Storing Car for 7 Months looking for some tips

[astronaut45]

Ok, so I'm going to be overseas for the next 7 months for work and that means the Shelby is staying here. I have friends who are willing to drive it occasionally while I'm gone, (big sacrifice on their part) but I'm looking for some advice on what I should do maintenance wise and what I should ask my friends to do while they drive it. The car will be in a garage the whole time so it shouldn't be exposed to anything too crazy as far as the elements.

So, I'm at about 1300 miles right now, haven't done the first oil change, should I do that now? Or just wait until I get back? Or change the oil now and when I return? I've seen that some of you guys use a battery tender, is that necessary if I have people driving it occasionally?

When my friends come to drive it, what's the most important thing? Just get the oil up to temp, roll around the neighborhood? Or should I tell them to get out on the road and run it out to 4500+ RPM to let the engine stretch a bit? (Disclaimer, I obviously trust my friends a lot) Also what's the time frame on this, I was thinking once per month would be sufficient, does it need to be driven more often? Alternatively, if my wife just started it up and let it idle for 5 minutes, does that accomplish basically the same thing? (Other than concerns about the tires sitting in the same position for too long)

Any other pro tips you guys have?

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[Arknsawchuck]

Well if they take it out a couple times per month on nice days it should be fine the way it is. Sitting is the worst thing any machine can do. Now I would change the fluid once I got back simply cause it will have been in the car for almost a year. As far as the battery tender goes, if they drive it every other week it should be fine. I've had to do the same thing with my old mustang years ago due to overseas work and I was gone for 2 years. But it was driven and maintained while I was gone so no problems when I returned. Good luck

 

[ZX3ST]

So, I'm at about 1300 miles right now, haven't done the first oil change, should I do that now? Or just wait until I get back? Or change the oil now and when I return?

I'd change it now, and again when you return. Presiding personal preference of course. I'd be changing it around 1000mi regardless of your travel plans.

I've seen that some of you guys use a battery tender, is that necessary if I have people driving it occasionally?

I think this depends on your definition of "occasionally". The batteries are a bit undersized for these cars in the first place. My opinion, for the less than $100 investment, it's a good idea. I grabbed a Deltran PowerTender 5A off Amazon for like $60. There are of course many other options at varying price levels. Ctek seems to be a common favorite. A stock-equivalent battery will run you around $180 including the core (if you manage to damage it from deep discharge), so IMO I think a tender is worth the investment.

When my friends come to drive it, what's the most important thing? Just get the oil up to temp, roll around the neighborhood? Or should I tell them to get out on the road and run it out to 4500+ RPM to let the engine stretch a bit? (Disclaimer, I obviously trust my friends a lot) Also what's the time frame on this, I was thinking once per month would be sufficient, does it need to be driven more often?

The important thing is to get everything up to operating temperatures for long enough to be sure that any accumulated moisture/condensation has a chance to escape. Depending on weather conditions, this could potentially mean a 20-30min drive. Easy-going interstate cruising is highly effective at doing this. It's not necessary to run the snot out of it.

EDIT: I should add, if it were me, I'd instruct my friends no hanky-panky with the throttle when oil is below 190*F.

My opinion is that once every 3-4weeks should be enough.

You may want to consider a fresh tank of fuel (with fuel stabilizer added), since I think it's unlikely you'll go through the whole tank over 7mo. Additionally you may want to buy/construct some "flatstoppers" to avoid damaging your tires.

Alternatively, if my wife just started it up and let it idle for 5 minutes, does that accomplish basically the same thing? (Other than concerns about the tires sitting in the same position for too long)

This is probably the worst thing you can do IMO. I'd let it sit the whole 7mo before I would do that. Even if there were no moisture collected anywhere, starting a cold engine immediately introduces a lot of it. Cold engine, hot combustion equals your motor like a cold glass of water on a hot day. Anytime the motor gets started you should have a mind that it gets driven. During the winter, mine doesn't get started unless I absolutely have to. (In my climate, once salt hits the roads she's put up for the season)

 

[Tomster]

Change oil
Battery tender
Inflate tire pressure to just below max
Get a car bag (cocoon).
Completely full tank with ethanol free fuel (use some stabilizer)
Im sure I'm missing a few things

 

[galaxy]

If you are thinking to let your friends drive your car to keep it running good or anything like that, don't. Not needed. For the life of me, I literally cannot come up with a single person I'd let drive my car alone while out of town. I understand you may feel like they're doing you a favor, but the car will be just fine. Prepare it, park it, and leave it.

 

[Nfs1000f]

Let the car sit. Change the oil before it is stored. Over inflate the tires a few pounds to help avoid flat spotting. Get a battery tender. Add Stabil to a full tank. Cover it. Because I live in the NE my car is stored for 5 months with the above procedure.

