Car Storage Question
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
Car Storage Question
If you don't start the engine of a car in storage for 4 or 5 months, do you think the oil film (Mobil 1, 5w-30) on everything inside the engine is good enough to prevent any corrosion or deterioration over that time period?
I've heard that full synthetic oil tends to "run off" more than non-synthetic, so I'm wondering if Mobil 1 would protect metal surfaces for 4 or 5 months with the car inside an unheated garage environment.
I know it would probably be best to fire the car up once a month to get everything lubed up and let the oil temp get to 200+ deg F to burn off moisture ... but is there any problem if the engine sits for 4 or 5 months after it was ran for a long time to get all the moisture out of the oil first, then storing it?
Thoughts and comments?
I've heard that full synthetic oil tends to "run off" more than non-synthetic, so I'm wondering if Mobil 1 would protect metal surfaces for 4 or 5 months with the car inside an unheated garage environment.
I know it would probably be best to fire the car up once a month to get everything lubed up and let the oil temp get to 200+ deg F to burn off moisture ... but is there any problem if the engine sits for 4 or 5 months after it was ran for a long time to get all the moisture out of the oil first, then storing it?
Thoughts and comments?
Last edited by ZeeOSix; Jan 13, 2008 at 07:38 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Dealers do it all the time, look how many cars are out there unsold and will sit there over the winter. I store mine in a carbag, which keeps the car dry. I have also looked into my motor with a boroscope, no rust. I wouldn't worry about it.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
One of the advantages of synthetic oil (especially 0W-XX or 5W-XX weights) is that it "pumps up" to pressure very quickly, unlike the straight 30W petroleum oils of old. With the old cars, some people would pop out the distributor, install an aluminum shaft that meshed with the oil pump gear, and then use an electric drill to "prime" the engine before firing the engine. This was especially critical after rebuilding an engine for similar reasons.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,707
Likes: 1
From: Lynnfield MA
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
I start mine due to my concern that my valve springs need the chance to change load on them from one to another. The synthetic certainly pumps up very quickly and you need not be concerned regarding other issues...
