How to store a car?
#1
Senior Member
Posts like a Corvette
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 1,544
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![NERV is on a distinguished road](https://www.gmforum.com/images/reputation/reputation_pos.gif)
![Default](https://www.gmforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
There is a nice car for sale locally, but i also want to drive my car longer, how would i go about storing the car until i'm ready to use it, i assume draining all fluids but would i also have to flush them?
#2
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, _______Canada._______ West Coast Bonneville Fest ___05,06,07 Survivor___
Posts: 8,135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![SSEimatt93 is on a distinguished road](https://www.gmforum.com/images/reputation/reputation_pos.gif)
![Default](https://www.gmforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
depending upon how long it needs to sit for, the fluids should be fine, maybe an oil change and coolant flush when you go to drive it again. Just unhook the battery, set the parking brake and lock it up. Putting a open box of baking soda in it might help prevent a musty odor that will lingre over time.
#4
Senior Member
True Car Nut
![Default](https://www.gmforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Wow! 4 years is a long time. I think you would want to read up on it - search online for some ideas. Here are some things that come to mind.
I would be concerned about gasoline going to varnish and screwing up the fuel pump and injectors. I don't know if Stabil is good for 4 years????
I have heard of pulling the plugs and oiling the inside of the cylinders or otherwise treating them to keep them from rusting. Rings will rust to cylinder walls over that kind of time. The open intake valves will also rust over time unless treated.
Also you probably don't want to let it sit on its tires. Maybe treat the tires (all over) with armor all, then set the car up on stands so the tires are not on the ground.
I don't know what the trans might require ?
Remove the battery.
Think about mice....they love to chomp on electrical insulation, on headliner insulation and such and make nests in the most inconvenient places, like in the box that houses your heater core!
Cover the car.
I'll try to think of some more.
[edit] You will minimize problems with the brakes if you flush any old fluid out of the brake lines by bleeding the brakes. Brake fluid absorbs water and over time the water can corrode master cylinders, calipers, and wheel cylinders.
I would also clean and dry the car really well, especially underneath ( you want to get any salt residues off the metal - they will attract moisture and promote corrosion)
I would be concerned about gasoline going to varnish and screwing up the fuel pump and injectors. I don't know if Stabil is good for 4 years????
I have heard of pulling the plugs and oiling the inside of the cylinders or otherwise treating them to keep them from rusting. Rings will rust to cylinder walls over that kind of time. The open intake valves will also rust over time unless treated.
Also you probably don't want to let it sit on its tires. Maybe treat the tires (all over) with armor all, then set the car up on stands so the tires are not on the ground.
I don't know what the trans might require ?
Remove the battery.
Think about mice....they love to chomp on electrical insulation, on headliner insulation and such and make nests in the most inconvenient places, like in the box that houses your heater core!
Cover the car.
I'll try to think of some more.
[edit] You will minimize problems with the brakes if you flush any old fluid out of the brake lines by bleeding the brakes. Brake fluid absorbs water and over time the water can corrode master cylinders, calipers, and wheel cylinders.
I would also clean and dry the car really well, especially underneath ( you want to get any salt residues off the metal - they will attract moisture and promote corrosion)
#5
Senior Member
Posts like a Northstar
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Troy, Michigan
Posts: 757
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Ireli is on a distinguished road](https://www.gmforum.com/images/reputation/reputation_pos.gif)
![Default](https://www.gmforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Good advice from bill!
But doesn't the tire pressure fall over time? It happened to my uncle'* TrailBlazer. And that was just 6 months.
But doesn't the tire pressure fall over time? It happened to my uncle'* TrailBlazer. And that was just 6 months.
#6
Senior Member
True Car Nut
![Default](https://www.gmforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by NERV
i assume draining all fluids but would i also have to flush them?
For the gasoline, I think Stabil might make 4 years; you might want to check with the manufacturer about this. But, definitely you need to treat the gas with Stabil and run it until you are sure it has gone through the injector rail and injectors.
#7
![Default](https://www.gmforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
If you are storing it where you have access to it a lot, why not just run it every 2-3 weeks and move it some just to get everything moving. If not, I would say refer to above posts or more knowledgable future posts
#9
![Default](https://www.gmforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
You definitely want to change the oil. If you leave the old oil in it, it will start to produce acid and well that is not good. Fresh oil will prevent that. So once it is parked change the oil. Try not to run it much once the oil is changed cause that will just contaminate it again.
#10
![Default](https://www.gmforum.com/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by JimmyFloyd
If you are storing it where you have access to it a lot, why not just run it every 2-3 weeks and move it some just to get everything moving. If not, I would say refer to above posts or more knowledgable future posts