300D will sit for 7 months.. what to do? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

alfa 75 · #1 12-26-2007, 01:17 PM

So it looks like my 300D won't sell before I leave so I'm going to keep it. No big deal, I like this car a lot. It won't be started or driven for roughly 7 months and unfortunately I have to store it outside, in the Utah snow and later on in the Utah sun.

Any precautions I should take with this? I doubt I could get away with putting a cover on it for that long, that probably wouldn't fly with the other residents on the street. I've stored cars before (hell, the '88 Alfa has been in hibernation for almost two years) but I've always been around to start them regularly.

winmutt · #2 12-26-2007, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfa 75

So it looks like my 300D won't sell before I leave so I'm going to keep it. No big deal, I like this car a lot. It won't be started or driven for roughly 7 months and unfortunately I have to store it outside, in the Utah snow and later on in the Utah sun.

Any precautions I should take with this? I doubt I could get away with putting a cover on it for that long, that probably wouldn't fly with the other residents on the street. I've stored cars before (hell, the '88 Alfa has been in hibernation for almost two years) but I've always been around to start them regularly.

Unless its against the law or home owners Id cover it. Def put a windshield sun screen up. Drain all the diesel and unhook the battery. If you can put the battery on a trickle charger. Is there no one you can "lend" the car to? Also if you cancel your insurance you may have a hard time getting it reupped, more of a reason to lend the car to someone.

t walgamuth · #3 12-26-2007, 01:40 PM

I would leave the tank full and unhook the battery. Covering it is probably a good idea too.

I would leave the windows open 1/4" to avoid excessive heat build up.

Tom W

tangofox007 · #4 12-26-2007, 01:42 PM

You need to do more than "unhook" the battery; you need to remove it from the vehicle. A discharged battery will freeze and crack the case.

alfa 75 · #5 12-26-2007, 01:40 PM

Yeah, the battery is a given.

Can you explain the insurance issue? And no, there's nobody I can really lend the car to. I doubt my brother wants to drive a 1979 diesel.

vstech · #6 12-26-2007, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winmutt

Unless its against the law or home owners Id cover it. Def put a windshield sun screen up. Drain all the diesel and unhook the battery. If you can put the battery on a trickle charger. Is there no one you can "lend" the car to? Also if you cancel your insurance you may have a hard time getting it reupped, more of a reason to lend the car to someone.

AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!
NO NO NO...
you want to completely fill the fuel tank. DO NOT DRAIN IT!!!
if you drain it, condensation will accumulate in the tank and cause rust and various other problems, not to mention water in the fuel... FILL THE TANK!
change the oil, start it, and get the car up to full operating temp and then shut it down and hook up a trickle charger to the DISCONNECTED battery.
I would crack the two front windows, and put a good plastic tarp over the cab of the vehicle, then a quality vehicle tarp over the entire car. the tarp prevents the cover from getting blown into the open windows. the open windows are for heat dissipation and ventilation of condensation. believe me, you don't want condensation collecting on your electronic components... trust me!
I agree the battery is best pulled from the car, good time to inspect the battery tray for rust/corrosion and treat it while it's out. also put the battery on a large block of wood or a wood desk for charging. you may want to put it in a battery box to contain any vapors that may come out during charging.

tangofox007 · #7 12-26-2007, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winmutt

Also if you cancel your insurance you may have a hard time getting it reupped...

?????????

pmari · #8 12-26-2007, 01:53 PM

Pump up the tire pressure, Change the motor oil. IMO no need to drain the fuel, but I would fill the tank and put some stabilizer and biocide in. Sun screens, may be a wash and wax if she's in good shape.

I see I was slow on the post it button

Careful with tarps, they can wear the paint when the wind blows. Diesel will destabilize and can drop ashphaltenes. http://www.fuel-clean.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10&Itemid=11

Dusty-NZ · #9 12-26-2007, 02:25 PM

I recently pulled a 300D from 10yr storage , car was parked and left.

New battery , started right up with the old fuel, drove 500 miles home, fixed the perished rubber parts , etc , good car again.

Note , the diesel did not do off , and no alge growth, but the latter might have been good luck, not good management.

If you can get someone to start and moove the car each month , maybe your brother, just to make it look less derelict....

alfa 75 · #10 12-26-2007, 01:48 PM

Won't the fuel go bad? That's a concern on gas cars, maybe not on diesels?

Oh yeah, this is going to sit on the street.. no tarps and like I mentioned a cover is very iffy. I thought of putting towels or something on the seats to protect them. The dash has a dash mat. Windshield screen is a good idea.

vstech · #11 12-26-2007, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfa 75

Won't the fuel go bad? That's a concern on gas cars, maybe not on diesels?

nope, diesel lasts for years with no issues. however if water gets into the mix, tons of issues can come up.

NOW if your car has had bacterial infection in the past, you may want to add a fresh treatment of starton or biocide to the tank before you store it.

winmutt · #12 12-26-2007, 02:23 PM

Well ignore my bit about the fuel tank it would seem, I was going off motorcycle winter storage

.

Anyways, lapse of insurance is a serious issue in GA. You have to turn in your license plate or your license will be suspended. In any state insurance companies dont like to see a lapse ase it tends to mean bad things. Jail, unemployment etc. Speak with your agent about it.

alfa 75 · #13 12-26-2007, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winmutt

Well ignore my bit about the fuel tank it would seem, I was going off motorcycle winter storage

.

Anyways, lapse of insurance is a serious issue in GA. You have to turn in your license plate or your license will be suspended. In any state insurance companies dont like to see a lapse ase it tends to mean bad things. Jail, unemployment etc. Speak with your agent about it.

Different situation in Utah. And I did speak to my agent, I know the guy. I don't think that will be a problem. Thank you though.

deltajetfixer · #14 12-26-2007, 06:11 PM

I'm not sure how a diesel would react to fogging oil sprayed into the intake while it's running? Probably sense it as extra fuel and speed up?

Not too sure on whether it would work as well on a diesel as a gasoline engine which has it sprayed into the intake until it almost stalls before the ignition is killed.

I'd probably remove the injectors and spray some into the cylinders.

TylerH860 · #15 12-26-2007, 06:15 PM

Why not look into renting a storage unit somewhere? I'm renting a 1 car garage sized storage unit for 6 months for $40 a month while my house is being built. There are just too many variables to ditching a car outside.