Long storage on Axle Stands? How often to run engine?

Long storage on Axle Stands? How often to run engine?

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Discussion

rotorwings

Original Poster:

208 posts

124 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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(R300 2.0 Duratec)

Just looking for the prevailing wisdom on two points:

- During long periods of inactivity, does it makes sense to run the engine regularly (how often?), or just leave it for the whole period (~5 months) before starting again?

- Are there any issues with storing a Caterham on axle stands for a long period (~5 months)?
Of course I am using the correct jack points as described in the manual (see below), but the rear jack points don't look particularly strong.


DCL

1,215 posts

178 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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I think it depends on where you store it. If it is warm and dry, then it is probably just best to leave it. If there's any sort of dampness, or big changes in temperature, I would run it each month. The important thing is to make sure you get it as hot as possible, particularly the oil, so it is left with minimal condensate in the engine an exhaust.

rotorwings

Original Poster:

208 posts

124 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
Thanks DCL.

It will be left in an outdoor concrete multi-car (50 car) garage, that is well ventilated and dry, but exposed to all temperature variations during winter.

So I guess I should give it a run on the stands every 4 weeks or so up to full engine temp?

ghibbett

1,900 posts

184 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
Mine is on stands in my (unheated) garage. I have run it once since being there and ran it for 20 minutes, whereby it had reached about 70C oil temp.

Toaster

2,938 posts

192 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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rotorwings said:
Thanks DCL.

It will be left in an outdoor concrete multi-car (50 car) garage, that is well ventilated and dry, but exposed to all temperature variations during winter.

So I guess I should give it a run on the stands every 4 weeks or so up to full engine temp?
Possibly best to get one of these or similar http://www.carcoon.com I have had one for about 14 years and it keeps the car in good condition. This year the fans died and I pulled the old ones off and glued replacement fans of the same spec back on (cost me £16 for two fans from Maplin including the epoxy glue )

ajroberts

84 posts

122 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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If this is any help.
Last winter I went to Mexico to teach scuba diving for 5-6 months. So while I was over my car was left in the UK. So I put it up on the axle stands (4 where you are told to have them). I didn't do anything special to it while I was away never had it run while on the stands. The battery was dying before I left so I had a new one on order anyway.
When I got back all that was changed was the battery and it started perfectly first time, ( I didn't keep much fuel in the tank so before starting I filled it up and let the carbs prime).
I had it under one of the storm covers and when it was running I took it down to get a service and MOT and was fine.

AJ

snapper seven

713 posts

213 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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Very sad to say but in recent years mine has been left for up to 8 months at a time.

I just pump the tyres up to stop them bulging, plug in the trickle charger (and monitor the battery levels every couple of months) and leave it.
Fair enough, mine is garaged with reasonable ventilation but it doesn't suffer and always starts.
I like to check things like fuel hoses in case they have deteriorated but other than that, it's all good so far.


Kenneth Danmark

17 posts

117 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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I've just laid up my Seven for its 19th winter break. I ensure that it's reasonably clean, take out the battery and lift the wiper arms, and that's it. Never had any problems in the Spring, except for brittle hoses. Have never bothered with jacking up the car nor over-inflating the tires. I'd venture that the tires on our Sevens were made for much heavier cars and therefore won't suffer.

IBDAET

1,655 posts

262 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
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I purchased a Ferrari F355 engine some years ago. It has been standing and unrun for 5 years since the car it was in was written off with 9000 miles recorded in 2004. I stripped it down (heads off, inspected bearings etc) and checked it, finding no significant issues, then I left it for another 5 years, only turning it over by hand once every 6m or so. Once I got it running last Christmas (it only idles to this day as it is yet to be mapped) we did a leak down test which gave 97% retention on all 8 cylinders. Oil pressure is to spec.


I wouldn't bother running your engine at all. Just put a squirt of WD40 down the plug holes and turn it by hand occasionally.

Don't leave it full of fuel though, as the octane level reduces and this could mean lean running if you are going to thrash it on what is in the tankA.

And buy a decent battery conditioner.