Problems with storing chim long term

[4Lmike]

Come the end of summer I may have to put the chim into storage for a couple of years. What problems can I expect to find when I come back to it? Is there anything I should before storing it away? It will be under a car port so out of the weather.

[chelseawiggie11]

In my experiance the local wildlife...lol.

[Ironballs]

Under a car port but exposed to the weather/outdoors? Everything will slowly but surely start to rust, you may want to fill up the fuel tank to max to stop moisture rusting the tank from the inside out. Block up air intakes/exhaust with oily rags to keep moisture at bay, can cover some areas of electrics with plastic.

Overinflate the tyres, dress the tyres to fend off UV, wash, polish and wax the paint to protect it. If you're going to cover the car then make sure it's waterproof and breathable, cheapo ones are worse than no cover.

Better yet find a mate with a dry garage to store it, or even, if it's a couple of years, sell the car and buy another that has been used regularly in 2 years time

[.Mark]

Ironballs said:

Better yet find a mate with a dry garage to store it, or even, if it's a couple of years, sell the car and buy another that has been used regularly in 2 years time

Almost. Find a mate to run it for you for a couple of years. Sort out a way of covering costs etc. seriously, I'd imagine it'd be cheaper in the long run.

[roseytvr]

Have a look at this - suggests you need to be looking indoors:

www.cumbriacarstorage.co.uk/indoor_car_storage.htm...

HTH

[Naybr]

And put it on stands or the tyres will be useless in 2 years time. Good to cover the tyres with something like sacking to as another way of stopping Uv damage.

Will it be on concrete or some other non-porus surface? If not, a tarpaulin underneath would be a good idea.

[darkcat]

yes for that length of time.. sell it and buy another one....


but if you are attched! i'd put it on stands, let the tyres down, waxoyl the chassis, (mine has the alloy tank so no problem there) take out the plugs, spray a bit of engine oil in each cylinder. loosten the sworl pot plug and expansion tank top
Open both windows half, detatch the battery, put some caravan dessicant in bags on the back shelf, cover with soft outdoor car cover, then a large waterproof tarp or 2.

Edited by darkcat on Friday 27th May 16:43

[4Lmike]

Thanks for all the advice - I didn't know so much preperation was needed!

What about one of these? http://www.airflow-uk.co.uk/search.php?mode=search... Anyone used on before?

[Timja]

unless your battery will be on a a mainainter/trickle charger then I guess it would make sense to disconnect the battery and make sure you are familiar with how to get back into the car in 2 years!

[OldSkoolRS]

Just to give you some idea, my RS2000 has been stood in a dry garage for the last 12 years. Initially it was because it needed a small welding job that I wanted to take time doing properly. Now that I'm finally working on it, the car now needs new brakes, exhaust, radiator and cooling hoses and tyres. I've started it up regularly so at least the engine runs OK so far as I can tell...

I wish I'd got on with it sooner (kids and DIY have intruded) as I plan to sell it so I can get a Chimaera. While your '2 years' might not sound much, if it's not even in a dry garage then the decay will be more rapid and chances are that 2 years might slip to 3 or more and then you'll look back and wonder if you should have sold it and banked the money until the time is right to buy another...avoiding spending the money elsewhere would be the hard part of this plan though.

[madasafrog666]

or you could sell it to me :}

[sgrimshaw]

Any use:

http://www.carcoon.co.uk/outdoor-carcoon-prices-eu...

[darkcat]

sgrimshaw said:

Any use:

http://www.carcoon.co.uk/outdoor-carcoon-prices-eu...

nice plan.

but prep the car first.

[ButtonIt]

Moisture and wildlife is the biggest issue in my recent experience.

We finally got round to pulling my uncle's S3 out of the bushes a few weeks back. It had been sat there for 6 years without being moved, or even uncovered (wrapped in tarps).

The carpets had rotted
The seats were covered in mildew
Electrics are all a bit iffy, there appears to be no electrics to the rear of the car
The doors has seized shut (took some hefty whacking)
Rats had nested in the engine bay, but looks like they haven't done any damage
Ants had made a home in the crease of the roof
The bushes had grown around the car causing some light scratching as we pulled it out (had to drag with my landy)
Battery was f**ked
Everything was covered in at least a light covering of rust
Brakes appear to be buggered, rusting on the discs
Clutch has lost all pressure, probably needs new cylinders

And that's without even looking at the outriggers or chassis parts.

I wish he'd thought about it before tucking it up, could've saved a lot of effort...