 

[astronaut45]

Ok, so thanks for the advice, especially the last two, it makes my life significantly easier if I don't have to have anyone drive it.

So is it an old wives tale that vehicles need to be driven at least monthly or something that newer vehicles have made obsolete? I was always under the impression that cars were meant to be driven and that excessive sit time was something that could lead to some maintenance issues with hoses, fluids etc.

 

[galaxy]

There’s probably some truth to that, but for periods significantly longer than seven months, and not so much like the old days. And especially if stored indoors climate controlled.

 

[pilotgore]

Ok, so I'm going to be overseas for the next 7 months for work and that means the Shelby is staying here. I have friends who are willing to drive it occasionally while I'm gone, (big sacrifice on their part) but I'm looking for some advice on what I should do maintenance wise and what I should ask my friends to do while they drive it. The car will be in a garage the whole time so it shouldn't be exposed to anything too crazy as far as the elements.

So, I'm at about 1300 miles right now, haven't done the first oil change, should I do that now? Or just wait until I get back? Or change the oil now and when I return? I've seen that some of you guys use a battery tender, is that necessary if I have people driving it occasionally?

When my friends come to drive it, what's the most important thing? Just get the oil up to temp, roll around the neighborhood? Or should I tell them to get out on the road and run it out to 4500+ RPM to let the engine stretch a bit? (Disclaimer, I obviously trust my friends a lot) Also what's the time frame on this, I was thinking once per month would be sufficient, does it need to be driven more often? Alternatively, if my wife just started it up and let it idle for 5 minutes, does that accomplish basically the same thing? (Other than concerns about the tires sitting in the same position for too long)

Any other pro tips you guys have?

Although it’s likely “best” to have the car get to operating temp from time to time, 7 months is nothing to lose sleep over. I’d put the car into hibernation rather than worry about it being driven by friends at regular intervals.

If I were you, I’d disconnect the battery (put a tender on it if you want or just be prepared to charge it when you get back), put the car on jack stands/blocks to relieve suspension pressure and take weight off the tires, put stabilizer in the tank with the last fill up, change the oil when you get back, and put a cover on the car for good measure if you’re feeling frisky. (or thin plastic).

I regularly go 6-18 months without driving some of my vehicles and have never had a problem (batteries are always on a CTEK charger.)

My dad owns many corvettes that he bought new from 1979 through 2018 (the ‘79 has the most miles of all the cars with 14,255 on the odometer.) I’d call him a neglectful collector, but it’s his money so he can do what he wants.... He regularly goes years without starting vehicles, but his longest stint is 6 years without starting/moving the 1979. He didn’t disconnecting the battery, didn’t add stabilizer to the gas, and didn’t jack the car up. All of the cars run perfect despite “not taking the proper precautionary steps for storage”. No leaking oil or dry rotted hoses, but you can typically feel a tire imbalance for the first 15 minutes of driving (hence the jacking up recommendation.)

Just my $.02, but I wouldn’t sweat it.

Edit: A few more thoughts.

By not having friends drive the car for 7 months, you can lower your insurance to fire/theft only while gone, saving a nice chunk of change.

If you’ve ever had mice problems nearby (or even if not), it wouldn’t hurt to put some mice poison in the garage.

 

[Alain]

This topic usually yields TONS of different views.

7 months without driving them is NOTHING to worry about.

I put all three of my cars away from the months of November to March here in NJ because of the salt. Unfortunately I don't have room in my garage for my cars so all three of them sit in the driveway under covers. I used to overthink the hell out of this topic.

You have a garage so you're waaaaayyyy ahead in the game here.

- Change the oil BEFORE you put the car away. No need to let that used oil sit in the crank case/oil pan for 7 months. NO NEED to change the oil again when you get back. Just start it up and ride it.
- Fresh tank of gas. I've never used any stabilizer on my cars and I've never had any issues.
- Over inflate your tires an extra 5 PSI or so. Your tires will still be fine if you don't do this, but it's such a simple step that it makes no sense to skip it.
- If you don't put a battery tender on it be prepared to jump the car when you get back. The battery will most certainly be dead, but that's not a big thing to deal with. Since my car sits in the driveway, I can't put a tender on it, therefore I plan on taking the battery out of the car, bringing it to my basement and hooking it up to a tender there. This is what I do with my Harley, which also sits in my driveway under covers during the winter.


DO NOT let your wife or anyone start it just to idle it. Like someone else said, that's the worse thing you can do. If it's going to be started, make sure it gets driven at least 30 minutes or so.

Best thing I have found about not being able to drive the cars for an extended period of time is this...…….. when you get back in them it's like they are brand new cars again. They feel powerful and fun, just like the very first day you drove it. I love the springs because of that, it's like I get a new car every spring hahaha.

