How long can you leave a car without starting it?
Discussion
I am looking to take my 2017 Nissan GTR off the road over winter when the gritters come out and weather turns bad and wondered how long it can be safely left without turning the engine on?
It will be left in my carport, battery kept topped up on a ctek and i'll take the wheels off once a month to rotate the tyres. Could it be left all of December, Jan and Feb without being run and still be ok?
Cheers
It will be left in my carport, battery kept topped up on a ctek and i'll take the wheels off once a month to rotate the tyres. Could it be left all of December, Jan and Feb without being run and still be ok?
Cheers
If it's on a trickle charger then you'll be fine leaving it that long. I do the same with my classic Mini which, granted has far fewer electrical systems than your GT-R, but as long as the battery's kept topped up then it'll be fine.
Might be worth putting some new key fob batteries in though just in case the fobs die whilst the car is parked up.
Might be worth putting some new key fob batteries in though just in case the fobs die whilst the car is parked up.
For a three month over winter store, anything more than a charger is going above and beyond - Think of how many cars were sat for much longer over Covid, outside sans charging.
Rather than rotate tyres I'd suggest just upping the pressures to max sidewall for the duration; Gives some flatspot protection whilst saving the effort.
Fuel will be fine.
Rather than rotate tyres I'd suggest just upping the pressures to max sidewall for the duration; Gives some flatspot protection whilst saving the effort.
Fuel will be fine.
The country is scattered with compounds where cars have been stood for months and sometimes years on end, the 'yardies' in the minibus come round when a particular car gets called up, apply the jump leads if the battery has gone flat (not all compounds disconnect) and away they go, after its been through the valet bay the buyer is none the wiser.
What doesn't do cars much good is being stood (usually defleets) after winter caked in road salt underneath, the salt residue spends a hot summer eating it way into the underbody brakes suspension etc, the way you are doing it is fine but suggest if you wash the car before standing up to take it for a run to dry the brake discs off then try to keep the brakes from getting wet.
What doesn't do cars much good is being stood (usually defleets) after winter caked in road salt underneath, the salt residue spends a hot summer eating it way into the underbody brakes suspension etc, the way you are doing it is fine but suggest if you wash the car before standing up to take it for a run to dry the brake discs off then try to keep the brakes from getting wet.
Haltamer said:
For a three month over winter store, anything more than a charger is going above and beyond - Think of how many cars were sat for much longer over Covid, outside sans charging.
Rather than rotate tyres I'd suggest just upping the pressures to max sidewall for the duration; Gives some flatspot protection whilst saving the effort.
Fuel will be fine.
What pressure would you recommend going up to? The tyres are normally at 30psi all roundRather than rotate tyres I'd suggest just upping the pressures to max sidewall for the duration; Gives some flatspot protection whilst saving the effort.
Fuel will be fine.
Thanks
Smint said:
The country is scattered with compounds where cars have been stood for months and sometimes years on end, the 'yardies' in the minibus come round when a particular car gets called up, apply the jump leads if the battery has gone flat (not all compounds disconnect) and away they go, after its been through the valet bay the buyer is none the wiser.
What doesn't do cars much good is being stood (usually defleets) after winter caked in road salt underneath, the salt residue spends a hot summer eating it way into the underbody brakes suspension etc, the way you are doing it is fine but suggest if you wash the car before standing up to take it for a run to dry the brake discs off then try to keep the brakes from getting wet.
Good tip re drying the brakes off after washing. Ill also leave it with handbrake off as its a flat drive and might buy some wheel covers to keep water off the brakes. What doesn't do cars much good is being stood (usually defleets) after winter caked in road salt underneath, the salt residue spends a hot summer eating it way into the underbody brakes suspension etc, the way you are doing it is fine but suggest if you wash the car before standing up to take it for a run to dry the brake discs off then try to keep the brakes from getting wet.
