Will I be ok?
 

I'm putting my car away for about 3-4months up here in Canada. I need my car in top shape for another 3 years until I graduate from school. I will be changing the oil right before the car is in storage, fuel stabilizer with full tank, 45psi in tires, interior mostly removed and put in heated basement, waxed paint, plastic under car, sos pads up the tailpipe, baking soda inside to absorb moisture, battery removed etc......

I replaced the coolant 2 months ago...should I do it again before storage? Same goes for the brake fluid.....is 2 months old fresh enough?

Any advice guys???

Thank you,
Mike McKinney

If you rest it on blocks rather than on its tires you'll reduce the risk of flat spots setting in the rubber.

Insects and rodents might find you car a good place to spend the winter. Consider bait and/or poison as your conscience allows. I would try to lock the AC in recycle mode.

3-4 months is not a long time. My cars are usually off the road for that long for simple DIY maintenance :)

Sixto
91 300SE
81 300SD

No need for the blocks with modern tires. That was something people did in the old days of bias ply tires. Radials don't get flat spots from sitting. 3-4 months really isn't very long.

True. 3 - 4 months isn't very long...the things you mentioned are worth doing if you are going off for 3 - 4 years.

The cold environment might even preserve things a bit...

...which does bring up a point...if you do return to the car a few months later to resurrect everything, pick a warm day!

Like a kind mother tucking in her child on a cold Winters night.

Even great machinery doesn't usually get that kind of care. Hats off!

Have a great day,

I'd skip the poison/trap idea for rodents since they might just go die in the car (if they can get in). Maybe one of those battery operated ultrasonic pest repellers if you're worried about critters. I wish that I got taken care of as nicely as you take care of the car. (hint for my wife).

Thank you guys for your kind words!
I was wondering though about the climate control system in the car, it is original (even AC) and I want to keep it in top shape.......any ways to do so? Funny thing on this car, it was a garage queen until I bought it (my first car Nov. 3, 2000)
The thing is sort of out of a time warp and people are shocked at the condition of it the first time they take a ride. I want to preserve this!!!
Any thing else I'm missing here guys???

I have really appreciated all of your comments so far! Thank you for your interest!

Mike McKinney

I think you all had it well covered.

Would you be storing your car in a garage or out in the open?

Just curious, but why change the oil when it's just going to be sitting in the bottom of the oil pan. Is it due to the possibility of the corrosion of the oil pan with old oil?

Car will be staying in a garage.
Fresh oil sitting in the pan is better than old oil in the pan, I also want to keep all the seals in good shape.


What about the climate control? Can I do anything to ensure it will be ok?

See ya,
Mike McKinney

I understand that the climate control doesn't really like to sit. Upon your car's reawakening, start using the climate system at once. Also consider a trip to the A/C guy at that time. My mechanic says that there is a type of oil for climate control systems that should be used periodically which greatly improves reliability. No further info, but I'll find out in the (distant) spring.

I'd get a battery tender and keep it connected. Batteries have a tendency to sulfate if not kept up.

While in neutral, roll the vehicle back and forth just to make sure that the pads are free of the rotor. Don't put the parking brake on.

Some have been known to squirt a little oil in the cylinders, or put in special plugs that suck up the moisture in the cylinder.

Speaking of oil. For the time you will be in storage, I would recommend changing the oil before storing. This is because used oil carries alot of acids that can corrode the internal of the engine. It's the acids and condensation inside of the engine that do most of the damage. This is why short trips trips are harmful to engines. The oil is not brought up to temperature and the water is not burned off. Don't just turn the engine over, DRIVE IT!:D

Good luck.

I had chipmunks crawl, claw, destroy the area between the hood pad and the hood; had to replace the hood pad. I found a nest under the brake master cylinder. They can crawl into what you would think is impossible. They also will tear up all exposed padding to use in their nests. Other than wrapping the car in plastic I'm not sure how one would stop them.

Intruder

I've had chipmunks also get into the vents. Had all sorts of those little berry seeds coming out of the vents when the blower was turned on.:mad:

I don't know how those Da##ed rodents squeeze into those spots!