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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: Mothballing a car
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Leo Enticknap
Film God
Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 03-08-2004 03:41 AM
A friend recently broke her hip in a skiing accident. As a result she is likely to be in hospital for several months and unable to drive for the best part of a year. She's asking me for help in 'mothballing' her car in a way which minimises any potential damage which could result from it being out of use for that long.
The vehicle in question is a 2002 Ford Fiesta, 1.4 Diesel injection, with 18k miles on the clock. My friend has a garage, which is a help. From a hunt on the Internet, I've found the following suggestions for long-term storage:
- Make sure the car is bone dry before taking into the garage for the 'last time'.
- Jack up vehicle and rest it on four axle stands, then deflate tyres to prevent flatspotting.
- Drain oil, flush engine, then remove and discard filter. When car is ready to be used again, refill with fresh oil. Leave sump plug and filler cap open.
- Drain the fuel tank and store contents safely away from car.
- Store vehicle in garage with windows and sunroof a crack open, to prevent build-up of condensation.
- Disconnect battery and remove to a safe place.
Is this all really necessary and is there anything I've missed? On the battery issue, I'm a little bit in two minds whether to do this, because if I do then presumably the engine management computer will lose all its settings and the radio security code will need re-entering (and knowing my friend, I bet she's lost the bit of paper with the code on it). I had in mind to charge it up every month or so to maintain this data. Surely if the fuel's been drained, then there is no fire risk?
Many thanks in advance...
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Pete Naples
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1565
From: Dunfermline, Scotland
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 03-08-2004 05:16 AM
Absolutely, I change oil and filters, (transmission, axles etc too) when my Range Rover is going to sit for any length of time. I don't like the idea about removing the oil filter and leaving the sump plug and filler cap off. Dust and dirst will settle in there, and also the oil pump is boud to become de-primed, ok the chances are on a modern engine it's self priming, but there's still going to be that awful few seconds at start up where there is ZERO oil circulating.
Either drain the coolant or make sure it's up to spec on antifreeze, you don't want to come back to a cracked radiator or block.
Something that's not on Leo's list: Leave the handrake disengaged, otherwise it'll be frozen on in a years time. The advice about leaving a window or sunroof open is sound.
With regard to the battery: It will go flat over that period of time, almost sure of it. Personally I'd remove it, but make sure yo've got the radio code. You can buy gadgets to keep the vehicles memory systems going from 9v PP3 batteries of it's that big a worry, but Ford diesel (It's an Endura aint it?) management systems aren't all that clever anyway. The TDCi is a different story.
I give all the locks and hinges a good oiling before long term garaging, and also WD40 and wipe the door seals, they just love to stick otherwise.
On an aside, when you do come to restart the engine, I'd remove the glow plugs or injectors and spin the lump on the starter until the oil pressure warning light goes out. Then start the engine as normal.
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Leo Enticknap
Film God
Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 03-08-2004 09:28 AM
Yes, I did think about a plan B, which was to use the car for one round trip to work each week. This would put around 5k miles on it, assuming Serena is out of action for a year. But there are several arguments against that: I'd have to insure myself on it (about £200), the car would have to be road taxed when that runs out next month (£160), and putting 5k miles on it would incur maintenance costs and significantly depreciate the value of the car. All that compares with a cost of around £100 for axle stands and a complete change of 'bodily fluids', so to speak. Furthermore, Serena's flat is a 40-minute walk from mine and the car is not very comfortable for someone of my height (6'4"), all of which makes me want to mothball it.
quote:
Whether all of the above is necessary is really a matter of preference and what the vehicle is really worth to her.
It's a pretty new car (less than 2 years) with quite low miles, so I think it's worth taking care and doing the job right.
The concensus seems to be:
- Yes to raising the car off the ground for storage;
- Yes to leaving windows a crack open;
- Leave fuel tank full to prevent condensation/corrosion;
- Leave handbrake disengaged;
- Replace engine oil, gearbox & axle lubricants before storage and then again immediately before re-use;
- Drain coolant and replace immediately before re-use;
- Remove battery for storage, making sure I have the radio code first;
- When restarting for the first time, remove injectors (though this might be easier said than done - I haven't looked under the bonnet yet) and turn over engine by hand to prime oil pump before operating starter motor.
Thanks for your help, folks. Looks like I've got a fun weekend in store!
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William Hooper
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1879
From: Mobile, AL USA
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 03-09-2004 12:45 AM
I don't know much about diesels, but for gasoline engined cars it's best to drain the tank. Also oil & gas can leave 'lacquered' deposits over time as they sit, wreaking havoc on fuel pumps, oil galleries in the head, etc. And it always seems that the worst things that hit cars which sit up is the brake systems crap out with the seals in the cylinders perishing, rusting of the brake lines (worse with non-silicone brake fluids, since they're hygroscopic), & rubber suspension parts deteriorating. And the water pump! What is it about water pumps which crap out from sitting up?
In general, if you had the choice of acquiring a car that had been in storage for a year or one that was only driven on weekends, you'd want the second one. Ask your friend if you can take her car to the dirt track on weekends.
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