Thoughts on oil change before storage.

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I believe changing the oil is better before storage right? I have about 2k (hard use) km on the oil that was in the car, have new oil/filter ready to swap. SHould this be done now before storage? if so after firing it up in the new year it doesn't need changine again does it ? Just looking for thoughts/input on storage i guess.

tia
 
I would definitely not change it again after storage. If you only do one oil change each year, it makes sense to do it just before storage, but don't just change it, run it 5 minutes to check for leaks and store it. You should take it on a good run to get the oil to full operating temperature before parking it for storage.
 
My preference is to have an oil change in the last few hundred miles before storing my car. The last thing I do before parking it is to run it 20-30 minutes minimum (for me my 40 minute drive from work on the hwy works well) and drive it straight in the garage and shut it off and not move it again. That way it gets stored with minimum moisture in the oil, minimum fuel in the oil, and as dry of an exhaust system as possible. If I need to move it a little I'll push it by hand rather than start it up. I also fill it up with a full tank of gas with stabilizer in the fuel before parking it.
 
I'd change the oil and filter right before storage, add fuel stabilizer and fill the tank, have the tires checked for air pressure, and then take it for a 45 min highway drive before parking it. Then don't start it again unless you going to take it for an hour long drive. Disconnecting the battery and using the proper trickle charger will help preserve the life of the battery (make sure you have any theft deterrent codes). If it's going to be stored more than 6 months, you may want to put it on stands to prevent the tires from flat-spotting. I'm assuming your storing in a garage?
 
exactly what i do, i store 6 classic cars every winter.

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I believe changing the oil is better before storage right? I have about 2k (hard use) km on the oil that was in the car, have new oil/filter ready to swap. SHould this be done now before storage? if so after firing it up in the new year it doesn't need changine again does it ? Just looking for thoughts/input on storage i guess.

tia


 
Thanks for the replies so far. I definitely will be changing it then. The tank is topped up I already planned on filling it righ to the top when i park it then adding the stabilizer. I have a spare set of wheels and tires i let it sit on over the winter. For the rims i'm removing the air and stacking them in the house.

The only real issue I have is that the insurance is off so a drive is a no-go. I'll probably just run it for a while in the driveway and revv it up lightly to get nice and hot.

Also just a stupid thought... what if i Vaccumed the eshaust after shut down.. wouldn;t that remove some moisture after the last shut-off ?

tia
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I store my Summer car in Winter and viceversa. Basically I have a winter beater just to avoid exposing the Porsche to the salt that covers Ontario roads. My routine:

Wash the car
Change the oil.
Add FP60 or your choice of Fuel Stabilizer and fill tank.
Run 20 miles or so to get the oil and fuel circulating.
Park the car and chock the wheels.
Fill a couple of fabric bags with silica dessicant and toss in the car.
Disconnect the battery. I connect a charger once a month or so just to keep it charged.
Toss a car cover on.

For the Porsche I replace my good rubber with a spare set of wheels with worn rubber just to avoid flat spotting the tires. This may not be necessary with current tire technology. I left my winter car sitting on the winter tires for 5 months and after about three days of driving any flat spots disappeared.

I have been a "don't start the car" guy, wanting to avoid getting condensation in the oil. I may change that practice. When I fired up my Mazda after sitting for 5 months it immediately blew the clutch line and slave cylinder. There is some merit in the idea that soft parts like hoses and seals may benefit from some flow circulating. Dunno.
 
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I'll probably just run it for a while in the driveway and revv it up lightly to get nice and hot.




You read the above and came to this conclusion?
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After I change the oil I need to circulate it don't I ? Driving for 20 miles is no different for the oil pump if the car is sitting still or deing driven.
 
When 2 dissimilar metals (even if they're only slightly
dissimilar) are in contact, and some moisture is present, an electrical cell is created. If there is some moisture in the oil film this will initiate a region of corrosion. Always run the engine hard enough and long enough to get the oil hot. This drives off water and traces of fuel.
 
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