Hey Guys,

It is bad for the car to sit for a year? I moved away from home and the car is stored in my dad's garage. I only come home once a year and snow has prevented me from driving it while I visited.

Would it be ok to let it sit, or would starting the car periodically to get everything flowing and up to op. temp be the best thing to do? It about an average of 15-25 degrees here.

No sea foam has been added. Its been sitting since the beginning of september.

Thanks.

 

It's actually more harmful to periodically start it up than it is to just leave it.
If all your fluids have been changed and topped up prior to storage and you have stabilizer in the fuel you should be fine leaving it sit for a while.

 

Would it be a bad thing to add the stabilizer a few months?

 

Fuel stabilizer wouldn't hurt anything...and it could keep the gas from going 'stale'. SeaFoam is not a 'storage protection' item. It is a fuel additive that helps clean carb/injectors/combustion chamber during engine operation.

I DO think that it is beneficial to start and completely warm up the car...as well as operate it...from time to time. It allows the oil to flow, mechanical items to function, tires to flex, etc. etc. But, just starting it for a minute or two and not letting the exhaust get hot to clear condensation would not be beneficial. A car that is sitting in a protected environment at those temps does not need any special treatment to re-use, unless the oil was "old" when you parked it.

 

Good for you. Keep it that way.

 

Agree w/ 7T1vette.
You are good either way. Add fuel stab and let it sit. OR, start it up, bring it to temp and drive it every now and then. Just don't start for a few minutes without brining up to temp and driving it.

Mine sat for three years when I was in Germany. I got back, changed fluids, primed the engine, and it fired right up.

 

If you want to be super cautious after it has sat for a long time, you could remove the plugs and spray some WD-40 in each cylinder, wait a couple hours, then start. I would do an oil change in the spring too if it were me, and the gas stabilizer ASAP.

 

Bad idea. The WD40 will wash the residual engine oil from the cylinder walls.

 

How do you prime an engine?

3 years is comforting news too.

I have a battery tender on the car as well. So I think the battery will be fine for that time period. It has the float capability.

 

A battery tender is a good thing. So is a battery disconnect when you just leave it sit.

If you put full-synthetic oil in the engine, you shouldn't even need to change that. Any collected moisture/water in the crankcase will boil/evaporate out once the engine gets up to temps.

 

- Put it on jacks to save the tires
- Battery and fuel is already said
- let the starter turn the engine until you have some oil preassure (disconnect ignition for this egnine should not start). This mainly to condition the valve springs and bring fresh oil to the bearings.
- if you want to put oil into the cylinders use 2-stroke oil.

- you could also press the break pedal a little, but best thing would be to move all pistons at the calipers a bit manually.

 

My 1972 has sat in my garage since 2010, 3 years as well. I bent a pushrod or something as it knocks. So I parked it. I removed the fuel in tank so it would not go to waste and my battery has been in the car connected and from time to time when I can get to the car I press the horn and it still blows. I only charged it twice in 3 years. I cover it, it is on dollies, etc. My car will still start with fresh gas poured down the carb, although I don't let it run a long time as it knocks. I have been building a 70 428 mustang for the past 4-5 years so I have been pre occupied with the mustang. I plan to pull it out in a few weeks and start the rebuild. It is all original from the paint, spare tire with factory stickers, 49,778 miles, etc. I toured 21 states including Hawaii where I once lived about 4-5 years ago. I also have a 1975 that has sat since 1977. It is not nearly as nice as my 72. It is good to see that you are taking precautions for letting it sit. I would pump the brakes like mentioned just to keep the piston seals from dry rotting. They will crack after sitting vast amounts of time and if they were pumped regularly that would help prevent it from drying out. I also put things of baking soda in my car to try and collect any moisture. My 72 is a former Florida, Wisconsin, Hawaii and now Texas car. It has been through many climates. Hawaii really did a number on my car and I rarely drove it. It is rust free and all but it screwed things up. So hopefully the advice is useful, good luck!

Brandon