leaving my ls1 for 6 months...

[mradam]

Hi Guys,

I'm going o/s for 6months and will have to garage my clubby for that time.

What problems may i run into when i get back after the car hasn't been run for 6months?

I'm assuming i should crank the engine over by hand a couple of times before i restart it? Anything else i should do to be sure to not damage my baby?

cheers,
Adam

[Padina]

i'll volunteer to look after it while you're away mate.. :lol: i'll keep it running, you wont have to worry... lol ;) :hide:

nahh you should leave the keys with your parents or a close friend you can trust, and just get them to crank it up and let it idle for a couple minutes once or twice a week. that will keep the battery from totally draining, and giving the engine a workout. :D

[Merlin]

Hi Guys,

I'm going o/s for 6months and will have to garage my clubby for that time.

What problems may i run into when i get back after the car hasn't been run for 6months?

I'm assuming i should crank the engine over by hand a couple of times before i restart it? Anything else i should do to be sure to not damage my baby?

cheers,
Adam

I'd drain the fuel - it goes off after a while and just disconnect the battery.

[mradam]

i'll volunteer to look after it while you're away mate.. :lol: i'll keep it running, you wont have to worry... lol ;) :hide:

nahh you should leave the keys with your parents or a close friend you can trust, and just get them to crank it up and let it idle for a couple minutes once or twice a week. that will keep the battery from totally draining, and giving the engine a workout. :D

haha no worries :p
How about i just leave it at your place? :lol:

Can't really get anyone to crank it over every week. That's the main problem.

cheers,
Adam

[FNQracing]

Hi Guys,

I'm going o/s for 6months and will have to garage my clubby for that time.

What problems may i run into when i get back after the car hasn't been run for 6months?

I'm assuming i should crank the engine over by hand a couple of times before i restart it? Anything else i should do to be sure to not damage my baby?

cheers,
Adam

If the car is not going to be driven / started regularly:

1. If you are not going to raise the car off the ground, a put few extra pounds in your tyres.

2. Disconnect battery, or better yet, trickle charge it.

3. Give it a good wash / wax and make sure she is as dry as the Simpson berfore putting her away.

4. Leave a window partly open if secure.

5. Put some fuel conditioner in the tank to stop it going off.

6. Write youself a note of all the things you have done and leave it somewhere near the drivers seat so you'll remember what you;ve done when you get back. You *will* forget.

Thats about all I can think of right now.

[mradam]

I'd drain the fuel - it goes off after a while and just disconnect the battery.

I didn't realise that fuel went off? Off as in loses octane? I would have thought it would evaporate a bit but not go off?

Anyone got a good technique for draining fuel on unleaded cars? It's a gigantic pain in the arse. Bleed plug would be great.

cheers,
Adam

[mradam]

If the car is not going to be driven / started regularly:

1. If you are not going to raise the car off the ground, a put few extra pounds in your tyres.

2. Disconnect battery, or better yet, trickle charge it.

3. Give it a good wash / wax and make sure she is as dry as the Simpson berfore putting her away.

4. Leave a window partly open if secure.

5. Put some fuel conditioner in the tank to stop it going off.

Thats about all I can think of right now.

6. Write youself a not of all the things you have done and leave it somewhere near the drivers seat so you'll remember what you;ve done when you get back. You *will* forget.


Thankyou very much FFO. Very much appreciated.

cheers,
Adam

[FNQracing]

Thankyou very much FFO. Very much appreciated.

cheers,
Adam

Oh yeah,

7. Don't put the handbrake on

8. Cover her with a breatheable car cover.

[Merlin]

I didn't realise that fuel went off? Off as in loses octane? I would have thought it would evaporate a bit but not go off?

Anyone got a good technique for draining fuel on unleaded cars? It's a gigantic pain in the arse. Bleed plug would be great.

cheers,
Adam

Yeah it only has a certain shelf life - they are all different though - what sort of fuel do you run? Regular unleaded can last up to 12 months but any sort of premium petrol like Optimax will go off fairly quick (about 4 weeks) due to all the extra additives.

FFOracing mentioned a fuel conditioner - not sure if these work or not?

