I purchased a car a few months ago because I got a very good deal (IMO). I haven't registered it yet because I'm waiting till spring when I plan to sell one of my other cars. I'm currently storing the unregistered car in my heated garage and was wondering if I should start it occasionally or just leave it alone. I do trickle charge the battery monthly. What do you guys think?
Storing a Car
- Thread starter pbm
- Start date
- Status
Originally Posted By: pbm
I purchased a car a few months ago because I got a very good deal (IMO). I haven't registered it yet because I'm waiting till spring when I plan to sell one of my other cars. I'm currently storing the unregistered car in my heated garage and was wondering if I should start it occasionally or just leave it alone. I do trickle charge the battery monthly. What do you guys think?
Fill up the gas tank and take the weight off of the tires by putting it on blocks. Next spring start it up, get the oil good and hot, change it and drive it.
I purchased a car a few months ago because I got a very good deal (IMO). I haven't registered it yet because I'm waiting till spring when I plan to sell one of my other cars. I'm currently storing the unregistered car in my heated garage and was wondering if I should start it occasionally or just leave it alone. I do trickle charge the battery monthly. What do you guys think?
Fill up the gas tank and take the weight off of the tires by putting it on blocks. Next spring start it up, get the oil good and hot, change it and drive it.
JHZR2
Staff member
fill the tank, change the oil, and put a true smart trickle charger, preferably one with a desulfidation mode on it.
Be sure to add something like Stabil in the right proportions to keep the fuel good. It starts to deteriorate over time. Waiting 3-4 months it will still start and run but since you're going to this kind of effort, may as well go all the way.
Put a bottle of "Stabil" in your gas tank.
Don't start it IMO unless you can get it out and run it for a good long run.
Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
Don't start it IMO unless you can get it out and run it for a good long run.
That's what I was wondering....whether starting it and letting it run (including the A/C) for 5 or 10 minutes at idle once a month does more harm than good. A long run is out of the question since it is not registered or insured.
Don't start it IMO unless you can get it out and run it for a good long run.
That's what I was wondering....whether starting it and letting it run (including the A/C) for 5 or 10 minutes at idle once a month does more harm than good. A long run is out of the question since it is not registered or insured.
I've stored a few cars over the years, garaged. Then when my son joined the Navy he had to prep his to be stored outside for his 3 deployments. Aside from washing waxing etc here is what I had my son do.
Add 1 qt of MMO to the gas along with the suggested amount of stabil, he did this at the gas station then filled the car. Drive the car for at least 30 minutes, park it where it will stay and change the oil and filter. If you can put the car on blocks that is great. I had him take the battery out since a trickle charger was not happening. No problems. HTH
Add 1 qt of MMO to the gas along with the suggested amount of stabil, he did this at the gas station then filled the car. Drive the car for at least 30 minutes, park it where it will stay and change the oil and filter. If you can put the car on blocks that is great. I had him take the battery out since a trickle charger was not happening. No problems. HTH
The thing that gets me about long term storage is rusty brake rotors. If it's humid you could try a mist of WD40, seriously, it will burn off real quick on the first stop. If you just bought the thing and it was sitting for the prior owner, a few stops should get the rotors shiny before storage.
Originally Posted By: pbm
Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
Don't start it IMO unless you can get it out and run it for a good long run.
That's what I was wondering....whether starting it and letting it run (including the A/C) for 5 or 10 minutes at idle once a month does more harm than good. A long run is out of the question since it is not registered or insured.
JMO, but I think it does more harm than good.
If you do decide to start it and idle it, then let it run for at least twenty minutes, or even longer. You want all the condensation out of the exhaust system before shutting it back down. That takes quite a while.
Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
Don't start it IMO unless you can get it out and run it for a good long run.
That's what I was wondering....whether starting it and letting it run (including the A/C) for 5 or 10 minutes at idle once a month does more harm than good. A long run is out of the question since it is not registered or insured.
JMO, but I think it does more harm than good.
If you do decide to start it and idle it, then let it run for at least twenty minutes, or even longer. You want all the condensation out of the exhaust system before shutting it back down. That takes quite a while.
Here's what I do every year for my 1965 Mustang and it has worked well for me the past three winters:
1. On final run of season, drive at least 20-30 miles on highway to get engine warmed up well.
2. Fill up tank completely after adding Stabil additive to the tank so it mixes in.
3. Drive car home and change the oil and filter.
4. Wash/wax the car completely. Drive the car a few miles after wash/wax to make sure underside/engine compartment dries out completely.
5. Park the car on top of a tarp (moisture barrier since I have an unheated garage).
6. Put car on blocks OR overinflate tires to 40+ psi and move car a few feet once/month during storage to avoid flat spots.
7. Disconnect and remove battery and connect to trickle charger.
8. Cover with good quality car cover.
Above all, DO NOT START CAR over the winter and let it idle -- this promotes rust in the exhaust system.
That's about it ... in spring, I prime the engine by cranking it briefly w/o the distributor wire connected, and then fire it up. I always change the oil again after the initial startup but this has seemed wasteful assuming oil doesn't deteriorate in the pan sitting all winter.
Good Luck!
1. On final run of season, drive at least 20-30 miles on highway to get engine warmed up well.
2. Fill up tank completely after adding Stabil additive to the tank so it mixes in.
3. Drive car home and change the oil and filter.
4. Wash/wax the car completely. Drive the car a few miles after wash/wax to make sure underside/engine compartment dries out completely.
5. Park the car on top of a tarp (moisture barrier since I have an unheated garage).
6. Put car on blocks OR overinflate tires to 40+ psi and move car a few feet once/month during storage to avoid flat spots.
7. Disconnect and remove battery and connect to trickle charger.
8. Cover with good quality car cover.
Above all, DO NOT START CAR over the winter and let it idle -- this promotes rust in the exhaust system.
That's about it ... in spring, I prime the engine by cranking it briefly w/o the distributor wire connected, and then fire it up. I always change the oil again after the initial startup but this has seemed wasteful assuming oil doesn't deteriorate in the pan sitting all winter.
Good Luck!
Last edited:
- Status