Storing Car for 2 Years - Tips?

[FR-S Guy]

Question for the experts here....

I will be putting my car in storage for 2 years. Any tips as to what I should or should not do?

[harkbrz]

Originally Posted by FR-S Guy

Question for the experts here....

I will be putting my car in storage for 2 years. Any tips as to what I should or should not do?

Better idea. Sell your car, buy 2017 model when it comes out.

[Decay107]

Here was some advice I gave in another thread

Originally Posted by Decay107

1. Fill (top off) with gas and add a stabilizer (or better yet ethanol free gas + stabilizer)

2. Wax your car

3. Change oil

4. Hook up trickle charger (don't disconnect battery, you'll lose all ecu fuel trims and learning)

5.a. Inflate all tires to max sidewall pressure
or
5 b. Put the car on jack-stands (preferred)

6. Do not leave handbrake on, it'll fuse to the rotors.


Note, it is not necessary to start the car every few weeks, actually a bit harmful

source: I've been winterizing bikes for years.

For you, I'd also recommend a good car cover and plugging exhaust, intake, and any other holes to prevent critters from making a home.

Honestly though, given the depreciation hit from storing a new car for 2 years you would be better off financially selling. You can always buy another after the 2 years are over.

[FR-S Guy]

Originally Posted by Decay107

Here was some advice I gave in another thread



For you, I'd also recommend a good car cover and plugging exhaust, intake, and any other holes to prevent critters from making a home.

Honestly though, given the depreciation hit from storing a new car for 2 years you would be better off financially selling. You can always buy another after the 2 years are over.

I do intend to cover up the intake and exhaust.

I have a Monogram series so I'm not entirely convinced they will bring its creature comforts back. I suppose they assume such a buyer would just get a BRZ, but that's not an option for me.

This is not a financial decision, and I'm okay with that. My car has quite high mileage for its age (27,000 km in 9 months) so I think the hit I would take wouldn't be worth it. Plus I would have to deal with selling the car and finding a new one when I come back, which I just don't have time for.

Anyone know whether disconnecting the battery for so long would do any harm beyond losing ECU learning? I'm more worried about the dashboard lighting up like a Christmas tree...

[Decay107]

Originally Posted by FR-S Guy

I do intend to cover up the intake and exhaust.

I have a Monogram series so I'm not entirely convinced they will bring its creature comforts back. I suppose they assume such a buyer would just get a BRZ, but that's not an option for me.

This is not a financial decision, and I'm okay with that. My car has quite high mileage for its age (27,000 km in 9 months) so I think the hit I would take wouldn't be worth it. Plus I would have to deal with selling the car and finding a new one when I come back, which I just don't have time for.

Anyone know whether disconnecting the battery for so long would do any harm beyond losing ECU learning? I'm more worried about the dashboard lighting up like a Christmas tree...

Yeah, removing it is no problem. It'll just screw up throttle response for the first few driving hours after power is returned to the system.

[x1UP]

Why, if you don't mind me asking, are you storing it for two years anyway?

[FR-S Guy]

Leaving for a work assignment.

[FR-S Guy]

Originally Posted by Decay107

Yeah, removing it is no problem. It'll just screw up throttle response for the first few driving hours after power is returned to the system.

That sounds relatively harmless... Saves me having to buy a battery tender.

[Koa]

Originally Posted by Decay107

Here was some advice I gave in another thread



For you, I'd also recommend a good car cover and plugging exhaust, intake, and any other holes to prevent critters from making a home.

Honestly though, given the depreciation hit from storing a new car for 2 years you would be better off financially selling. You can always buy another after the 2 years are over.

Just the opposite- depreciation when manufacturing years aren't too big an issue (read: the twins are going to stay relatively like they are now) would be factored around mileage as the primary driver over the asset's useful (depreciable) life. 2016 and 2017's aren't going to be wildly different... he'd be taking a huge hit right now selling it low mileage after he just got it

[Decay107]

Originally Posted by FR-S Guy

That sounds relatively harmless... Saves me having to buy a battery tender.

You should definitely still get a battery tender. Lead Acid batteries slowly discharge on their own so you an either get a battery tender now, or a new battery once you get back.

[inertia]

Originally Posted by harkbrz

Better idea. Sell your car, buy 2017 model when it comes out.

That's what I would do.

[jbsali]

if you dont end up jacking up the car, put some carpet squares/ sample pieces (thick carpet) under your tires. this will prevent your tires from getting flat spots. car cover, plug holes (intake/ exhaust), perhaps look into covering your seats, steering wheel, etc with large covers (e.g: bed sheets) just to cut down on dust on hard to clean areas.


in all honesty, look into selling the car. i don't know how your insurance works where you are but if you're storing a car you should look into theft, fire and storage insurance.

may be wise to take the hit on the car now rather than spend money on storage insurance, things to help the car during storage and potential problems you may need to face when you get home: theft, fire, earthquake, critters, wearing parts.. etc etc etc

[cliff p.]

It's better to put carpet squares under the tires, than to put the car on jack-stands for extended periods of time. Granted the car doesn't have much droop when lifted, you'd still end up with some suspension geometry issues if you left the car on jackstands for 2 years (unless you were also supporting the wheels/tires with blocks or something)

What was suggested above is definitely the way to go.

[MadeInSweden]

Don't forget to put a "dry ball" (called that in swedish) to collect moisture inside the car.