Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 18

Thread: Car going into storage - What to do?

  1. #1
    Dug's Avatar
    Dug is offline Forum Contributor Last Online: 05-07-2020 @ 07:08 PM
    Member Since
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    44
    Posts
    1,098

    Car going into storage - What to do?

    G'day all,

    I've decided that now that rego is due again, and I drove the car all of about 300km in the last year, that my Senator will be going into Storage.

    Whilst I'll have regular and easy access to the car, I won't be intending on driving the car any time soon.

    My question, and request for advise from those who know: What sorts of things should I be doing to the car in preparation for it's storage? I do intend on driving the car again at some stage in the future, so would like to make the recommissioning of it as easy as possible.

    Cheers,

    Krystian.

  2. #2
    limmo is offline Rarely Contributes to the Forum Last Online: 21-08-2015 @ 01:15 PM
    Member Since
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    35

    Re: Car going into storage - What to do?

    Mate put a maintenance charger on your battery so that you can start the car when you need to and it may also save you from having to buy a new battery. I have one on my ute as i don't drive her that often either.

    Cheers limmo.

  3. #3
    Nutter is offline Permanently Banned Last Online: 26-01-2013 @ 12:04 PM
    Member Since
    Oct 2005
    Age
    46
    Posts
    1,971

    Re: Car going into storage - What to do?

    If it's going to sit for extended periods it would be best on stands with the fuel tank drained, when fuel goes stale good and proper it will mess up the pump and injectors too, also I wouldn't trickle charge it if you know you won't be driving it I'd just take of the negative terminal.

  4. #4
    whitels1ss's Avatar
    whitels1ss is offline Powertrain Control Last Online: 04-07-2025 @ 12:39 AM
    Member Since
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    17,901

    Re: Car going into storage - What to do?

    Quote Originally Posted by Nutter View Post
    If it's going to sit for extended periods it would be best on stands with the fuel tank drained, when fuel goes stale good and proper it will mess up the pump and injectors too, also I wouldn't trickle charge it if you know you won't be driving it I'd just take of the negative terminal.
    ^^^ Agreed 100%

    I would also put a decent car cover over it, even if it being stored in a shed.

  5. #5
    VNV8 is offline Fair Contributor to the Forums Last Online: 06-01-2020 @ 03:24 PM
    Member Since
    Sep 2005
    Location
    brisbane
    Posts
    1,786

    Re: Car going into storage - What to do?

    If u dont want to drain the tank put some 'sta-bil' in it, apparently makes fuel last up to a year or more. also if it were me I'd be spraying some bug spray around it (careful which type and dont go anywhere near the paint).

  6. #6
    adr8 is offline Occasional Contributor to the Forums Last Online: 22-07-2018 @ 02:40 PM
    Member Since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    146

    Re: Car going into storage - What to do?

    I read in a motorbike magazine, best way to store a motor for an extended period of time, is to fill it with fresh oil all the way up till the filler cap (way past full on the dipstick) DO NOT START THE CAR!, then when you take it out of storage, drain oil and refill with fresh oil and filter.

    Hopefully, someone on here with some mechanical knowledge might know if this method has any merit or not? As it was the first I had heard of it.

  7. #7
    whitels1ss's Avatar
    whitels1ss is offline Powertrain Control Last Online: 04-07-2025 @ 12:39 AM
    Member Since
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    17,901

    Re: Car going into storage - What to do?

    Quote Originally Posted by adr8 View Post
    I read in a motorbike magazine, best way to store a motor for an extended period of time, is to fill it with fresh oil all the way up till the filler cap (way past full on the dipstick) DO NOT START THE CAR!, then when you take it out of storage, drain oil and refill with fresh oil and filter.

    Hopefully, someone on here with some mechanical knowledge might know if this method has any merit or not? As it was the first I had heard of it.
    If you did that on most cars it would leak out through the dip stick hole and perhaps even some other seals, I would not be doing it.

  8. #8
    VNV8 is offline Fair Contributor to the Forums Last Online: 06-01-2020 @ 03:24 PM
    Member Since
    Sep 2005
    Location
    brisbane
    Posts
    1,786

    Re: Car going into storage - What to do?

    interesting, it would prevent any rust or seizing, keen to see a pro's opinion?

  9. #9
    Hi Octane is offline Forum Contributor Last Online: 23-07-2021 @ 12:21 PM
    Member Since
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    1,124

    Re: Car going into storage - What to do?

    ^^ What whitels1s said.

  10. #10
    whitels1ss's Avatar
    whitels1ss is offline Powertrain Control Last Online: 04-07-2025 @ 12:39 AM
    Member Since
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    17,901

    Re: Car going into storage - What to do?

    Quote Originally Posted by VNV8 View Post
    interesting, it would prevent any rust or seizing, keen to see a pro's opinion?
    Unless you were to remove all the spark plugs during the process and fill up the intake manifold
    and upper cylinders with the oil, then replace the spark plugs at the same time there would still be air in the upper cylinders, valves and combustion chambers.

  11. #11
    whitels1ss's Avatar
    whitels1ss is offline Powertrain Control Last Online: 04-07-2025 @ 12:39 AM
    Member Since
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    17,901

    Re: Car going into storage - What to do?

    After all the above you would end up spending heaps of money on oil, make a massive mess, likely gum up the rings, destroy many oil seals
    and create a massive amount of work before you could ever run the engine again.

