Car storage?

[dominic]

hi guys,
i am in the process of moving from perth to sydney and putting my RA28 into storage untill i get settled in sydney.
just wondering if any one had any tips for long term storage (ie 6months to a year)
i am going to put it up on stands and have been told that putting clean oiled rags in the exaust and intake helps to stop the moisture getting into the motor.
what do people think of this and is there anything else i should be doing?
cheers
Dom

[smt_007]

Heres some good info from the old forum :

http://forums.toymods.org.au/index.p...t=0#msg_627322

[apophis]

ah disconnect the battery dude, as mentioned in the other thread
Cover your car with those tailored type car cover, dont use a tarp.
I wouldnt put on stand, the struts dont like them.
Drain out your petrol tank.

The best thing is, get a mate to start the car and let it run once a week if you dont want to drain this drain that, but yeah man cover it, even its in an enclosed storage/garage, there are still microdust floating in the air and it will set on the car.

[Biggo]

When we store our bike for long periods, we always turn the motors over until the valves are closed. Not sure how u go about this in a car motor seeing as its got more cylinders.
Drain the fuel till she dies, so to adviod the rubber lines deteriorating.
And lastly have a battery charger around for when shes ready to go again.

[apophis]

Biggo, you cant really do that for a car because when one cylinders valves are closed, another cylinders valves will be open.

Yeah have a battery charger if you dont want to disconnect your battery.

[Biggo]

Fair enough, you could do the oiled rag trick, i reckon it'd be just as good.

[river]

Hi,

Make sure the storage place is dry. Wash the car and put a proper car cover over it - one that breathes so it won't trap moisture or anything like that. I usually make sure the petrol tank is full - I know there's talk about petrol going off but I don't think 6 months is going to be an issue. I've seen cars that have been stored for over a year start and run with the same petrol in the tank.

Flush the radiator and put in clean water with an inhibitor. I leave the battery in place and get it put on the charge once a week, or the trickle charge is good - if there's a window nearby you can use one of those solar trickle chargers.

The engine/diff/trannie oil is okay to be left as it is, so is the brake fluid.

No need for the car to be on a stand, but if you got good tyres then pump them up to 45psi to avoid flat spotting.

Disconnect your car alarm and remove the dizzy rotor to keep it unstartable, unless the car is stored with people who will notice the alarm going off. If it is stored where friends can get to it then getting them to start it once a week isn't a bad idea. No need for it to be driven, just run the engine at lowish revs (1500-2500rpm) until the engine is warm, then turn it off.

If on flat ground then put wheel chocks on it and leave the handbrake off and, though not really necessary, leave it in neutral.

This is how I store my car. It's rare for anyone to drive it while I'm away, and it can be a couple of months, or more, between start-up and going for a drive. You've seen my car and you know I wouldn't jeopardise it by storing it in an unkind fashion.

In any event, and you can trust me on this - you'll miss it and it's always a joy to return and fire her up and take it for a drive.

seeyuzz
river

[faulksy]

Hi,

I usually make sure the petrol tank is full - I know there's talk about petrol going off but I don't think 6 months is going to be an issue. I've seen cars that have been stored for over a year start and run with the same petrol in the tank.
seeyuzz
river

was about to say the exact thing but noticed your post as i was typing. i reckon its a waste of time. my ex's GSI Barina was not run for over 2.5 years before she cranked over no issues. asked my mechanic before starting her if i should drain the fuel and put new stuff in. told me not to waste my time and she'll be sweet

i have also done it with many of my own cars longer then 6 months.

[RONA]

My neighbours Ke20/KE25 has sat in there garage for the last 15 odd years going nowhere. About two years back they pulled it out topped up the fuel and it started albeit very roughly. They worked on it for about 6 month had it pretty much fixed and then parked it again (i have no idea why).

I don't think it has rusted that much or at all. Still red factory paint in good condition, all they do is keep it under a blanket/old car cover to stop it getting scratched.

[Starfire]

Old fuel can go a little stale.

For most cars this isnt much of a problem (I wouldnt thrash them till it has been refilled though), but if you have a high performance car running high compression or tuned for high octane fuel you may want to be careful about running it on old fuel. As the fuel goes stale the octane rating is reduced and it may cause knocking.

[mic*]

What river said with the addtion of - i think you should always remove the battery particularily if it is a wet cell.

Electrical potential enegry left unsupervised for extended periods i just dont think should be done. End of story.

Wet cells can (rarely) leak with time goin hot and cold in a storage container for example.

Terminals may corode or form major salt deposits if left connected.

[river]

Hi,

Terminals may corode or form major salt deposits if left connected.

Run a thin film of petroleum jelly or vaseline over the connected posts and clamps. This keeps them in good nick and inhibits corrosion.

seeyuzz
river

[mic*]

Hi,



Run a thin film of petroleum jelly or vaseline over the connected posts and clamps. This keeps them in good nick and inhibits corrosion.

seeyuzz
river

Ok well if you're gonna leave it in which i wouldn - make it a THICK film. Even vaso evaporates you know.

[dominic]

cheers guys.
a few more things i hadnt thought about there.
the car is being stored at my mums place and my brother is going to turn it over every now and again to keep the 18rg sweet.

cheers
Dom

[EldarO]

Nooooooo WA is losing its Green Motorkhana RA28 of goodness

Rivers info, as always, is very good.

although for the effort involved in covering the connectors, and stuffing around with the battery, youd be better off doing a minor service when you want the car running again, and since batteries these days arent exactly expensive, maybe it might be time to grab a new one..

Eldar.O.