sitting for 7 months

[nyk4life]

hey guys by the time i come back from iraq in 3 months my car will be sitting not started for about 7 months what should i do besides checking all the fluids, before i start it, thaks

 

[toofast82]

well being in florida, it obviously didnt see any snow or very cold weather!
I would change the oil, check for cracked coolant hoses and belts, probably change the plugs, put some good gas in it and start it up! I would crank it over probably with the fuel pump or efi fuse out first to get some oil lubricating as well, make sure your battery is charged as well obviously.
My friend had his 1g that sat for over 2years in chicago, he just changed the fluids and just started it right up! Not exactly how i would have done it though

 

[the_mork]

That is about it, listen to it when cranking and when you first start it for any unusual noises. It may start and run like crap but what you are listening for are squeaks, clicks, etc. I store mine every winter for 6-7 months and when it comes out it runs like crap for the first 10 miles, then idles badly for the rest of the tank. The problem is a combination of the gas going slightly bad and the ecu being reset. Don't beat on it for the first 200 miles and it will be perfectly fine.

 

[chico904]

I would also suggest before changing the oil running the seafoam treatment.

 

[xioca]

7 months isn't anything. My dad's vette sat for 8 years, siphoned old gas out and charged battery, fired right up.

 

[blownturbotsi]

That doesn't mean it was good for the motor.

 

[xioca]

Ahhh before you think I'm an idiot we DID change the oil. Nothing else really to worry about. I mean belts go old, but who cares if it breaks it breaks. Timing chains FTW. Sure they can Stretch over time... but they don't break down like a T-belt would from sitting.

 

[No_Skillz]

New oil, new gas, crank with no fuel pump to prime. Might need to do this with jumper cables depending on the condition of your battery.

Be prepared for pullies and belts to make alot of noise at first.

 

[chico904]

Any chance you can have anyone start it for you periodically?

 

[illeffekt vr-4]

7 months is not a long time for a car to sit around without being started. The gas will not go bad in 7 months. The battery might be dead but a jump start will and a short drive will take care of it.

One thing you can do before you start it is to remove the MPI fuse and crank it over few times for several seconds at the time to build up some oil pressure and get oil to the head and turbo.
Then you can drive it to get an oil change.

 

[the_mork]

I'm not sure if it is actually true but I have heard that gas degrades at a rate equivalent to 1 octane per month. This certainly can't remain a straight curve over time but I'm relatively certain that 7 months worth of sitting does not do anything good for gas. I would personally just run it like it is and keep my foot out of it for the first tank to prevent knock.

 

[illeffekt vr-4]

My car sat at the shop while rebuilding the motor for almost 10 months and it had about 1/2 tank of gas. No issues. My boss's 2003 Mercedes S600 sat for almost 2 years with the same gas, no issues. My cousin bought an old BMW 2000 that sat for almost 8 years with the same tank of gas. Started right up with a new battery and ran for quite a while.

 

[Imback]

Mine sat for a little over 2 years i just took out as much of the old gas i could changed the oil then primed it and it started first try

 

[toofast82]

my buddy's 300zx tt sat for a year and a half and the car ran like shit until he filled it up

 

[19BLACKGST98]

I remember when I get back from Iraq all my car needed was for me to put the batt back in and it cranked right up. Do you have a whole room full of car parts waiting for you when you get home like I did ?

 

[destruckeclipse]

My GSX ran like shit after 7 months of sitting. I thought it was the head gasket making it run bad but new gas made it run a lot smoother. Of course, it still needs a head gasket but at least it runs decent now.

 

[MichaelSuch]

I'd see if it will start and run it just for a few minutes and do an oil change, but be sure to check your coolant before you start it and before you go anywhere check the transmission/clutch/brake/power steering fluid. After that I may drain the gas if it runs bad and then change the fuel filter after you run all the old crap out of it. Do a boost leak test once you get everything situated, you may have had some seals (injector seals/throttle body seals) dry up and crack.