Buick Centurion Parts & Accessories

Marketed by Buick in 1956 to 1957 and 1971 to 1973 as a replacement for the Wildcat, the Buick Centurion came in as a sporty version of the marque's full-size car. Its moniker came from a professional officer in the Roman Army, and it deviated from the traditional Buick tri-shield emblem; it had a side profile of the Centurion, instead. If you still have your Centurion until now, it would be safe to assume that it has given or is still giving you a good run, and you love it enough that you don't want it to retire anytime soon. If that's your goal, then here are some tips on how you can properly store your Centurion for the winter:

• Prior to storage, do the necessary car-care regimens first.

Before you store your Centurion, it's wise if you perform some important car care procedures first such as changing oil and filter and putting the engine on to allow the clean oil to circulate throughout the engine's moving parts, thus protecting them from corrosion all through the winter season. It also pays to apply fresh grease onto your ride's grease fittings. To prevent corrosion on the door hinges and hood latch, you can spray white lithium grease. The weatherstripping should also be sprayed with silicone spray or Teflon lube so they won't bond with the doors while the car is in storage.

• Don't empty the gas tank and use a fuel stabilizer.

While draining all the fluids in your Centurion before storing it can help prevent varnish and gum buildup, it isn't that advantageous in your fuel system. Draining gas from your tank is a surefire way to ruin your fuel pump. What you should do instead is to fill your gas tank and add some fuel stabilizer, pouring in just the recommended amount. Afterwards, take your Buick for a spin for around 15 minutes; this will allow the stabilizer to mix into the fuel and get circulated all through the fuel system.

• Put your Buick on jack stands and lower the tire pressure.

After sitting for a long period, your ride can develop flat-spot. If it's just short-term storage (around three months), the flat-spot can be eliminated after driving for a few miles; however, that's not always the case. There are some radial tires that can get permanent flat-spot if you store the vehicle for more than six months. So if you are storing your Buick Centurion for half a year or so, then you'd better put it on jack stands and lower the pressure of the tires.

• Invest in a high-quality, breathable car cover.

If you have an indoor garage, then an indoor car cover with non-abrasive material will do; but if your Buick will be sitting outdoors, it pays big time to invest in a water-resistant, custom-fitted, breathable car cover. Get a cover that offers coverage even for the tires so the rubber will be protected against the sun's damaging UV rays.

• Keep rodents away by sealing some openings in your ride.

Whether outdoors or indoor, you have to do whatever it takes to keep rodents and critters at bay. In your ride, their haven can be your air filter box, heater system, and exhaust system. You can protect the heater by starting the engine and setting it to the recycle position to close the fresh air inlet. You can plug the exhaust system by putting a steel wool pad into sandwich bag and inserting it into the tailpipe, blocking any possible passageway for rodents.