Storing car for three months

**fordomatic** · 03-09-2008, 09:57 PM

Felas just after some tips, have to leave the xr8 up here for three and a half months while i go to melbourne and do a language course. any tips on storage? hopefully i will be able to put it in a mates shed.

Auslandau · 03-09-2008, 10:02 PM

My parents ..... grey nomads for the past 20 years go to QLD for 5 months of the year, leave there cars in the garage attached to a trickle charge. When they come back they open the garage and away they go.

I am sure some may be more scientific than that but by all accounts have never had a worry ....

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FPV GT40 · 03-09-2008, 10:09 PM

Same, just hook it up to a tricle charger park it dry and clean in a garage, I usually add a car cover as well (quality breathable cover).

If you get real fussy may be take the weight off the tyres to avoid flat spots(not sure if that is an old wifes tale anyway about the flat spots)

Some people recon change the oil just before storing a car as it gets all the contaminants out of the motor, and add a fuel additive to a full tank as it avoids condensation and rust in your fuel tank, but for three months probably not worth worrying about.

03-09-2008, 10:04 PM

Fluids, oil, battery. I'd do all that for 6+months.

For 4 months it's not a huge deal but doing those things definitely can't hurt. Or even just get your mate to give a spin around the block once a month (if you trust him with it).

A good coat of solid wax couldn't hurt either.

**fordomatic** · 03-09-2008, 10:09 PM

yeh i was thinking of that but my mate has a ve clubsport and wouldnt want him driving mine the way he does his lol

WindsorXR · 03-09-2008, 10:10 PM

Yeah, I'd say just to either disconnect the battery or if you don't want the cars memory reset, do what auslandau said and get it on a trickle charger if you have no one to give the car an hour long idle every now and again.

**fordomatic** · 03-09-2008, 10:13 PM

were would i get a trickle charger from?and how much would it cost? cheers for the quick replys fellas

FPV GT40 · 03-09-2008, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordomatic

were would i get a trickle charger from?and how much would it cost? cheers for the quick replys fellas

Super cheap or any other place, Also extends the battery life if you keep it hooked up if the car is not a daily driver, all my cars are hooked up to one when they are not driven, and I get many years out of a battery on a car that might only get driven once a or twice a month, and it is always ready to go.

Had a bike hooked up to one for 12 months, and it started no problems at all recently....

WindsorXR · 03-09-2008, 10:15 PM

Probably have a quick look in shops like bunnings, autobarn, supercheap, mitre10 and so on. Not to sure on prices, but wouldn't expect much over $50 for a decent one. but don't quote me on it.

Fordman · 21-10-2009, 07:22 PM

Sorry to revive an old thread, but i may be going away shortly, and i wondered when storing a car, is it better to have a full tank of petrol whilst stored or very little??? Maybe it has no impact? Thanks =]

**ebxr8240** · 21-10-2009, 08:03 PM

I would store it with very little..

Aha so they finally cought up with you.. Lol...

UKXR8 · 22-10-2009, 02:06 AM

I always thought you should keep the tank full especially if its an older metal tank as it stops corrosion and less chance of condensation in your fuel.
But I could be wrong...

**fordomatic** · 22-10-2009, 02:09 AM

yeh i kept my tank three quarters, and left it on a trickle charger, fired up first time with no dramas after 5 months of sitting in the shed

Rev28K · 22-10-2009, 05:41 AM

If your tank was full to try and stop corrosion caused by condensation wouldn't you drain it when you were restarting it? Fuel doesn't age too well.

Is it neccessary to do this with a platic fuel tank? And if it was an almost empty plastic fuel tank over a long period of time would the contents turn into old fuel with a percentage of water in it?

UKXR8 · 22-10-2009, 07:45 AM

As I understand it, if you have an old style metal tank and you keep it full condensation can't form on the inside of the tank therefore the tank won't corrode.
Not an issue with plastic tanks I guess.
I don't know how long it takes for fuel to go stale, I've left a car for over 6 months and it fired up and ran just fine.

sgt_doofey · 22-10-2009, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKXR8

I don't know how long it takes for fuel to go stale, I've left a car for over 6 months and it fired up and ran just fine.

I've fired up a car after 12 month in storage with the old fuel. Eventually fired, but that was due to having a stuffed battery, not the fuel.
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11213446

**ebxr8240** · 22-10-2009, 08:44 AM

Full tank & corrosion ?? Most tanks corrode at the top anyway..
In theory it sounds like a good idea..
It doesn't make any difference... Like being hit with a bus or train..
Both hurt...Lol...