[Elite SS]

Spray the bores with diesel, this will stop the bore from going dry and forming rust, Not been rude 'IF YOUR NOT SURE HOW TO DI IT, removing the spark plugs is the way to do it.
like the others said remove all your fuel, disconnect you battery an give it a good wash inside and out, put your car on a stand or replace your wheels with some cheapies, this will avoid the tyres from getting flat and getting out of shape.For Security, if you intend on using substitute wheels remove all the air out of them so the car can't be moved.

Regards
Goran (Alley Cat)

[TUNDV8]

I'd drain the fuel - it goes off after a while and just disconnect the battery.

I heard not to drain the fuel when you are leaving the car for awhile as it damages it. Not sure of the reasons thou, have to ask the mate who told me...

[mradam]

Spray the bores with diesel, this will stop the bore from going dry and forming rust, Not been rude 'IF YOUR NOT SURE HOW TO DI IT, removing the spark plugs is the way to do it.
like the others said remove all your fuel, disconnect you battery an give it a good wash inside and out, put your car on a stand or replace your wheels with some cheapies, this will avoid the tyres from getting flat and getting out of shape.For Security, if you intend on using substitute wheels remove all the air out of them so the car can't be moved.

Regards
Goran (Alley Cat)

Thanks Goran, not rude at all, i was about to ask until i read on.

With regards to the wheels, does anyone know if old 14" commo rims will fit on over the callipers?

quick edit - did you use to have a hackett edition VT clubby?

cheers,
Adam

[LX346]

Mate the main 2 would be disconnect the battery and leave a cover on the car.

I've left cars unstarted for 18 months before, kick over 1st go without problems, just get oil pressure up before first kick, bores won't rust, they will have a film of oil and no air gets in to dry them up.

Had a 308 engine in the corner of the shop, taken out of the car in 1993 at placed in the corner, I took the heads off in 2000, bores had no rust and engine hadn't been turned over in the 7 years. Still a light film of oil on the bores. You'll be fine, just give it a good run when you get back.

[mmciau]

I concur with LX346.

Park it in the shed and if some dust MAY get in, cover it

Mike

[lowriding]

haha no worries :p
How about i just leave it at your place? :lol:

Can't really get anyone to crank it over every week. That's the main problem.

cheers,
Adam


A couple of years ago a friend was going away for a whlie. He gave the keys to his car to a young friend(18 y/o revhead ) who happily "volunteered" to start it up for him every few days - so what my mate did was left it in the garage with a clublock on and took the clublock keys with him :lol:

[IIV8II]

I heard not to drain the fuel when you are leaving the car for awhile as it damages it. Not sure of the reasons thou, have to ask the mate who told me...
Lines can corode from the inside - the won't corrode if they are wet with fuel. Same for injectors - dry injectors corrode/sieze, wet ones don't.

For six months, I wouldn't bother with any special prep apart from
(possibly) changing wheels or jacking car up to prevent tyres from going out-of-round
Fresh oil in sump - like, do it just 20km before storage so it's all through the donk
Remove or disconnect battery. Put it on 'float' charger if possible. You might need a new battery - $100? - when you get back
DO NOT start and run the car for a few minutes every few days/weeks.
DO NOT turn the car over on the starter every few days. Both practices wash oil from bores and wipe bearings dry.

[Merlin]

I suppose an easier suggestion than draining the fuel tank is to go for a long drive before you leave and make sure the fuel gauge is showing empty or just above – then when you get back just fill it up with a full tank of fuel and the bad stale fuel down the bottom will be diluted and you shouldn’t notice any performance issues.

The other thing to keep in mind about fuel is not only does it go off but they also change the composition of it month by month depending on the weather. So if you leave summer fuel in it then come back in winter the fuel will not be suited to the climate and the car may be hard to start – info on this can be found at www.bp.com.au

[EvillBill]

Make sure that the engine has been running at normal temperature when you shut it down for the long haul. Some water from combustion can make it into the oil. Usually this is evaporated from the oil once the car get to normal running temperature. If not, this water can mix with the sulphur in the oil (if not synthetic) and make sulphurous (less nasty than sulphuric acid) acid that can attack the white metal of the big and little ends. So shut her down nice and hot.

Draining the fuel is a good call too, if the car is going to be sitting a while. Putting it on blocks to prevent 'squarewheelitis' is also an idea.

Pouring half a litlre down the throat of the engine is a bad idea. I have seen this done and the effects 12 months later. The car could not be started, and even when new plugs where installed, ran like a dog for ages.