Car Storage

[Fab_vr6]

Hello all,

my brother left the country for 8 months to Japan, and I would like to know what is the proper way to store his car. Should I fill the gas tank up and disconnect the battery? what other things should I be aware of in order to guarantee his car will be running fine after he came back?

thanks
Gary

[Cliffy]

Is it a cool/fast car? if so, it should be taken out for a brief autcross every Sunday Eight months isn't really a long time especially if the car is relatively new. Make sure the gas tank is full so no condensation builds up. Will it be in a garage? If not, you should definitely put a cover over it to protect the paint from things that drop out of the sky. It's a good thing to start the car up every month or so and circulate the oil. Don't forget to disconnnect the ignition and just crank it fore a few seconds before you actually start it. You need to get some oil into the parts. I dont' think it's a good idea to disconnect the battery especially if there are computer/alarm/radio settings involved.

-c.

[Fab_vr6]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Cliffy:
Is it a cool/fast car?

Don't forget to disconnnect the ignition and just crank it fore a few seconds before you actually start it. You need to get some oil into the parts.

-c.<hr></blockquote>

Hey Cliff, unfortunately it's not. But still, it's a Volkswagen. oh... maybe I should take it out to race with Leslie, is the Beetle GL in HS?

Now, how do I disconnect the ignition? sorry for my ignorance, I'm not so good with mechanics. ( I know I should learn more) And what parts are you refering to that needs oiling?

Gary

[SkinnyG]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Cliffy:
Don't forget to disconnnect the ignition and just crank it fore a few seconds before you actually start it.<hr></blockquote>

I'm not a big fan of cranking an engine over to build oil pressure before starting it. The majority of the wear is going to happen right at cranking, and the oil pump isn't going to be working very fast - these pumps work much better at speed.

When I was rebuilding motors, the idea is to spin the oil pump up with a hand drill first, then get the engine started right away. This isn't always feasible, but 8 months is not a long time. Just clean it, park it, and have a nice day.

I had a 78 Civic that sat on a car lot for aver a year and a half, untouched. The battery even still held the charge, and the engine fired right up. The car had no problems (related to storage).

G

[Radio Flyer]

Greg:

I recommend you add some fuel stabilizer to the fuel. Its not necessary to fill the tank. One such product is called Stabil and can be found (sometimes) at Crummy Tire.

If its stored on bare concrete, put some plywood or peg board material under each tire. If you don't, moisture and chemicals can leach out of the concrete and affect the surface of the tire that it contacts.

Home Depot sells a paper drop sheet that can be made into an OK car cover if its stored in a dry location.

I'd change the oil and filter. I'd also pull the spark plugs to squirt in a little oil. Disconnect the battery (if there is an alarm or immobilizer the battery is likely going to be dead in 8 months).

If the car is stored in a unheated area and is subject to humidity then I suggest you buy some desiccant to reduce the relative humidity in the car and stop mold/fungus from growing.

[Jeff Loh]

Some sort of car cover is recommended as well as an area free of loose dirt, leaves or food scraps. I parked (never mind stored) a car near a fence for several weeks, and little critters took up nesting in the engine compartment - chewed on the ignition wires, pooped in the battery tray.. made a mess of things.

[Kenny]

"I'm not a big fan of cranking an engine over to build oil pressure before starting it."

Unless of course it's turbocharged. Especially with a fresh install or long term hibernation, not priming the turbo is a nice way of saying goodbye to your thrust bearings. Makes me shudder just thinking about running that thing dry. It doesn't take much to make the oil light turn off, which is all you need. Pull the coil wire to "disconnect the ignition". Obviously this is less than smart with the car running- particularly bare handed.

[Audi200tq]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Kenny:
Pull the coil wire to "disconnect the ignition". Obviously this is less than smart with the car running- particularly bare handed.<hr></blockquote>

Hey I've done that. Ok I was young and stoopid, but at least I can honestly say I'll never do it again.

[ July 31, 2002: Message edited by: Audi200tq ]</p>

[Vancouver Special]

I will add my two bits:

1) Change engine oil and filter before storage. Fresh oil has minimal acid and would prevent corrosion on the crank bearings.

2) Add fuel stabilizer as Rod suggested.

3) Put car on jack stands to prevent tires flat-spotting. The damage won't be permanent but it takes a few days of driving to smooth out the ride.

4) Make a real effort to park the car indoor rather than outdoor. Heated garage is even better. Keep windows partly open for ventilation.

5) With almost all newer model cars, the electrical system is always drawing a bit of current from the battery (radio, clock, alarm system). Unless you buy a small charger like a "Battery Tender" and hook it up to the battery, it will die for sure if it is not disconnected.

6) I don't think "dry" start is really a problem since it is never 100% "dry" inside an engine. For people who practice "build oil pressure with no ignition", I suggest the spark plugs be removed (no compression) to minimize the load on the bearings as well as load on the starter. The engine would crank a lot faster and oil pressure would build faster also. However, with the spark plugs removed, some of the newer high energy ignition systems could get damaged if the iginition system is not disconnected properly on the low voltage side or grounded on the high voltage side.

Joe

[ July 31, 2002: Message edited by: Phantom ]</p>