year long storage question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 651
Likes: 3
From: Gambrills MD
year long storage question
Hey guys looks like the army threw another curve ball at me. I'm getting ready to go over seas for a year again and will have to store my car. Any one have any tips or dos and don'ts?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
You know people have their own ideas about storage but this is a basic checklist that has been around for many years. You pick and choose what you want to do, what you can do.
Take care, come back safe and thanks for your service.
Take care, come back safe and thanks for your service.
Fill gas tank and add Sta-Bil; run through fuel lines (15 - 20 minutes driving).
Change oil and filter.
Park on moisture barrier (plastic, wood, just keep tires off bare concrete)
Inflate tires to 40 psi cold.
Apply sealant, wax, etc. to exterior paint.
Apply leather dressing to seat panels.
Apply vinyl dressing to interior; and to exterior black trim pieces.
Hook up Battery Tender or remove battery.
Crack windows a bit (if appropriate)
Cover with inside car cover.
Change oil and filter.
Park on moisture barrier (plastic, wood, just keep tires off bare concrete)
Inflate tires to 40 psi cold.
Apply sealant, wax, etc. to exterior paint.
Apply leather dressing to seat panels.
Apply vinyl dressing to interior; and to exterior black trim pieces.
Hook up Battery Tender or remove battery.
Crack windows a bit (if appropriate)
Cover with inside car cover.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 8,510
Likes: 926
From: Alaska
Change the oil, wash, wax, and cover. Toss the battery in the garbage and buy a new one when you get home. Forget stabil, I never seen any proof it ever worked and in one case after I used it think it caused problems.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 462
From: Southern Utah
Take into account the circumstances of the storage...for example, is the car near a power outlet. Is it in an area where rodents are a problem. Is it in someone's garage where it can be driven once a month or is it in a lonely storage unit somewhere. All these factors make a big difference in what you need to do to prepare. To me, wash wax and cover is the least important stuff and getting someone to drive it once a month would be much more important.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 5,910
Likes: 49
From: CA
St. Jude Donor '17
For a full year w/o starting it up use fogging oil in the cylinders along with a Deltran battery tender+ so your battery won't get weak and die after you start it up a year later. No reason to throw away a perfectly good battery. Changing oil before storage means you won't have to change it when you fire it up next year.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 45
From: One of the Edema Ruh
Only other thing I would do is put a box of baking soda, like you get for the fridge, and put inside to help with any odors.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 57,408
Likes: 164
From: queensbury ny
yup,moth *****,maybe some mouse repellant and full tank,battery tender and stabil.I wouldn't worry about the tires because these are not your tires of 35 years ago. They are harder if they are runflats and filling them with 40psi or so will do.Although a year is a long time for tires to sit.Mine sits for months at a time in winter.STABIL,BATTERY TENDER and 40-45 psi IN THE TIRES IS ALL I DO.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,519
Likes: 1,305
From: Windermere FL
The only thing I would add to the above list is possibly pulling the plugs and pouring an ounce of oil in each cylinder. Maybe that is old school from the days of iron blocks but it should help keep the rings from seizing. Battery tender, Stabil, fresh oil, clean and waxed, interior treatment, up on jack stands all are easy preventatives.
Only thing better would have someone you trust drive it once a month for you to keep all the seals lubed.
Thank you for your service.
Only thing better would have someone you trust drive it once a month for you to keep all the seals lubed.
Thank you for your service.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 651
Likes: 3
From: Gambrills MD
Hey thank you everyone, I wish I had someone to drive it once a month but the army has left me divorced and always coming and going. So that's not much of an option. I appreciate all the input and more than likely it will go in a storage unit with the above done.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 767
Likes: 7
From: New Orleans Louisiana
NCM Sinkhole Donor
"Throw the battery in the trash"? Really? Please recycle it if you are not going to keep it. Illegal to dispose of a lead acid battery in the garbage. You would be suprised how easy it is to get caught!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 5,910
Likes: 49
From: CA
St. Jude Donor '17
[QUOTE=Flame Red;1583917182The only thing I would add to the above list is possibly pulling the plugs and pouring an ounce of oil in each cylinder. Maybe that is old school from the days of iron blocks but it should help keep the rings from seizing. Battery tender, Stabil, fresh oil, clean and waxed, interior treatment, up on jack stands all are easy preventatives.
Only thing better would have someone you trust drive it once a month for you to keep all the seals lubed.
Thank you for your service.[/QUOTE]
That's what fogging oil is for.
http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produc...e-fogging-oil/
Only thing better would have someone you trust drive it once a month for you to keep all the seals lubed.
Thank you for your service.[/QUOTE]
That's what fogging oil is for.
http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produc...e-fogging-oil/