You have a car, in a garage...
Discussion
...and an effectively unlimited budget for maintenance.
At some day in the future (could be 1 day, could be 20 years) I am going to need to start and drive that car. The car must stay in the garage and you can change any part on it as many times as you like but the one thing that you cannot do is start it until I need it, and when I need it, it absolutely must start, without hesitation.
What would you do to keep it ready, and how confident would you be that it would start, after a year, or five years, or ten?
At some day in the future (could be 1 day, could be 20 years) I am going to need to start and drive that car. The car must stay in the garage and you can change any part on it as many times as you like but the one thing that you cannot do is start it until I need it, and when I need it, it absolutely must start, without hesitation.
What would you do to keep it ready, and how confident would you be that it would start, after a year, or five years, or ten?
LimaDelta said:
...and an effectively unlimited budget for maintenance.
At some day in the future (could be 1 day, could be 20 years) I am going to need to start and drive that car. The car must stay in the garage and you can change any part on it as many times as you like but the one thing that you cannot do is start it until I need it, and when I need it, it absolutely must start, without hesitation.
What would you do to keep it ready, and how confident would you be that it would start, after a year, or five years, or ten?
The "part" I would change frequently would be the battery.At some day in the future (could be 1 day, could be 20 years) I am going to need to start and drive that car. The car must stay in the garage and you can change any part on it as many times as you like but the one thing that you cannot do is start it until I need it, and when I need it, it absolutely must start, without hesitation.
What would you do to keep it ready, and how confident would you be that it would start, after a year, or five years, or ten?
Disconnect the battery.
Drain the fuel and carbs if it has them.
Consider a dehumidifier and definitely a car cover.
If you absolutely cannot start it, consider a monthly rotate of the engine with a ratchet.
If it's for an extended period, put it on stands to get the weight off the tyres
Some humane mouse traps wouldn't hurt either, as mice will happily nest inside a warm dry interior
Drain the fuel and carbs if it has them.
Consider a dehumidifier and definitely a car cover.
If you absolutely cannot start it, consider a monthly rotate of the engine with a ratchet.
If it's for an extended period, put it on stands to get the weight off the tyres
Some humane mouse traps wouldn't hurt either, as mice will happily nest inside a warm dry interior
LimaDelta said:
...and an effectively unlimited budget for maintenance.
At some day in the future (could be 1 day, could be 20 years) I am going to need to start and drive that car. The car must stay in the garage and you can change any part on it as many times as you like but the one thing that you cannot do is start it until I need it, and when I need it, it absolutely must start, without hesitation.
What would you do to keep it ready, and how confident would you be that it would start, after a year, or five years, or ten?
Jack car up so it's not on the groundAt some day in the future (could be 1 day, could be 20 years) I am going to need to start and drive that car. The car must stay in the garage and you can change any part on it as many times as you like but the one thing that you cannot do is start it until I need it, and when I need it, it absolutely must start, without hesitation.
What would you do to keep it ready, and how confident would you be that it would start, after a year, or five years, or ten?
Connect battery to a trickle charger
I'd probably have as little fuel in the car as possible so it doesn't go stale
Before you start it, change the oil and filter
Disconnect spark plugs on first start to build oil pressure without car starting
Then should be good to go??
mat205125 said:
Disconnect the battery.
Drain the fuel and carbs if it has them.
Consider a dehumidifier and definitely a car cover.
If you absolutely cannot start it, consider a monthly rotate of the engine with a ratchet.
If it's for an extended period, put it on stands to get the weight off the tyres
Some humane mouse traps wouldn't hurt either, as mice will happily nest inside a warm dry interior
Needs to be ready to run with zero notice.Drain the fuel and carbs if it has them.
Consider a dehumidifier and definitely a car cover.
If you absolutely cannot start it, consider a monthly rotate of the engine with a ratchet.
If it's for an extended period, put it on stands to get the weight off the tyres
Some humane mouse traps wouldn't hurt either, as mice will happily nest inside a warm dry interior
What car? There are certain things that need to be done on all stored cars plus some specific jobs for individual cars.
Jack car up to get wheels off the ground.
Periodic starting to circulate oil.
Brakes, fluid, condition of discs/drums/pads.
