w202 storage?

[jnolte]

Hey guys


I am not going to be driving my C43 for around 1-2 months.

What should I do to be sure its fine in storage.

Full tank of gas? Disconnect Battery? Disonnect sound system? What should i do to fight flatspotting of tires?


anything else?

[1995c280]

in the winters i leave my saleen mustang in the garage in a full car cover (top quality cover), on 4 jack stands so the suspension is not compressed and the bushings don't wear out since i store it ever winter. i leave the windows cracked a lil for air. i also put a full tank and that treatment shit so the gas doesn't go bad. i always leave the system and the battery connected and even after i go back after the winter (prolly 5 months), she starts up right away every year. gotta love those optima batteries!!!

1 to 2 months really isn't anything though, just jack it up for your suspension and tires. u should be good. if ur set on disconnecting the system though, just pull the inline fuse for it. i wouldn't worry

Jason

[trymonlam]

what timing. i am about to head home and leave my car for about 2-3 months too. thanks for the info. anyone with this experience that would like to share?

[martattack]

I wouldn't worry about disconnecting any stereo system. The relays pretty much prevent all current draw. Only current draw you will get will be the clock, car's computers (just data storage), and alarm.

[rollinrealbig]

at one point ... my 202 was stored for a little over 2 years. thats how my miles are low.

nothing ever happen to it ... the previous owner just parked it in her garage in 00' due to an illness and it had front damage (very minor). march 02', came one day - added some fresh gas to the gas it had, charged the battery and drove it home. took about 100 miles to get everything through the system - all the oils, coolent, battery fully charged up and everything was run through agian. gave it a few high RPM's on the freeway to make sure it didnt smog or anything - nothing.

had it since. fires up instantly.

tires ? dont even care, they arnt expensive especially stock tires. bushings ... never had any problems. only have 57K.

I think you can just leave it without putting it on stands but I dont know - just make sure and start it every two weeks - have to engine fully warm up, make sure everything works, that way it has fresh gas through the system then just add more when needed, also your oil doesnt sit still on the bottom of your oil pan - but also stays to the top engine parts. and best of all - battery will be recharging itself while your car idles.

[coolin]

I stored my Corvette every winter and never had a problem with flat-spotting, although axel stands are ideal.

I would add stabilizer to the gasoline and make sure you have close to a full tank. Also, add the fuel stabilizer - then drive it around for a few minutes. The stabilizer won't do any good if you've got bad gas in your lines, pump or injectors.

I also sprayed a liberal amount of engine fogging oil into the cylinders and used a rubber lubricant on all hoses and rubber fittings in the engine bay to prevent cracking.

The only problem I encountered related to the battery. No matter what I did, the battery always was a problem in the spring. I left it in the first year...dead (would not hold charge). I pulled it the second and stored it in my basement (off the floor)...dead (would not hold charge). The third time around I disconnected the battery and used a trickle charger...car started and ran but was starting hard. I replaced the third battery and had no starting problems.

I don't have any problems with jet ski batteries, but for whatever reason...I was dropping $150 every spring on a new battery.

[stox]

Flat spotting won't be an issue unless you have a set of really soft high performance tires. Some of them will flat spot in a month from what I understand.

[hvmercy]

Originally posted by stox
Flat spotting won't be an issue unless you have a set of really soft high performance tires. Some of them will flat spot in a month from what I understand.


It may also help if you maintain the proper tire pressure.

If you are still unsure put them up on jack stands.

[fay31]

I can't believe that no one has mentioned that it's bad for a car to go a month or more without running. Seals and the like get dry a brittle. You should always run the car at least once a month to make sure everything get lubricated.

[Abuimad]

i say just elevate the car, when i store my car in dubai i ran an anti rust solution in the engine, disconected the battery and elevated the car

[Denlasoul]

So is there any purpose of putting the car on stands besides preventing flat spots on the tires?

Someone said it's good to relieve the suspension, but that does not make sense to me. The car's suspension is compressed everyday anyway, so why relieve to for a few months?

[Abuimad]

im not sure but i heard having a car parked for long periods of times hurts the suspention...what part in the suspention or how..i dont know, but i play it out safe since my lex has expensive suspention and i dont want to risk damaging it...

[Denlasoul]

Originally posted by Abuimad
im not sure but i heard having a car parked for long periods of times hurts the suspention...what part in the suspention or how..i dont know, but i play it out safe since my lex has expensive suspention and i dont want to risk damaging it...
Well, regardless the suspension is compressed everyday.:confused: I can understand if you dont drive the car everyday, but most of us use our 202's as commuters, so the suspension is being used, compressed everyday.

[1995c280]

i was under the impression that if your car sits for a long period on time on the ground, the bushings on your suspension can deteriorate faster. true or not, well thats a good ?. but the sway bar bushings and the bottom shock bushings not moving at all and staying still for a long time acquire rust and dirt build up leading to sqeeking noises. i've had this problem on my saleen mustang which is y i put it up on jack stands every winter (the previous owner before me never did). also so the tires don't flat spot.

also the shocks and springs are compressed everyday, YES, but they are always moving. i think its not a good idea to have them compressed with the pressure in them if the shaft in the shock its not going to move and have springs fully compressed not moving either. just my 2 cents!

Jason

[JC842]

All you should do is inflate your tires to 40 lbs. That will keep you from getting a flat spot. All the forums state you should not put the car on stands as this is bad for the suspension. I would also fill the car up to prevent condensation and perhaps use a fuel stabilizer. Some people claim Marvel Mystery Oil in the tank will stabilize the fuel.