Long term car storage

[cgtdream]

Hey all, just got orders to japan, and ill be away from my cars for two years until i get back..right now they are both in storage, been in there since december, and never really planned on them being in there for another 2 years...Anywho, what ideas do can ppl give on what to do to a car that is going to be sitting in a storage shed for two years, while im overseas?

Btw, selling and or leaving at another person's house are out of the question..

So far, they are both in a well ventialted, roomy, storage area, with the battery disconnected..

But is there anything much else i should do...when i get back home this august, im putting both cars on jackstands, and covering them, but what about the engine? Should i leave the fluids in it (might sound like a dumb question), nd the tires, should i take them off and deflate them or something...

Basically, what would zilvia do (WWZD)?

[Farzam]

I'd get someone you trust to drive em around every 1-2 weeks

Tell them if you get back and there is more than like...x amount of miles, you're gonna kill em

Brandish a gun while you tell them that

Then give em a couple bucks or something

[cgtdream]

Sounds solid....now all i need is a gun....but right now that is what my G/f does for me with my DD..she starts it up and lets it sit....but is that going to be enough? and she Dont want it to be driven either, since the car wont have the appropriate insurance on it.....accident = bad news...very bad news..

[yokotas13]

sell em

no reason to own them

your comming to japan, enjoy it.

where you PCSing to?

[BAMF_S14]

Disconnect the battery, give it some fresh oil and change it when you get back. Some cardboard under the car is a good idea to indicate leaks and their possible location, and keeps the floor clean if you are renting the storage place. I would say starting it once a month would be plenty for it, here in snow country we park cars for several months sometimes without starting it until spring. Not sure about the tires, I would guess that leaving them on the car makes them prone to deflating and possibly damage them. If you put the cars up on stands, I wouldn't think they would be a problem. This has just been my standard procedure and what others have recommended for winter storage. Good luck in Japan

[cgtdream]

Coming back to oki this december....and yea, i debated selling my cars, but im getting out the military after my tour in japan, and figured that ill at least have a car when i get back....

Anywho, putting cardboard under the car to spot leaks is a good idea...
Any other input guys?

[gregfarz78]

Bring a s15 back with you :)

nah but seriously sounds like you're on the right track I would definitely have someone go start them and let it run of for a few minutes every month.

[nwmrkt]

http://home.centurytel.net/extendedstorage/index.htm

[240trainee]

put sta-bil in the gas.

have someone drive em every now and then.

thats about all.

[cgtdream]

http://home.centurytel.net/extendedstorage/index.htm


Thanks for the advice everybody, and thanks for the link also :rawk:

[loveskylines]

:eek3d: just drive them around the block(maybe late at night as long as your car doesnt sound like a jet:p)....and as long as all the fluids get up to operating temps you should be good to go.... might wanna add some silicone spray to all the chassis joints.

This is what a Corvette collector told me...starting them and letting them sit is not good enough

GL!

send me some parts from Japan! :rawk:

[Sileighty_85]

Going to Oki..hmmmm I hope you dont plan on drifting or staying out past 12:00... Shit really hit the fan in that place after I left.

I still wanna go back though but only as a civilian. Sigh....I miss Okinawa:cry:

[BustedS13]

i left mine sitting in a driveway for three years, it seems to be running fine now

no not really it's a piece of shit.

[gunluvS14]

this is what I do to my track bike, same difference

Buy a battery tender jr... ($19.99? so you will have a sure crank battery when you come back, not to mention is good for your battery).

Drain oil, put in fresh one in there... when you come back, flush them out, that will carry the moisture out.

Put in fuel stabilizer into the tank.

Put the car onto the stands, so you won't flat spot your tires (its a lot easier on motorcycles)

Cover it if it is possible, so insect/animal won't use your car as new home :)

[Cutless01]

I just recently left my S14 in storage for a year and a half. Well I guess u could call it storage, it sat in my brothers driveway under a car cover. I'm sure this was all covered in that link, but I came away with no damages at all. Here's what I did:

1. Parked it on his pad (huge concrete pad behind his house).
2. Taped about 3 layers of newspaper in the windows to keep the sun out.
3. Put a windshield screen in the front and back windows for further protection just cuz I had em anyways.
4. Ran the car around until it was almost out of gas, then added fuel stabalizer to the tank.
5. Drained the oil and put fresh oil in.
6. Drained the coolant (50/50 mix) and added new coolant (100% coolant).
7. Put air in all the tires (5lbs above recommended tire pressure).
8. Bought custom car cover with UV protection and covered the car in it (custom fit just so the wind wouldnt blow it off).
9. Baking soda in the cabin, one in front one in back.
10. Left the battery unhooked.
11. Had my brother drive it around once a month or so.

didnt have any problems whatsoever when I got it back, it started right up. I changed the oil and coolant again when I got it back just to be on the safe side. Got it detailed for $50 at a local place and it looked just as good as when I had parked it. Drove it for a bit, then tried to sell it, then decided to tear it apart and rebuild it, lol.

[fbiphil]

If they won't be started for a couple of years, pull the spark plugs and put a teaspoon or two of marvel mystery oil in each cylinder- then put the plugs back in. This will help keep the rings from rusting to the cylinder walls, and any moisture from causing rust on the walls.
I "revived" a car that had been sitting for several years, and it ran OK for a while, but I think the rust on the walls killed the rings, so it didn't live for very long.
Good luck- I can't imagine being away from my projects for that long! Hope you find some new ones to play with while you're in jp!

[azndummie]

where did u people get your custom car covers?

[sub9lulu]

marvel mystery oil is the shit

[BustedS13]

where did u people get your custom car covers?

army surplus store, buy a parachute, done

[KA-T_240]

When I store my car in the winter I do the fallowing:

Put car on Jack Stands or wood.
put wood under tires(to take stress off suspension and the tires.
plug your intake and exhaust(keeps unwanted guests out of engine stuff)
take battery out, put on shelf in house
Baking soda, dryer sheets..... In the car and engine bay all that to prevent mice from making the car a home.
Full tank of gas, air in tank can get condinsation in the tank and cause rust


Then some of the other things listed already.