I am putting my 300e away for the summer.( three month period). Any caretaking advice. Should I unplug battery? How often should I start and drive it ?(I will not have ready access to it) I also have a very slow engine oil leak somewhere ( should I let it spill out over time or continue topping it off if im not starting it)? Any other tips/suggestions appreciated.

SAMI
'convertible weather is here'

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***SAMI*****
1986 300E 240K
1999 Mitsubishi Spyder GS 60K

I've been storing my car for about six months per year - June to December - for the last ten years. Anything up to a year - two at most is "short term storage", and I perform the following storage preparation.

1. Wash the car and vacuum the interior
2. Change the oil and filter.
3. Audit maintenance records to be sure brake fluid and anti-freeze will not expire prior to the end of storage, and change if it will
4. Fill with fresh fuel
5. Pump the tires up to (cold) 40 psi.
6. Place the car in its storage slot
7. Remove the battery (I use the same battery in my "summer car")
8. Place rodent poison in the engine compartment, interior, and trunk
9. Place a mousetrap inside each tire.
10. Cover the car

Six months later, I remove the cover, rodent poison/traps, run over the car with a duster, visually inspect for rodent activity, check for leaks, check fluid levels and tire pressure, install a freshly charged batter, crank it up and drive away. It starts about the same as if it had been sitting for a week.

You could park the car for three months and do nothing, but the battery will probably die. Disconnecting and/or removing the battery from your vintage car has no ill-effect. You shouldn't even loose the radio codes. The battery should be charged once a month or a battery tender should be connected, and the battery should be fully charged before you crank.

By far the greatest storage hazard is rodent damage, so if you do nothing else, at least take precaution to protect the car from rodents. Wiring harnesses aren't cheap to replace. and they are one of the first things rodents will chew up. The first is probably the hood pad.

Duke

PS One of the other things I gotten into the habit of doing prior to storage or if I don't think I'm going to drive the car for more than a day beyond (modern FI cars only) is floor the throttle and cut the ignition at about 5000 revs and keep the throttle floored until the revs run down to zero. This pumps air through the exhaust system purging the water vapor, which will improve exhaust system longevity.

Thanks Duke... didnt get a chance to see your reply till now.... it was very informative.... Ill use most of your suggestions....

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***SAMI*****
1986 300E 240K
1999 Mitsubishi Spyder GS 60K

Duke, you've got some pretty clever mice if they get inside the tires. I realize you meant to say wheels.

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Fred Hoelzle

Next the inside sidewall of each tire.

Duke