Putting Car In Storage

[kev98gsx]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Kevin, and Feb. 22, 2006 I will be leaving for the Navy. I have a 1998 GSX and i need to know everything i have to do before storing it for months. I will have no use of a car, but i couldn't sell my baby. And I don't want someone to have to keep starting it up and driving it just a lil bit everynow and then. I really think this is the best option. What to i need to drain and/or disconnect or remove. anything will help me.

 

[Spoolin98]

When my car is in storage, which is 90% of the time, my main concer is to keep the car off the floor and on jack stands. Its not good for your tires to sit with all that wieght on them in the same spot for months. I disconnect the battery. As far as fluids go, I never drain them, I just make sure I do a oil change before starting it again. I prime the turbo before starting the car.

 

[megadeth0]

If you put the car on jack stands, place them apropriatly. You don't want your A-arms to flop. It will kill your tie rods and possibly more.

 

[out there]

i've never heard of putting a car on stands for storage purposes... what does storage do to the tires? i would assume that tires with approx proper pressure wouldn't be affected adversely. can you shed some light on this?

 

[Spoolin98]

I knew it had something to do with flat spots on the tires because my buddy is into bikes and he stores his R1 off the ground for the winter. I did some research and came up with this.

1. Fill the gas tank, adding a fuel stabilizer, and then run the car for a while to make sure you've distributed the stabilizer throughout the entire fuel system. Over time, an empty gas tank will rust, and untreated gas can go bad.

2. Add antifreeze to the cooling system even if the car is protected from cold temperatures. The newer coolants have corrosion inhibitors that protect and lubricate the system.

3. Change the engine oil and oil filter. Dirty oil can damage the bearings and cause engine rust. Replace the brake fluid, making sure to use the most durable grade. Remove the battery lest it leak corroding acid.

4. Coat all exposed metal surfaces in the engine area with a lubricant spray; remove the distributor cap and spray the contact points lightly.

5. Wash the entire car and apply a good wax. If storage space is damp or humid, place desiccant packs inside the car to keep moisture from damaging the interior. Don't forget the trunk.

6. Set the car up on blocks to get the tires off the ground and prevent flat spots. Drape with a cloth car cover. Heavier is not necessarily better: If the car is stored outdoors, wind can cause a heavy cover to abrade the paint.

7. Leave a convertible's top up to keep ugly creases from becoming permanent.

8. For extended storage in a damp climate, investigate car-storage companies that provide storage in special buildings equipped with industrial dehumidifiers.
Heated underground garages are often extremely humid and thus not ideal locations for long-term storage.

http://www.ehow.com/how_138006_store-car.html

 

[99gst_racer]

To add to the above post......

* Put moth balls in and/or around the car to help keep pesky critters away.

* Also, if stored indoors in a warm climate, crack your window slightly. I have seen instances where a car heated up enough and built pressure, and over time, it blew the glass out.

* You dont nessacerily need blocks or jack stands, but if stored on concrete for long periods of time, you could get flat spots. If you have an extra set of junk wheels and tires, you could let it sit on those. Or you could try parking on a couple layers of carpet. That will keep the flat spots from forming.

* The more gas you have in the gas tank, the less chance of condensation forming.

How long are you storing it for?

 

[Dragon TalonTsi]

Yeah, that is what I did, i am in the Marine Corps., and i usually am gone for quite a while for deployments 7 months or more at a time. All of these guys are telling the truth, and i have done it plenty of times before, so yes, it works, and my car is living proof, just be careful when you first get it back, dont dog the hell out of it, be gentle, do all the necessary pm's on it, and you should be back in the more faster and more furiouser race scene in no time!!! Ha ha, just kidding about that, you'll be fine......

 

[power=dsm]

flat spots in tires are very rare. I live in montreal and most people here store their cars for 6-7 months in -20c. We never have problems with flat spots in the tires. Just make sure the tire has good air pressure. I believe flat spots were a problem in the past, but now better material in making tires which help them. This doesn't mean you can leave the car sitting for 2 years and expect the tires to be good.!

 

[WMD]

Also stuff rags into the muffler and intake pipe. This will prevent moisture for working its way up to the head and into the block. Trust me, it wil happen and it will cause rust in the exhaust/intake/cylinders.
Also dont forget to add a tablespoon of fresh oil to each cylinder. Start the car and turn it off just as it smokes. This will coat the entire system with oil and also helps prevent rust.

Im in the process of restoring a motorcycle that sat unprepaired for 2 year and its not fun.

 

[jepherz]

I never jack my car up because it is bad for the suspension components to sit with no weight on them. If you are concerned about the tires getting flat spots, you can pump them up to a higher pressure to prevent this. Also, put some stabilizer in the fuel and run it so it gets worked in before you store.

 

[Spoolin98]

I never jack my car up because it is bad for the suspension components to sit with no weight on them. If you are concerned about the tires getting flat spots, you can pump them up to a higher pressure to prevent this. Also, put some stabilizer in the fuel and run it so it gets worked in before you store.

Please explain to me how having your car off the ground is bad for suspension components. Also explain to me how adding extra air in tires will prevent flat spots.

 

[FusionTalon]

it relaxes the springs.

Also if iwere you i would get oilundercoating, its messy butyour car will never rust

 

[WMD]

Concrete is permeable to moisture and when a car sits for a while a “moisture cloud” or elevated levels of humidity are under the car. This can cause rust obviously. A good way to fix that is to simply park the car over a vapor barrier. Plastic sheeting use for construction works perfectly since it is made to keep moisture away from fiberglass insulation. Also never store a car near a lawn. The moisture given off from the grass will rust that side of the car. We bought a car that sat in a driveway for 2-3 years and the wheel bearings, rotors, calipers and some of the body was rusted and fused.

 

[Spoolin98]

it relaxes the springs.

Also if iwere you i would get oilundercoating, its messy butyour car will never rust

What is the purpose of the spring? To compress and relax. Unless someone shows me proof that having your car off the ground is bad for your suspension, I will never believe that. Think about it, when you buy just a spring, its not compressed. When you put it on the car, you compress it. When you jack the car up that spring will not relax farther than its original length before being compressed, unless it is a bad/old/worn out spring.

 

[Eastern Brigade]

Spoolin98, Nice article on storing cars. I've had my outside for along time.

 

[Spoolin98]

Spoolin98, Nice article on storing cars. I've had my outside for along time.

Thanks, I see we are from the same area.

 

[paranoidTSi]

I'd add Fuel STABILizer to your fuel too.

 

[fourreGsixty3]

If your car is on concrete put carpet under the tires like 99gst racer suggested, I have done it with a few cars from september to may, and never had any problems with flat spots, and make sure that squirrels and mice cant get into your tail pipe or under your hood because they will destroy everything, I forget who mentioned it, but moth balls definately work. I would also change out sparks, oil, and ant other fluids before you start driving it when you get back. The list that you posted is a good list to go off of as well.
Good luck

 

[dyno_detour]

Please explain to me how having your car off the ground is bad for suspension components. Also explain to me how adding extra air in tires will prevent flat spots.

I agree with Spoolin98 on that topic.