long term storage

[bigwheels]

Hi all new to the forum my car may soon be going in to long term storage due to illness what would be the best way to store it. Would it benefit from a good wax and underseal and bushes sprayed with silicone lubrication etc. Car would be covered and possibly garaged also wheels would be being removed and car would go on axle stands as there all new tyres and wouldn't want to damage the tyres with being stood. Also thinking about calipers leaving handbrake off so that calipers don't stick. Anyone got anymore tips on long term storage car in question is a 2003 t4 and is in really good condition .

[ASt85]

It is worth cleaning the car off with fresh water and allowing it to dry before storage. If you are keeping it under cover there is little to benefit from undersealing an already well protected car - the paintwork is a different matter.
It is worth applying a coat of hard wax like Simoniz or similar and leaving it unpolished, a friend swears by liquid paraffin - personally I think it is a little messy and difficult to remove later as it degrades - it also holds on to dust/diesel soot etc. if the paintwork is exposed - oddly applying a coating of diesel works well for vintage cellulose finishes.

If you are using a car cover, consider buying one of the more expensive breathable covers with a fleece lining - if it is straight waterproof pvc or similar you will get condensation build up between the cover and the paintwork.

Consider also using sponges to hold the cover clear of the larger panel paint work - I failed to do this when using a breathable cover over my son's '92 Eunos aka MX5 with the result that the very thin 2 coat of original paint bubbled on the bonnet where the cover was completely in contact with the bonnet. I now use long pieces of 5" x 5" sponge to keep the cover clear of the larger panels.

Disconnect the battery and consider using dehumidifier packs inside the car if the car is going to stand for a long period. Some salts left in the carpets from cleaning are deliquescent, traces of road salt are hygroscopic so the carpets will gradually become damp over time if the air isn't dry.

Definitely hand brake off, plus if it is a manual; you might want to think about keeping the clutch pedal depressed using a piece of wood or similar against the front seat to keep the clutch lining off the face of the flywheel as these too have a habit of freezing/sticking if left standing for lengthy periods. However there are those that would advise against keeping the clutch depressed as it puts a continuous load on the diaphragm/springs etc which may lead to distortion.

In any event a frozen clutch can quite often be cleared by bouncing the car back and forth in gear.

[bigwheels]

Thanks for the good advice ast85 quite a few points there that I had not thought about

[HDAV]

Depends how far you want to take it marine engines get fuel stabiliser added to the tank before last run to stop fuel degrading some suggest brim the tank to prevent condensation
https://www.marinesuperstore.com/eng...IMXhoCLdvw_wcB

The engines also get fogged with storage oil sprayed into cylinders to coat valves and pistons with protection.
https://www.marinesuperstore.com/oil...te-fogging-oil
Not sure if this will have an effect on cat etc as marine motors don’t usually have them.


Would suggest some anti rodent and bug treatments to the garage store along with leaving the bonnet catch undone and possibly the door unlocked and windows slightly open

I’m sure there are guides online on how to store cars

[ksmi]

And store the wheels flat never upright,as you intend removing them, and a few packets of mouse poison around the car, (they will eat Anything!!!!!) under bonnet included.
Regards Keith.

[eternal optimist]

Rather than taking the wheels off, if you inflate them to 4 bar they’re unlikely to flat spot.

[HDAV]

If car is on jack stands why take the wheels off? Just jack it up and set it on the stands with the weight off the tyres if it’s long longterm storage the tyres won’t last much longer after the car is back on the road anyway. Change the oil and coolant too not sure if better to drain cooling system or refil it.

Also AC system will likely fail so better to have the gas evacuated first?

[ASt85]

Originally Posted by HDAV

Change the oil and coolant too not sure if better to drain cooling system or refil it.

Also AC system will likely fail so better to have the gas evacuated first?

Always refill the cooling system' the antifreeze is an anti corrosive, if left empty the aluminium corrodes as does any iron exposed iron in the system.

[bigwheels]

Thanks everyone for all the sound advice on how best to store car all the points you have raised will be put to practice.

[morrismen]

One of the issues with storage is damp. If you have a leather interior, it will deteriorate quickly in storage, even with all doors and windows closed. Best thing to do is close all the air vents and thickly wax all the leather. Put in de-humidifiers in the foot wells - these will need to be changed regularly though because moisture builds up quickly if the car is left in a garage over winter.