Advice on storing car for 3 months

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by JD001

I haven't touched my car for 3months, was thinking of getting it going for the 1st day of spring if I can find the log book to register the thing!!

If I can't find the document then it won't get going until April!!

Oh as for precautions taken, I removed the battery and plugged into a battery charger..

How does that work?

[JD001]

Originally Posted by humfrz

How does that work?

The log book is proof of ownership, no idea where I put it!!! I'll have to order a new one.. Found a road tax reminder that I hope I can ustill useto buy the road tax thus negating the requirement of the log book...

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by ls1ac

The new recommendation is now, peppermint oil. Spray around the tires and in the engine compartment. I just got some so i will try it on the cars when i go north. It should smell a lot better than the moth balls. I might do both in the engine area.

dryer sheets also work, as does irish springs soap, btw.

[ls1ac]

Personal bad luck with dryer sheets and Irish spring. Good luck with mothballs but the smell lasts months, so peppermint oil is my next try.

[Lantanafrs2]

My car sat for 2 years. Started occasionally but had a battery tender hooked up. No problem

[JD001]

Originally Posted by Lantanafrs2

My car sat for 2 years. Started occasionally but had a battery tender hooked up. No problem

How often was it started? What did you do about the fuel in the tank?

[Lantanafrs2]

Originally Posted by JD001

How often was it started? What did you do about the fuel in the tank?

I left it with 1/4 tank but it was filled before it was shipped to my new place. My father may have treated it with stabil. Not sure. I'll find out.

[cmiovino]

Originally Posted by JR23

Hello guys, I plan to store the car for potentially 3 months. So far I plan to:
-Fill the gas tank
-Oil change
-Use a trickle charger for those 3 months
-Fill up tires

This is what I did for 3 months and it was probably overkill. I used Stabil in the gas tank and filled it up to prevent moisture, even though it was in an attached garage. Oil change, but didn't replace the filter (did that when I brought it out in the spring, only had 4k miles on it). Filled tires to 50PSI to prevent flat spotting.


I did not use a trickle charger, but when checking the voltage after 3 months, it was low and showed about 40% charge remaining. So I put a trickle charger on it overnight and all was good.


All this is probably overkill. I know people I race with that leave their cars outside with whatever fuel is left, no Stabil, no oil change, and not battery tender. Snow, ice, and sub zero temperatures for months. Worst that happens is the battery is dead and they get a new one every year. Long term, it probably isn't kind to the car however.

[tim35ct]

Thanks for the info. i will try it.

[JD001]

As mentioned here and elsewhere, my car sat for just over 3months! Didn't touch a thing, not even a tyre valve cap.. Installed a freshly charged battery, started her up,no issues, pumped up the tyres and off I went for a drive (this was the evening of the 1st April). Not touched her since....

[soundman98]

usually the carbs need adjusting after sitting so long.

[JD001]

Originally Posted by soundman98

usually the carbs need adjusting after sitting so long.

Thankfully not, lucky the jets didn't get gummed up!! Slight hesitance on pickup but all cleared up.. it was a good call to switch out the SUs for a set of Webers..

[tim35ct]

it started for about 3 secs and threw a code. i was hoping it would just turn and not start. o well.