    EDIT...You might also even loosen carbon and other build up inside the combustion chambers and intake
    and you would fill up the exhaust and cats with oil as well.
    Last edited by whitels1ss; 31-10-2012 at 02:15 PM.

  12. #12
    XLR8 V8's Avatar
    XLR8 V8 is offline Powertrain Control Last Online: 22-05-2025 @ 08:22 AM
    Member Since
    Feb 2002
    Location
    North Brisbane, QLD
    Age
    50
    Posts
    9,524

    Re: Car going into storage - What to do?

    I've just got my car back on the road after sitting for 7 years. Some people drain all fuel before storing, but I stored it up with fuel in it to stop the pump etc from drying out. Fuel stabilisers do nothing after this long, so I knew the fuel would be bad. When I was due to get it going again I poured 1L of metho into the tank to absorb any moisture that had gathered, then I drained all the fuel out and put fresh fuel in just before starting.
    Before starting again for the first time I poured some fresh cheap oil into the engine and squirted some into the spark plug holes as well. I put the plugs back in without the leads attached, and pulled the fuel pump fuse, then turned the engine over to cycle the oil around inside. I then plugged the leads back on, put the fuel pump fuse back in and started it up. Once the white smoke stopped coming out the exhaust I stopped it and drained the oil again and replaced with some good oil. The car has been running great ever since, passed the roadworthy and is back on the road.
    When I stored it up I removed the battery altogether, but you'd just need to disconnect the terminals. You can put it up on vehicle stands to prevent flat spots forming on the tyres, or just leave it on the ground and regularly move the car back and forth. I chose to leave mine on the ground as the tyres were bald so I needed new ones before driving it anyway.
    Your brake discs will rust like crazy when they're not being used, but I just gave mine a spray with brake cleaner and after a few applications of the brakes the rust was gone.
    I also recommend leave an open container of bicarb soda inside the car. This will absorb any moisture in the air while the car is closed up and stop mould and musty smells from forming in the interior.

  13. #13
    Dug's Avatar
    Dug is offline Forum Contributor Last Online: 05-07-2020 @ 07:08 PM
    Member Since
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    44
    Posts
    1,098

    Re: Car going into storage - What to do?

    Thanks Guy's,

    The Battery will be removed from the car, and I'll use them in another car - it's already flat anyway.

    I'll fill the fuel tank and drain it afterwards, for just the reasons that XLR8V8 said, and also because it is the petrol gas that expands, not the petrol itself, so it will put less pressure on the seals etc... if it is full of liquid.

    I've also heard about filling the motor with oil, but don't want to do that as i've also seen old oil in engines that I've been tearing down, and it can be not pretty.

    Tyres are four years old now, and have been through a few heat cycles around a few race tracks, so they're pretty much stale anyway. They can stay on, and it'll keep the shocks etc... under pressure. They'll need changing from age before the car is going to get driven again anyway.

    Nutter - when did you get back?

    Bicarb soda - great idea, as is a bit of bug spray around the car.

    Thanks for your input guy's. I appreciate it.

  14. #14
    zorro's Avatar
    zorro is offline Substantial Contributor to the Forum Last Online: 04-07-2025 @ 05:34 AM
    Member Since
    Jun 2006
    Location
    SE Melb
    Posts
    4,938

    Car going into storage - What to do?

    Also I would suggest buying some plastic tubs and sitting the tires in them. Fill with an inch or so of water, this makes it hard for ants to invade and set up a nest. Also arm the garage/shed with ratsac.

    And give all the window/door seals a spray with lanolin, cable tie some fly screen mesh over the exhaust tips and lastly leave a note on the steering wheel with a reminder to check all fluids before starting/driving.
    GM: Has millions of dollars and highly trained engineers.

    Guy in his backyard:
    Has a hole saw.

  15. #15
    XUV is offline Considerable Contributor to the Forum Last Online: 01-12-2024 @ 08:54 PM
    Member Since
    Dec 2008
    Location
    The Riverina N.S.W.
    Age
    56
    Posts
    3,299

    Re: Car going into storage - What to do?

    Quote Originally Posted by adr8 View Post
    I read in a motorbike magazine, best way to store a motor for an extended period of time, is to fill it with fresh oil all the way up till the filler cap (way past full on the dipstick) DO NOT START THE CAR!, then when you take it out of storage, drain oil and refill with fresh oil and filter.

    Hopefully, someone on here with some mechanical knowledge might know if this method has any merit or not? As it was the first I had heard of it.
    that's for small motors and it was drain oil out and fill them right up with diesel .

    It's spose to keep a film of oil on the whole engine .

    as with a motor that hasn't been started in a while , a dry piston/sleeve is the biggest danger for damage on start up .

    Hence the disconnection of coil/spark plugs and allowing oil to be pumped up thru the motor , like XLR8 V8 said .

    You could also do that b4 storing it , so the oil lubes the piston and bore , without petrol drying it out .

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Car Storage Melbourne
    By Roly in forum General Automotive
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 07-09-2009, 05:14 PM
  2. Cheap car storage in Adelaide
    By SSASSC1 in forum General Automotive
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 26-09-2007, 03:03 PM
  3. Longterm Car storage (1year)
    By vyssbeast in forum General Automotive
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 07-06-2007, 11:46 PM
  4. Anyone for car storage??
    By lamont in forum General Automotive
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 24-04-2007, 06:00 PM
  5. Dedicated car storage facilities.
    By cam502 in forum General Automotive
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 11-11-2006, 05:45 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •