One of our local miniacks just sent out word that she's being deployed to Baghdad ... these things seem to be for about a year these days ...

What is required for a modern (fuel-injected) auto, besides removing the battery, to get it ready to sit for a year??

 

I think you'd want to get the car up on jackstands so that the tires don't flat spot.

 

Yep - the tyre thing is old-school too ... i'm wonderang mainly about fuel system, cylindar walls ... stuff like that.

In the old days, we would spray oil through the spark plug holes, drain the float bowls, stuff like that ... are there things one can do like stabilizers in the fuel tank that really help?

 

If I were storing my MINI for a year, I would make sure that a friend of mine drove my MINI for a couple miles every couple of weeks. Nothing better for a machine than to make it run once in a while during storage.

 

Word....^^^ i would put it on jacks....and at least start it 2 times a week!

 

Your dealer probably could advise you as to what to do, and you might not need it, but a climate controled unit sure would be nice.

 

I think the old rules still apply.
Fill the tank and add Stabil, drive 15 minutes and store the car.
Pull the plugs and squirt oil in all 4 cylinders.
Turn it over and shut off. Reinstall plugs.
Disconnect the battery and hook up to a trickle charger(if u want.)
Climate controlled storage is best + the jackstands of course.
Wish your friend well from all of us.

 

long term storage means?
how long would that be?? on the minimum?

 

I am deploying to Iraq for probably 6 months starting this June. What do you all think I should do with my 02? Should I attempt to store it or should I try to find someone to drive it?

 

I'd go with what 2minis stated above, except for the trickle charger. If you're worried about the battery, go with a battery tender, rather than a trickle charger - won't fry the battery over time.

A nice breathable, indoor cover would be nice also.

That's the way I've gone since November - I'll be unsealing the cocoon mid-march (hopefully- if it stops snowing around here).

Also, remember to maintain comp. insurance during this time...liability & collision can be dropped for cost savings.

Oh yeah, keep your head down. Iraq is especially nice this time of year...not!

 

Exactly!! The big thing IMHO is a full tank with Sabil.

I would not recommend starting it up a few times a month. This with make condensation in the block and exhaust, this you do not want. Also if it is me once your friend gets back change the oil. You can buy "fogging oil" at your local marina (WestMarine) also they sell a oil attive that I add when we winterize our boat. I do not know if the syn oil would need this or not.

Battery Tender over battery charger or just trickel charge once home. Battery Tenders work very well and only when needed.

2minis post I would recommend out of all others.

 

Just store it and follow what we have posted.

MOST OF ALL......be safe and hurry the hell home! Thanks for your services.

 

I'm not sure on using jackstands. The suspension (shocks, springs, etc) will be hanging. I put 45 pounds in the tires on my Z3. no flat spots.

 

Thread resurrection, I know... but I'm going to be starting med school in the caribbean this fall and will be storing my R53. I have a garage to keep it in, and my dad can stop by and drive it once a month (or more frequently) if that's the best way to go but I'm curious if there's any opinions on the best way to store a car.

The specifics to my case are I'll be leaving in august and coming back for christmas break, and then probably gone til the next christmas break, then I'll be back in may. So I'm not too concerned about letting it sit for 3 months, but for nearly 12 months makes me a bit nervous.

My thought is to put stabil in the fuel, fresh oil, coat the cylinders with a bit of oil (i've always used a bit of 2 stroke oil in my motor cycle but would fogging oil be better?)hook it up to a battery tender, and cover it. I serviced the cooling system a couple of weeks ago and the trans fluid is 6 months old. Brake fluid is a year old so I figure I'll plan on changing it either in december of this year or when I pull it out for good in may 2018.

should I put it on jack stands? it seems like having the suspension hanging might not be the best thing for it. I could store it on the snow tires/wheels that I have.

 

Did you read the thread before you posted? All that stuff has been brought up before. Just overinflate the tires, no need for jackstands.

 

I read it but it doesn't seem like there's a consensus on the tires flat spotting or on whether its best to moth ball it or just have someone drive it every so often, hence the thread resurrection.

 

If you are only leaving it for 3 months, just add air to the tires and put the battery on the trigger charger. You don't need to to do anything else.

 

Are there any thoughts out there about the best procedure for pulling a car out of storage? I mothballed my car back in December and I'll be pulling it out again in December (not that I'm anxiously looking forward to it or anything)

right now it's sitting with clean oil, fogged cylinders and a trickle charger. I kind of wish I had a way to run the oil pump for a few seconds before I try and start it for the first time. Is it worth changing the oil before I start it? or disconnecting the plugs/ignition and turning it over to circulate the oil before starting it?

other than that I figure I'll check all the fluids and tire pressure and go slow to start.