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Seasonal Storage Tips for Your Golf Car

Jul. 3 2025 Maintaining a Golf Cart By Under the Sun Golf Cars

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Unless you live in a temperate or warm climate year-round, you will need to store your golf car during the colder winter months. Freezing temperatures and seasonal weather can cause significant damage to a stored car if you don't take the necessary precautions. You may not have a perfect storage situation, but every little bit helps prolong your car's usable life.

Protecting the Car Body from the Elements

  • Shelter your car: Store your car in a secure, indoor shelter, ideally in a climate-controlled environment. Freezing temperatures, moisture, and debris blown around in the wind can damage your car. If you can't store it indoors, protect it with a canopy or cover. The less exposed to the elements a stored car is, the better.

  • Use a breathable cover: While waterproof covers protect the car, they can trap moisture underneath. Therefore, a breathable cover is better because it protects the car while letting moisture escape.

Battery Protection in Winter Months

  • Gasoline Engine: While the gasoline engine does most of the work, these cars still use a battery to start the ignition. Leaving a battery to discharge over a long period, especially in cold weather, risks breaking the battery.

  • Lead-Acid and Lithium Battery: Charge the battery to 80-100 percent before putting the car in storage, and disconnect the battery by changing the "run" switch into "tow" or "maintenance" mode to disconnect.

  • Lead-Acid Battery: Only do this if you've already charged the battery. Fill the water reserve to about 1/4th inch above the lead plates with distilled water. Filling it too high or too low can damage the battery. Store these cars in well-ventilated areas to avoid gas buildup.

  • Lithium Battery: Sub-zero temperatures can damage lithium batteries, so storing these cars in a temperature-controlled environment is essential. Prolonged exposure can reduce battery charge capacity and lifespan. Do not charge the battery in sub-zero temperatures, as it may damage or break.

Gasoline Engine Tips

  • Drain the fuel tank or use a fuel stabilizer. Gasoline can break down in as little as three months, which in a best-case scenario will lead to sluggish performance and damage the engine in a worst-case scenario. It's best to take out the battery and store it in a temperature-controlled winter environment.

  • Change the oil: Changing a car's engine oil before storing it is a good idea. If the car is close to needing a change, the oil will further degrade when left in storage, which can cause problems when you turn it on again after several months.

Perform Maintenance Before Storage

  • Inflate the tires via the recommended PSI: This is easy to miss. If the tires are under-inflated and the car sits for several months, the tires can develop flat spots.

  • Clean the vehicle: Any dirt and debris that have accumulated on the car during use can damage the body, seating, and steering wheel components during storage. It's best practice to thoroughly clean your car before storing it for the season.

Like with automobiles, leaving a golf car in prolonged storage without taking the proper precautions can leave you with unpleasant surprises when you use it again. If you're looking for parts or accessories to help store your car, we're here to help at Under the Sun Golf Cars.