The Delorean's stainless steel exterior can easily confuse even moderately-informed owners about the materials used to construct the vehicle. While the panels never rust and the car's shell is made from fiberglass, the frame is normal steel coated with epoxy. There are easy ways to store the car for months with no issues. Rock salt can eat at the metal and the car does not handle well in snow.
Start Shopping for Parts
The most important step in storing a Delorean is to take a trip to the local auto-parts store for supplies. Some things on a shopping list can be classified as "nice to have" while others are "must have". The most important item needed to ensure safe storage is a fuel stabilizer.
Gasoline has a shelf-life of approximately 60 days. After that time it can gum up and begin to varnish. If a car has gas in the tank that has turned, it can ruin the entire fuel system of the vehicle when started in the spring. A fuel stabilizer will extend the life of the fuel to about 1–2 years, and keep it fresh.
Some other items to purchase include a car battery charger, car cover, and mothballs to keep rodents out. While none of these are essential for storage, they can assist with keeping the owner's piece of mind while the car sits for a few months.
Prepping the Delorean for Storage
Because the Delorean will sit for a few months, the tires will naturally lose a few pounds of air. Before pulling the car into it's place to sleep, the tires should be over-inflated by 1-3 extra pounds. Additionally, the fuel stabilizer normally needs 10-15 minutes of the engine running to do its job. This allows the additive time to mix with the gas and enter the fuel system.
Once the car is in its final spot, now is the perfect time to clean it out. All those receipts, napkins, and odds and ends that make their way into the car throughout the year should be thrown out. With the car empty, it's also a good time to vacuum. Some also take this opportunity to clean the exterior or the windows. Finally, some owners opt to leave the doors open to relieve stress on the torsion bars.
Keeping the Battery Power
A car's battery loses a charge while idle. To ensure a Delorean's battery stays charged, hook it up to a battery charger. There are many chargers on the market and the best offer multiple modes. A charger with a monitor is recommended to prevent over-charging. If trickle charged, the battery will be ready once spring arrives. Regardless of charging, it should be removed from the car so potential leaks do not destroy the interior.
By taking simple steps to ready a Delorean for storage, the car can easily make it through three to five months of storage from the winter elements and poor winter drivers. The supplies are inexpensive and just an hour on a Saturday morning will go a long way to ensure a spring with no car issues.
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