Rodent control...they nest, chew, crap everywhere.
Storage humidity.
The best option is to start, run, move the car regularly ( tax, MOT issues remembered).
Jack car up to get wheels off the ground.
Periodic starting to circulate oil.
Brakes, fluid, condition of discs/drums/pads.
Rodent control...they nest, chew, crap everywhere.
Storage humidity.
The best option is to start, run, move the car regularly ( tax, MOT issues remembered).
sospan said:
What car? There are certain things that need to be done on all stored cars plus some specific jobs for individual cars.
Jack car up to get wheels off the ground.
Periodic starting to circulate oil.
Brakes, fluid, condition of discs/drums/pads.
Rodent control...they nest, chew, crap everywhere.
Storage humidity.
The best option is to start, run, move the car regularly ( tax, MOT issues remembered).
Rule one, you can do anything except start it.Jack car up to get wheels off the ground.
Periodic starting to circulate oil.
Brakes, fluid, condition of discs/drums/pads.
Rodent control...they nest, chew, crap everywhere.
Storage humidity.
The best option is to start, run, move the car regularly ( tax, MOT issues remembered).
I would jack the car up and rest it on axle stands. Slightly overinflate the tyres. Battery disconnected and on trickle charge. Fuel tank and lines drained to near empty.
Out of the cars I own the one most likely to start first turn with fuel and battery would be my mk2 escort. Basic crossflow engine, not many reasons that could develop to prevent it from starting! I’d give it a much greater chance than anything with an ECU.
Out of the cars I own the one most likely to start first turn with fuel and battery would be my mk2 escort. Basic crossflow engine, not many reasons that could develop to prevent it from starting! I’d give it a much greater chance than anything with an ECU.
LimaDelta said:
...and an effectively unlimited budget for maintenance.
LimaDelta said:
Needs to be ready to run with zero notice.
Gonna have to be limited to environmental protection then as ANY physical maintenance (save for a magnetically coupled battery charger/regulator) will not be capable of 'zero notice' I'd wager!LimaDelta said:
S6PNJ said:
Ok, so the rules have changed - how long is a few minutes? 5, 10 60? What is the boundary condition?
Long enough to replace whatever part has been removed for maintenance. 10 minutes for arguments sake. Not sure what you mean by boundary condition?S6PNJ said:
LimaDelta said:
S6PNJ said:
Ok, so the rules have changed - how long is a few minutes? 5, 10 60? What is the boundary condition?
Long enough to replace whatever part has been removed for maintenance. 10 minutes for arguments sake. Not sure what you mean by boundary condition?Ready to run with zero notice!
Does that mean open garage door, jump in and drive?
You’d get away with that for a short storage but any extended time invites problems.
I have a car in my garage that is a second, fun car.
Smart charger connected, engine started and run to temperature at 2 weeks max or, preferably, out for a run to work the engine, suspension, brakes. Fuel kept reasonably low so topping up with fresh done within reasonable time. It gets used as often as possible to keep it in decent condition.
A friend owned a vintage Peugot that they ran in the London to Brighton annual event. It was stored with a specialist with minimal use but required a lot of care. It needed a thorough going over before runs and shows as well.
Ah! Not open door, jump in, drive! About 10 mins check over and maintenance.
How often?
What car is it? Older with no/few electronics?
Newer with high end electronics?
Battery is the number one for any type. Either left in the car or off but on a charger.
Does that mean open garage door, jump in and drive?
You’d get away with that for a short storage but any extended time invites problems.
I have a car in my garage that is a second, fun car.
Smart charger connected, engine started and run to temperature at 2 weeks max or, preferably, out for a run to work the engine, suspension, brakes. Fuel kept reasonably low so topping up with fresh done within reasonable time. It gets used as often as possible to keep it in decent condition.
A friend owned a vintage Peugot that they ran in the London to Brighton annual event. It was stored with a specialist with minimal use but required a lot of care. It needed a thorough going over before runs and shows as well.
Ah! Not open door, jump in, drive! About 10 mins check over and maintenance.
How often?
What car is it? Older with no/few electronics?
Newer with high end electronics?
Battery is the number one for any type. Either left in the car or off but on a charger.
Edited by sospan on Monday 28th February 13:01
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