Man Plans; God and the Military Laugh - storage advice pleas

[Jeb291]

Hi all,

I've had my Rapide about 6 weeks now, one week of which has been spent overseas and 10 days in COVID isolation so it is still new to me.

However, I'm in the military and I've just been warned off for a 9 month deployment leaving next month. 🙄 Therefore, I need to store my Aston as leaving the car at home is not an option.

I spoke to some services near me and they all seem to do a basic package of storage, cover and CTek charger / conditioner. Money is an issue, so my question is - will the basic package be enough or do I also need to pay extra for either a monthly engine warm up or indeed a road run? I should get back once every 3 months for 2 weeks where I would intend to take the car out.

Grateful for any advice,

Thanks Jeb
(Frantically looking for kit in the loft !)

[Phil74891]

If it was me and I was coming back every three months and could drive it, I would be happy with the basic package. I would keep it low on fuel and maybe inflate the tyres to 50psi.

[onny]

Basic package is more than enough. You actually don't want anything more especially getting them to start the car every now and then as the oil would had drained fully to the sump and causes it more harm than good. The main thing is keeping the battery charged and when you do get a chance to go for a drive, before starting, press the accelerator pedal fully and crank the engine for a few seconds to get oil flowing before start it properly.

Edited by onny on Wednesday 3rd November 21:43

[simonw67]

Phil74891 said:

If it was me and I was coming back every three months and could drive it, I would be happy with the basic package. I would keep it low on fuel and maybe inflate the tyres to 50psi.

I was under the impression a full tank was better. That's what I did when leaving a car over a year with no issues.

[Cold]

simonw67 said:

Phil74891 said:

If it was me and I was coming back every three months and could drive it, I would be happy with the basic package. I would keep it low on fuel and maybe inflate the tyres to 50psi.

I was under the impression a full tank was better. That's what I did when leaving a car over a year with no issues.

Yep, but splash out and fill it with super rather than the new E10 unleaded. (The E10 stuff may absorb water if left sitting around for that length of time)

As for engine starting etc, nah, just leave it on a ctek and in its pyjamas until it's time to wake it up again. The bulk of engine wear is done when cold starting so why add unnecessary start cycles?

[Jeb291]

Thanks. Very reassuring and basic being enough was in line with one of the storage options advice.

Full tank full (E5) or near empty ?

Jeb

[DH 67 AML]

HI. I noticed this advice above:

"press the accelerator pedal fully and crank the engine for a few seconds to get oil flowing"

Would you mind explaining what needs to be done to crank the engine (to the muppets amongst us!)?

Cheers.

[LTP]

DH 67 AML said:

HI. I noticed this advice above:

"press the accelerator pedal fully and crank the engine for a few seconds to get oil flowing"

Would you mind explaining what needs to be done to crank the engine (to the muppets amongst us!)?

Cheers.

I think you should ignore it, because I'm not sure this applies to the V12 engines (willing to be corrected though, but proceed with caution until confirmed)

To explain: - on some Aston engines (the 4.7 V8 that I have for certain) if you absolutely floor the throttle before cranking when starting from cold the engine ECU will not send sparks or fuel (one, the other or both - anyway the car won't start) so you can crank the engine to feed oil around the system and build oil pressure without the engine firing - this is apparently required due to the V8's dry sump lubrication system - which the V12 doesn't have.

If you do this on engines without this particular ECU system then you run the risk of firing a cold engine straight onto full throttle - not a good idea. I don't know if there's a way to prime a V12's lubrication system without firing the engine, or even if you need to - I'm sure owners with experience of mothballing a V12 will be along shortly to confirm

[geresey]

LTP said:

DH 67 AML said:

HI. I noticed this advice above:

"press the accelerator pedal fully and crank the engine for a few seconds to get oil flowing"

Would you mind explaining what needs to be done to crank the engine (to the muppets amongst us!)?

Cheers.

I think you should ignore it, because I'm not sure this applies to the V12 engines (willing to be corrected though, but proceed with caution until confirmed)

To explain: - on some Aston engines (the 4.7 V8 that I have for certain) if you absolutely floor the throttle before cranking when starting from cold the engine ECU will not send sparks or fuel (one, the other or both - anyway the car won't start) so you can crank the engine to feed oil around the system and build oil pressure without the engine firing - this is apparently required due to the V8's dry sump lubrication system - which the V12 doesn't have.

If you do this on engines without this particular ECU system then you run the risk of firing a cold engine straight onto full throttle - not a good idea. I don't know if there's a way to prime a V12's lubrication system without firing the engine, or even if you need to - I'm sure owners with experience of mothballing a V12 will be along shortly to confirm

I think the question was, how do you crank it without starting it on the key ? unless you're getting under the bonnet and doing it manually??

[krisdelta]

geresey said:

LTP said:

DH 67 AML said:

HI. I noticed this advice above:

"press the accelerator pedal fully and crank the engine for a few seconds to get oil flowing"

Would you mind explaining what needs to be done to crank the engine (to the muppets amongst us!)?

Cheers.

I think you should ignore it, because I'm not sure this applies to the V12 engines (willing to be corrected though, but proceed with caution until confirmed)

To explain: - on some Aston engines (the 4.7 V8 that I have for certain) if you absolutely floor the throttle before cranking when starting from cold the engine ECU will not send sparks or fuel (one, the other or both - anyway the car won't start) so you can crank the engine to feed oil around the system and build oil pressure without the engine firing - this is apparently required due to the V8's dry sump lubrication system - which the V12 doesn't have.

If you do this on engines without this particular ECU system then you run the risk of firing a cold engine straight onto full throttle - not a good idea. I don't know if there's a way to prime a V12's lubrication system without firing the engine, or even if you need to - I'm sure owners with experience of mothballing a V12 will be along shortly to confirm

I think the question was, how do you crank it without starting it on the key ? unless you're getting under the bonnet and doing it manually??

The action of pressing the throttle fully down and holding, then switching on the ignition does it (on Vantage at least), after a few seconds of the oil being pumped around, you release the throttle and fuel is pumped, plugs ignite it and the engine fires. Not sure it’s a V12 thing, I haven’t left the Rapide long enough to look it up yet.

[DB9VolanteDriver]

All v12s with the Ford ECU allow cranking without firing to enable oil pressure buildup before actually starting the engine. It is the recommended procedure after long storage to avoid excessive engine wear. Wear is unrelated to whether or not the engine is dry sump or conventional.

[Thundersports]

The Cranking for oil pressure procedure in the manual is misleading. This video clarifies how to do it avoiding the engine firing up from cold with full throttle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSpEupXmh5Y

[Jon39]

Jeb291 said:

Grateful for any advice,

(Frantically looking for kit in the loft !)

Welcome to the forum and also to Aston Martin ownership.

Here are some comments about storage, which you might find helpful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peALsrOWZcY

It depends upon where you live, but ESSO top grade petrol does not contain ethanol (pump will say E5, but that mean up to 5% so includes zero) and that should reduce the water absorption problem.

Stay safe during during your mission Mr Bond.

[EVR]

There is this guide, from the always excellent Steve:

https://aston1936.com/2021/10/07/storing-your-asto...