 

[astronaut45]

This topic usually yields TONS of different views.

7 months without driving them is NOTHING to worry about.

I put all three of my cars away from the months of November to March here in NJ because of the salt. Unfortunately I don't have room in my garage for my cars so all three of them sit in the driveway under covers. I used to overthink the hell out of this topic.

You have a garage so you're waaaaayyyy ahead in the game here.

- Change the oil BEFORE you put the car away. No need to let that used oil sit in the crank case/oil pan for 7 months. NO NEED to change the oil again when you get back. Just start it up and ride it.
- Fresh tank of gas. I've never used any stabilizer on my cars and I've never had any issues.
- Over inflate your tires an extra 5 PSI or so. Your tires will still be fine if you don't do this, but it's such a simple step that it makes no sense to skip it.
- If you don't put a battery tender on it be prepared to jump the car when you get back. The battery will most certainly be dead, but that's not a big thing to deal with. Since my car sits in the driveway, I can't put a tender on it, therefore I plan on taking the battery out of the car, bringing it to my basement and hooking it up to a tender there. This is what I do with my Harley, which also sits in my driveway under covers during the winter.


DO NOT let your wife or anyone start it just to idle it. Like someone else said, that's the worse thing you can do. If it's going to be started, make sure it gets driven at least 30 minutes or so.

Best thing I have found about not being able to drive the cars for an extended period of time is this...…….. when you get back in them it's like they are brand new cars again. They feel powerful and fun, just like the very first day you drove it. I love the springs because of that, it's like I get a new car every spring hahaha.

Thanks for the input, glad to have your northerners around to talk some sense into me. I was way overthinking this. I've got an appointment to get the oil changed next week now, then I'll get a full fresh tank of gas in it and get it back in the garage and inflate the tires an extra 5 PSI and detach the battery. Sounds like as long as I do that, I should be good. I'll probably head to wal-mart and get the fuel stabilizer as well just as overkill.

Thanks all for the informative responses.

 

[Tank]

Thanks for the input, glad to have your northerners around to talk some sense into me. I was way overthinking this. I've got an appointment to get the oil changed next week now, then I'll get a full fresh tank of gas in it and get it back in the garage and inflate the tires an extra 5 PSI and detach the battery. Sounds like as long as I do that, I should be good. I'll probably head to wal-mart and get the fuel stabilizer as well just as overkill.

Thanks all for the informative responses.

To add to the clamor:
If you disconnect your battery, hook it up to a trickle charger - the CTEK 3300 has been bulletproof for me for 5 years. I have my original factory battery from 2015.

Run the car to almost empty then fill with non-ethanol super no lead ( www.pure-gas.org to find someone in your area). Run it again and refill. You can then forgo any additives such as Sta-ble.

DO NOT have some one start it up just to idle- BIG NO NO.

Change you oil as planned.

When you do start it up, keep the accelerator pedal floored until you see the oil pressure come up. Once you see the pressure come up, release the pedal and the car will start. This will ensure parts are well lubed.

My GT350 spends half the year in storage due to Winter and road salting. I’ve never had a problem.

 

[Strokerswild]

Assuming the garage is temp controlled to some degree, all I'd do is make sure the tires are properly inflated and that there's a battery tender on it. Then cover it up and don't worry about it. Here in MN, winter basically lasts five months, give or take, and that's all I do with my toy cars and bikes as my shop is climate controlled. Once it's time to emerge from slumber the first stop is a gas station for a fresh load of fuel. Never an issue.

If it bugs you that much, change the oil. I don't think it's a big deal myself. I've rebuilt engines that were as-pulled from a vehicle (some with full sumps) and have spent decades on an engine stand in the corner of a garage that were pristine inside. Oil is cheap, but a lot of people overthink it.....

 

[noac]

The following is my opinions on car storage and is based on 26 years of storing cars without ever having an issue.

- change oil before storage
-store with gas tank near empty with some stabil
-have a plastic tarp under car and a sheet of wood over tarp to keep moisture from coming up from floor
-wash and wax car
-don’t use tire dressing
-disconnect battery
-over inflate tires maybe 5-8 psi
-cover car
-do not start car, drive car etc until it is coming out of storage

There is no need to have your friends start or drive car. I know a man right now who let someone drive his stang and did several thousands of dollars in damage to the car via a front end collision. The stress he is going through is pretty intense. It was a new car with 1000 miles. Good luck.

 

[galaxy]

-store with gas tank near empty

This is the only part I'll disagree with....especially since we're only talking seven months. Having a completely full tank of gas excludes any oxygen. Oxygen is your enemy in the tank, and what will contribute to anything building up in there.

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