this was in the paper today:

Question: I'm planning on storing my car for several months. Is this long enough to cause any problems?

Answer: I doubt a few months of storage will cause any problems, but you can still play it safe with a few precautions.

The biggest risk in storing a vehicle is that fluids will go bad, particularly gasoline. After a few months of storage, gasoline can deteriorate, affecting performance and eventually jeopardizing the fuel system, according to Tom Wicks, head of research and development for Gold Eagle, a manufacturer of Sta-bil fuel additive.

The problem is accelerated in hot weather, so if the vehicle is being stored in an unventilated garage in Riverside, you are asking for trouble in as little as two months. By contrast, in the cool winter months near the coast, the gasoline may be fine for up to six months.

It is always best to store a vehicle with a full tank of gasoline, which minimizes water condensation inside the fuel tank.

It also makes sense to store your vehicle with clean oil, which has a minimum of sludge and acid. An oil change before storage is a good idea.

I would check the air pressure on the tires. If a car is to be stored for a long time without being moved, it is a good idea to take the weight or at least some of the weight off the tires by putting the vehicle up on stands.

Newer cars packed with a lot of electronics gear have a fairly significant parasitic drain on the batteries. You might consider disconnecting the negative battery cable.

Finally, it's a nice idea to have the car washed and store it inside a garage, out of the sunlight and dew.


posted by 24.126....

• Car sitting 18 months - any potential problems, cbc58, Wed, 20 Sep 2006 12:24:35
  • Re: Car sitting 18 months - any potential problems, jcwCT, Thu, 21 Sep 2006 07:37:11
  • Maybe this stuff would help?, BrianG, Thu, 21 Sep 2006 07:11:25
  • In a related vein, Oscar, Wed, 20 Sep 2006 22:20:26 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Re: Car sitting 18 months - any potential problems, B. Millar, Wed, 20 Sep 2006 14:05:12
  • tires out of round, bad gas..., Johnson , Wed, 20 Sep 2006 13:43:35
    • Re: tires out of round, bad gas..., viktor, Wed, 20 Sep 2006 22:30:34
      • My mazda 626 sat for two years..., Johnson , Thu, 21 Sep 2006 06:36:12

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