Westy parked up for 11 months

[Petemac]

Some concerns about leaving my car for a long period of time without the engine being started. I will put it on stands, change the oil, empty the tank, change coolant etc. Am I being paranoid or will my engine be fine when it comes to starting it up after such a long time? anyone done a similar thing? was it all ok ? appreciate your views please folks.

Thanks

 

Petemac

[Andy Banks]

There's a few threads on this, search for "over winter" for example. However, I think what you are suggesting is just fine. Need to disconnect the battery or get a decent trickle charger like the Cirtex would be my only addition.

 

Of course, if it's a Zetec you can store the bits in my Westy and I'll keep em running for you :-)

[peterg]

Battery conditioner if you have power supply and want to leave the battery in the car - I think Andy means Ctek, here:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-Multi-Functional-4-Stage-Battery-Charger/dp/B004TLF4PC/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1377633975&sr=1-2

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Eleven months isn't a long period to lay one up for. In fact, it's not even long enough to really need any special laying up procedures.

 

Although, there are one or two small things that will help keep the car in the best condition possible.

 

(FWIW, I Once accidentally laid mine up for eighteen months with nothing done at all after a sudden health issue meant I couldn't do a typing with it).

 

Disconnected battery isn't a bad thing, or if you can, having it on a conditioner, will keep it in tip top condition.

 

Cleaning the car off, engine bay too, followed by a quick spin round the block to help dry off the nooks and crannies. Helps get rid of standing dirt that might trap moisture, oils, greases etc. If you want to be ultra picky, you could give metal surfaces a wipe off with ACF50 or a light machine oil, I suppose.

 

Oil change will do no harm, again, it'll help avoid acids etc sitting inside the engine. But not vital.

 

I wouldn't drain the tank right down, you're probably not going to get it right empty, and you're just inviting those sludgy, lacquered areas to form, plus you'll end up with condensation inside the tank and associated rust. I'd always make sure it was full. The tank might be a bit stale in a years time, but you'll soon use it up.

 

Some over inflate the tyres to avoid flat spots. I didn't, and didn't have any flat spots either!

 

If anyone volunteers to start the engine for you once a week etc, hide the keys and tell them a polite no! If the car is started, it really needs to be driven.

[Rab (bombero) Reid]

What about the suggestion by some to depress the clutch pedal to avoid the plates binding .. ?

[Paul Gibney - Lancashire AO]

i always make sure fuel tank is empty.

but then forget when i come to start again !!!

[Petemac]

Thanks guys much appreciated, I will sleep much better now.

Petemac

[simon besant]

I would not depress the clutch just make sure the car is dry

You could always consider one of those big bags you drive the car into and seal

My sister puts there old Porsche into one evey winter and it has never had a problem with brakes or clutch

Not sure how much they are but I think there are some cheap ones out there

[Hammy]

11 months is not a long time - as long as its a well ventilated space it will be fine

Keep the battery on a conditioner !!

[dombanks]

wot dave said is good, especially about not having it started. clean it, brim the tank (although i often forget that), disconnect the battery, put a dust cover over it lock the garage door and jobs a goodun.

 

when i came to use mine after 6 months or so this year i charged the battery, chucked in a can of fresh fuel checked the oil level/water/tyre pressure, gave it a good look over and it started first time. in fact it started better than my actual road car.

 

what i did notice was it seemed to take a little while to settle. it was more than likely just me but it did seem a little skitty for the first few miles, ran a bit uneven. the brakes were just like when they were new and felt a bit like they needed to bed in. so i just took it easy for a few miles and it was fine.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

The more volatile elements in the fuel will evaporate over time, so given long enough, it can feel like the engines not quite running as sweetly as it may normally do, and starting that first time can take a few extra turns, but it's honestly not worth worrying about in the time scale we're talking about.

 

When you come to start using the car again, as Dom said, give it a check over, check tyre pressures - reducing them if they've been overinflated for storage, and go for a run out. If it did take a little longer to start and seemed a little rougher running, go for a good blat, burn some fuel off and stick a tenner's worth of fresh in as soon as you can. It'll be fine.

 

Forgot to add before, mine was stored on the drive for eighteen months, (it lives there anyway in fairness). No issues.

 

Obviously though, the dryer and less humid the conditions it can be kept in, the better. But it's not a necessity, just the ideal.

[pistonbroke 2]

Never touched mine for 2 years. 

 

Ran and drove no problems when started.

 

( seem to remember turning her over a couple of times) 

[Bob Bobbleton]

Left mine 6 months

Battery disconnected and on an optimate for a couple of weeks here and there

Expected major fun and games

Started first click of the starter motor

No turning over no spluttering, just as it was when I left it last October !

Did a major clean, and wiped everything in ACF50

All bushes and visible threads were sprayed/wiped with ACF50

Obviously none on the brakes apart from handbrake linkage

Experience with bikes is that carb engines need to be turned over and ran every couple of weeks, carbs are grumpy, injection isn't

Bob