Was going to say 10psi also. Fill the tank also seems to be the guidance. Normally leave mine 4 or 5 months over winter and have done for years. This year is the first time it’s come out of hibernation and all not been well - misfire which turned out to be cool packs. Given several of them were the originals and 15 years old, I can’t really complain.
I can only echo what others have said. 10psi extra in the tyres, leave it in gear with handbrake off (though yours is auto), take battery out, chock the wheels, tin foil balls up the exhaust to prevent critters making it a home (don’t know how true, read it somewhere once!), and personally I leave large desiccant bags in each footwell in trays rather than crack windows.
Never had issues starting it again, and I leave for 6 months between Oct-Apr.
Never had issues starting it again, and I leave for 6 months between Oct-Apr.
I flat spotted a set of fronts after car sat for 4 months in the garage (must have been low to start with), no matter how much I tried to re-inflate/swap them round they were buggered - expensive lesson learnt to replace 2 x tyres at £200 a corner which had 5mm left on them - the vibration drove me insane.
My experience of leaving a car :
I travel once or twice per year to East Africa (Uganda) and keep a permanent apartment plus a 2003 Toyota Noah there.
Due to a long work contract and covid etc I have spent over 2 years without going back . . . . When I eventually reached there I unwrapped my car (big double tarp due to sun and dust) and did the following :
New battery (the old one was kept charged in apt and is fine but i bought new one anyway)
Topped up with fresh fuel
Coolant checked (was ok)
Fitted new air filter
Plugs out, spurt of oil down into the bores and spun it over
Changed oil, plugs back in
Engaged starter . . .. fired up and ran perfectly on 2nd turn of the key
Drove perfectly for my whole 3 month trip
Now admttedly the fuel here is pretty much ethanol free (or very low, its not advertised which) but i have to say I was mightily impressed.
On another note I gained a new respect for Toyota cars when I started going there in 2013 . . .. about 80% of cars are Toyota . . . .. and they handle the rough roads like champs . . . . well impressed
I travel once or twice per year to East Africa (Uganda) and keep a permanent apartment plus a 2003 Toyota Noah there.
Due to a long work contract and covid etc I have spent over 2 years without going back . . . . When I eventually reached there I unwrapped my car (big double tarp due to sun and dust) and did the following :
New battery (the old one was kept charged in apt and is fine but i bought new one anyway)
Topped up with fresh fuel
Coolant checked (was ok)
Fitted new air filter
Plugs out, spurt of oil down into the bores and spun it over
Changed oil, plugs back in
Engaged starter . . .. fired up and ran perfectly on 2nd turn of the key
Drove perfectly for my whole 3 month trip
Now admttedly the fuel here is pretty much ethanol free (or very low, its not advertised which) but i have to say I was mightily impressed.
On another note I gained a new respect for Toyota cars when I started going there in 2013 . . .. about 80% of cars are Toyota . . . .. and they handle the rough roads like champs . . . . well impressed
BroomHilda, how about this one.
My mate had an old Subaru Legacy in his barn for nearly TEN years.
It was covered in moss, bird s
t and dust.
Lifted the bonnet, removed the mouse nest, luckily no wires had been nibbled.
Fitted a new battery, turned it over, and to everyone’s surprise, it started.
Pumped up the tyres, gave it a wash, new wiper blades, checked that everything was working.
Drove it to an MOT bay, and it PASSED !!!
I bloke in the pub gave him £100 and off it went.
My mate had an old Subaru Legacy in his barn for nearly TEN years.
It was covered in moss, bird s
t and dust. Lifted the bonnet, removed the mouse nest, luckily no wires had been nibbled.
Fitted a new battery, turned it over, and to everyone’s surprise, it started.
Pumped up the tyres, gave it a wash, new wiper blades, checked that everything was working.
Drove it to an MOT bay, and it PASSED !!!
I bloke in the pub gave him £100 and off it went.
Edited by Old Merc on Monday 12th December 15:51
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