3 months stationery car.... what would you do?

Teki04 · 04-05-2005, 03:17 PM

Hey guy, i need some advice.

I lost my licence for 3 months, and some people might have cars that dont move for 3 months or whatever if they go overseas. I just need opinions on what is the best thing to do. Should I:

-Start the car and just let it run for a while?
-Start the car and let it run, and also give it an occasional rev?
-Just leave it switched off?
-"Give it a quick blat round the block every 5 days or so?"
I dont want my car to be a slug when i get to drive it again in 2.5months from now.

Cheers for your help in advance!

Steven

darkfang888 · 04-05-2005, 03:20 PM

hehehe... I'd give it a quick blat round the block every 5 days or so. Just look out for the boys with disco lights. By which I mean the cops.

Kryton · 04-05-2005, 04:07 PM

3 months isnt anything to worry about. you could start it once a week and drive it up and down the driveway or just un hook the battery and leave it. ive left cars sit a lot longer and they have been fine.
if you leave it sit though, just let it warm up the first time you go to drive it.

fairmont1998 · 04-05-2005, 05:36 PM

I agree with davway, let her sit, it'll do no harm.

Casper · 04-05-2005, 05:46 PM

I left my XR6 in the garage for over 2 months once (no good reason, just couldnt be bothered getting it out, it was clean and I didnt want it to get dirty in the rain) and it was fine. Started first go and after a minute or 2 of warming up it was back on the road like I had only left it overnight.

Steffo · 04-05-2005, 06:56 PM

We left the van undriven for a year and a half - with a belly full of regular unleaded too. All it needed was a new battery and after a few tries (good old carb), it fired into life and worked fine.

XplosiveR6 · 04-05-2005, 07:00 PM

i would get a friend or relative to drive it every 2 weeks to work or something

FNQracing · 04-05-2005, 07:10 PM

If the car is not going to be started/driven for 3months, and I cared for my car, I'd do the following in no particular order.

1. If you are not going to raise the car off the ground, a put few extra pounds in your tyres.

2. Disconnect battery, or better yet, trickle charge it.

3. Give it a good wash / wax and make sure she is as dry as the Simpson berfore putting her away.

4. Leave a window partly open if secure / garaged.

5. Put some fuel conditioner in the tank to stop it going off.

6. Write yourself a note of all the things you have done and leave it somewhere near the drivers seat so you'll remember what you've done when you get back. You *will* forget.

7. Don't put the handbrake on

8. Cover her with a breatheable car cover.

9. Perform and oil change

DO NOT start the car and run it avery week or so. You'll wash the cylinder bores dry.

Maybe a bit over the top for 3months, but its your car.

Casper · 04-05-2005, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FFOracing

If the car is not going to be started/driven for 3months, and I cared for my car, I'd do the following in no particular order.

1. If you are not going to raise the car off the ground, a put few extra pounds in your tyres.

2. Disconnect battery, or better yet, trickle charge it.

3. Give it a good wash / wax and make sure she is as dry as the Simpson berfore putting her away.

4. Leave a window partly open if secure / garaged.

5. Put some fuel conditioner in the tank to stop it going off.

6. Write yourself a note of all the things you have done and leave it somewhere near the drivers seat so you'll remember what you've done when you get back. You *will* forget.

7. Don't put the handbrake on

8. Cover her with a breatheable car cover.

9. Perform and oil change

DO NOT start the car and run it avery week or so. You'll wash the cylinder bores dry.

Maybe a bit over the top for 3months, but its your car.

I dont treat my wife that good!

Wash it, park it, leave it.

smciner1 · 04-05-2005, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casper

I dont treat my wife that good!

Wash it, park it, leave it.

/me awaits Mrs Casper's reply...............

:evil_laug

Casper · 04-05-2005, 07:16 PM

shit......where is the delete button????

smciner1 · 04-05-2005, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casper

shit......where is the delete button????

If you haven't found it by now I don't think you will ever find it.....

:

hqtunna · 04-05-2005, 07:21 PM

Yeah mate i dont think it'll matter if run the car for every week or so for 10-15minutes on idle.
i had my XF impounded for 2months and jump started it and she was as good as new so even if u leave her alone for 3months shouldn't do any harm

Teki04 · 04-05-2005, 08:23 PM

Hey all,

Thanks heaps for the advice... i will use some of it.... might pump up the tyres and just leave the car in the garage and start it once every few days and let it warm up... plus the odd thrashing every 3 weeks....

05-05-2005, 01:59 AM

A little extra air in the tyres can't hurt, rather than reving or idleing get a friend/mom/dad/grandpa whoever to take you for a short run once a month,
thats only two trips before you get to do the third.

Regards Prof Rabbit

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teki04

Hey all,

Thanks heaps for the advice... i will use some of it.... might pump up the tyres and just leave the car in the garage and start it once every few days and let it warm up... plus the odd thrashing every 3 weeks....

Timmeh · 05-05-2005, 10:04 AM

From what I know, a short run of the engine when you don't have a stainless system is not good, as the condensation builds up inside but doesn't run long enough to full evaporate it all. Only what I was told from an exhaust shop.

My main worry would be tyre warping (ie, more air is good). I also agree with FFOracing regarding "DO NOT start the car and run it avery week or so. You'll wash the cylinder bores dry." Unless you're going to let the engine properly warm up (ie indicated normal temperature) and build up the appropriate oil pressure and run for a while, then you'll still have the exhaust problem and will be doing more harm than good.

Oh yeah, and whatever you do, don't run the car in the garage for 15 minutes or so unles its bloody well ventilated or you might be having a long sleep....

:

Tim

Sox · 05-05-2005, 10:19 AM

There is no need to do anything except charge the battery mid way through the 3 months.
3 months is not long term and absolutely no harm will be done by leaving it alone.

With periods greater than 6 months you need to start thinking about stands, etc.

Rick.

Smoke Pursuit · 05-05-2005, 10:31 AM

Um you guys ever seen how long some Ford dealers have cars sitting around for? I know of one BA XR8 that sat in the same sandpit (holding yard) for 18 months without getting started...

Wash it, take the battery out of it and lock it up, don't even bother starting it every few days, not really that good for it neways.

lukey · 05-05-2005, 11:09 AM

when my brother went to the army and left his car here for a few months we just turned it one once a week, for about 10 minutes and gave it a bit of a rev

tgmor · 05-05-2005, 05:18 PM

With modern cars these days there is nothing to realy do for short term storage, 3 months is not a long time, batteries on the other hand are not modern & have not realy changed alot in the last 30 years. Either have the battery fully charged & disconnect it for the 3 months or trickle charge it every fortnight, if you let it go flat & jump start it all may seem OK but you have shortened you battery life.