How long is it going to be sitting. stable in the gas tank with full tank of gas . when shutting down for the last time i like to pull plugs and drop a little Lucas in each cylinder the pull fuel pump fuse and crank a couple of times . battery tender is nice . also putting car on jack stands so the tires dont get flat spots . fresh oil change and fuel filter before parking.

1 of my cars have been sitting 6 months. Nothing really happend to it besides a little mold and I am sure the tank of e85 is crap now . But still looks clean and has been in the weather the whole time. But definitely if someone can run it every so often is a good idea and keep it clean and aired out, you should be in the clear.

One point of advice that i heard from a long time body guy is to ditch the cover. Its easier to wash off the dust then it is to replace the carpet/seats after mice have a soup kitchen on your floor.

Cars that sit for long periods of time with covers get destroyed by mice. But cars left open are never touched. I've tested it several times myself. Odd how well it works.

2G I'm moving to Japan!.... Help me store my car.


This should help!

It might be important to note it will be sitting in a garage. I was hoping my dad will drive it at lease once a month. But it will probably sit for about a year before I start driving it regularly again.

A year in a garage is no big deal if driven once a month.

You don't need to take any precautions, the car will be fine.

GPTourer said:

A year in a garage is no big deal if driven once a month.

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Good to know the frequency is adequate.

COdsm said:

Good to know the frequency is adequate.

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As long as he really drives it, not just let it idle in the driveway for a couple of minutes. That way he can get a load on the alternator to charge the battery back up, beat the flat spots out of the tires and get everything lubricated again.
Maybe twice a month when it is really cold.

I agree with actually driving it as often as your dad can. I did the same thing. I just told him to drive it to work every two weeks or so. If that's not possible fuel stabilizer, I'd unplug battery and if it's in a garage you don't need to keep covered, avoid the mice and other critters.

if you live where it snows and cant drive it like me, then id start it once every other week. I let mine warm up then i give her a few mintues of easy revs to about 4-4500 rpms. I also pull mine on a tarp in my garage. Im usually down for around 3-4 months and put dryer sheets in the car on the floor and in the trunk to help keep it smelling good. I like to wash my interior and vacumm it out including the glovebox as well. I usually pull my floor mats out because it seems condensation likes to chill out under there. Something i did this year was crack my sunroof open so it doesnt get stuck shut for some reason. Last year when i opened it the first time it felt really sticky and pulled a part where the seal meets. I also like to pump my brakes when im letting it run if i dont get to drive it. good luck man.

I left my car in the garage with both windows open and had no problems even with spider webs. I also heard that putting a couple sheets of bounce fabric softener works good too.

Thanks for all the replies so far, I'm sure I can convince him to drive it a couple times a month, and yes real drives, let it get top
operational temps.

I'll give the dryer sheets a try, and as far as condensation goes, I live at altitude so only 10% humidity... Not concerned about it.

I'm not too sure about the dryer sheets but I know if u put Stabil in the gas tank it can sit for quite some time without hurting anything...however it wouldn't hurt to have someone start it from time to time just to keep everything libricated and smooth.

I've stored my 1990 for a year or more several times over 23+ years of ownership. Fresh oil & filter, fresh coolant (if not changed in last two years), STA-BIL in the gas tank AND ran through the engine (i.e., drive it after a fill-up with STA-BIL mixed in. Hook a Deltran Battery Tender Plus up to the battery - check the battery water levels. Roll all the windows up. Even though you have low humidity I would still put a little bucket or two of DampRid in the cabin, engine bay, and trunk. I brush a light coating of 3-in-1 oil over all the raw metal components in the engine bay which will burn off on your first long drive. If you set mice traps in the garage there should be no concern for mice. Optional to put it on jack stands - I have found any flat spot in your tires will be gone after 20 minutes of driving. DO use a car cover that "breathes" - not airtight in a garage. My experience has been that your car won't have to be driven at all while you are gone if you prep it with these specific brand products.

Enjoy college!

I let my car sit by not driving it!

Pull the battery cable, and that should be good enough.

COdsm said:

Thanks for all the replies so far, I'm sure I can convince him to drive it a couple times a month, and yes real drives, let it get top
operational temps.

I'll give the dryer sheets a try, and as far as condensation goes, I live at altitude so only 10% humidity... Not concerned about it.

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If you're worried about your dad, I'll drive it twice a month for you!