Raising a car takes a floor jack, jack stands or blocks, and level ground. If you're not equipped for that, call us before you go.

Should Someone Start Your Acura While It's in Storage?

If someone can, yes. Running the engine each month until it reaches full operating temperature keeps it lubricated. Full operating temperature is reached when the cooling fans have cycled on and off twice.

Running the engine means the battery cable has to be connected for that visit. If no one is available, you can leave this step out.

What Should You Check When You Take Your Acura Out of Long Term Car Storage?

Charge the battery and reconnect it, check the fluids and tires, and watch the warning lights when you start the engine.

What you find depends on your Acura and how long it sat, so treat these as starting points.

What you notice	What it can suggest	Best next step
The battery was disconnected all season.	It needs a charge before it goes back in the car.	Charge the 12-volt battery, then reconnect the cable.
A puddle under the car, or a low fluid level.	A leak, or a level that needs topping off after the car sat.	Check the fluid levels, add or replace as needed, and look underneath for leaks.
The tires look low.	They lost air while the car sat.	Inflate them to the door jamb pressure before taking the car off the stands or blocks.
A warning light stays on after you start the engine.	Something needs a technician's attention.	Have us inspect it.
The brake pedal feels lower or softer than normal.	The brakes need a check before the car is driven.	Check pedal height and firmness before you shift into gear, and call us if it doesn't feel normal.

What Happens If You Bring Your Acura to Naples Acura Before or After Car Storage?

Before you leave, we can change the oil and filter, test the battery and handle tire maintenance. The oil and filter service comes with a multi-point inspection.

When you're back, we can give the car a general inspection and look at any warning light that stays on.

Whether you're in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero or Marco Island, you can schedule service at Naples Acura before you leave or after you return.

Long Term Car Storage Questions from Naples Drivers

What if you'll be gone more than six months?

Storage past six months is a conversation to have with a dealer before you go. Contact Naples Acura Service Center with your dates and where the car will be kept, and we'll talk through what it needs.

Can you leave the windows open a little?

In a temperate, ventilated garage, the windows can be left slightly open. For any other spot, check with us before you leave.

Do hybrids and EVs need the same storage steps?

These steps are for gas-powered Acuras, and the hybrid guidance Acura gives refers to an older hybrid system. If you drive a hybrid or an EV, ask us what yours needs before you leave.

How long can an Acura sit before it needs storage prep?

Acura's storage steps apply once a car will sit more than 1 month. For a shorter absence, tell us how long you'll be gone and we can help you decide what's worth doing.

Leaving your Acura for the season? Ask Naples Acura Service Center

Schedule service before you go or after you're back, and tell us how long the car sat.