I know this topic has been covered a couple of times and I have most of the info I need from looking through the archives. However, there is still one issue that I don't know anything about and I could use some help...humidity.

I'm moving #4 from AZ to FL and I'm told that Gainesville can get damn humid. There's obviously no rust at all on my car and I while I know I can't keep it that way, I want to minimize the inevitable rust. Other than keeping every exposed surface painted, is there anything I can do to keep rust down while the car sits for a while? Is there anything specifically that I should do to store a car in a very humid environment? I'm assuming the shelf life of brake fluid and such is much shorter, but I'm sure there are a lot of other things that aren't quite so obvious. Should I worry about water in the oil or tranny fluid? Does a good wax do anything to protect the paint? I'm really stupid when it comes to humidity, and sadly it seems certain that the car will sit for at least the first few months starting in June. Thanks for any help.

 

It isn't acid you know.
Just disconnect the battery and coat the terminals in grease. Your crankcase and transmission are air tight enough to not worry about moisture getting into them.
You will see some undercarriage rust, but not unless you store it for 5+ years out in the elements. I'd be more worried about paint damage from parking it under a tree than humidity. Just get a car cover and put it up on stands or blocks.

Sorry to hear you're parking it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by madhatter &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It isn't acid you know.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well the way people talk about it, it might as well be. The car will be parked in a garage so that's a bonus. I can keep it away from the elements, but not the moisture. I guess I'm just paranoid because everyone tells me how lucky I am to live in a dry climate like AZ, and those same people laugh when i tell them I'm moving to FL this summer

 

Travis:
Having seen exactly what can and does happen to a car that sat for an extended period of time in FL-I can say that the garage will be your friend. DEfinitely give it a good waxing. Also try to get some Rustoleum on the underbody where the cage welds and any other penetration points are. For the short time (relative) that you are storing-do use a car cover similar or equal to the one I have. (Cal Car Cover made of Nextec) With the cover on and the car in garage-keep the windows cracked open-this will help the car breathe better. Underhood-worry not. I have yet to have any issue with the battery, brakes, cooling system or oil. Just change the oil and race brake fluid the first time you start it up and all should be good (you do have that fancy bleeder ).

Safe trip East

 

If you're that worried about it, why not put a dehumidifier in the garage?

 

I'd be more than happy to baby sit it for you.... You know keep the cobwebs off it.

 

if it is parked in a garage, the easiest way to cut down on moisture damage to the undercarriage is to put a rug/mat/carpet/whatever on the floor of the garage. the problem isn't so much the humidity, it's the condensation on cold metal when you get a temperature swing. by having some sort of moisture barrier under the car you cut down dramatically on how much dampness collects on the car. i'm in New England and store my car in a Cover-It style canvas shed. for most of the winter i just had the car on axle stands and everytime the temperature in the shed got above freezing the underside of the car was dripping water off it. i bought some door mats (3x5) like you'd see at the entrance to a grocery store and put them on the concrete slab under the car. their was still a little dampness but the reduction was dramatic enough that things like brake rotors stopped rusting. ymmv

nate

 

It really isn't that big of a deal, especially if it's only going to be stored for a few months. If you have a garage, it really shouldn't be any problem at all. If it's going to be sitting outside under a cover, then you might want to take some steps.

 

**tear**