Garaged car how often do i need to drive it?
Discussion
i am bringing back my 1992 sierra saphire 4x4 cossie from my holiday home its been out there(garaged for 20 yrs)its done 22,000 miles from new, i used to go twice a year but have only been twice in the last 3 years so i have decided to bring it back. my father in law used to take it for a drive once a month over there for 30 miles or so. how often do you need to drive a car like that to keep the cobwebs out? i ask because it started developing faults and everytime i went out there i would be taking some part or another.
so i am bringing it home and sticking it in my garage once i have given it some tlc and some new parts.as its so pristine (its probably been rained on less than a dozen times) i am going to keep it for another 10 yrs and see what its worth.
so i am bringing it home and sticking it in my garage once i have given it some tlc and some new parts.as its so pristine (its probably been rained on less than a dozen times) i am going to keep it for another 10 yrs and see what its worth.
If you lay a car up properly it can easily stand for 10 years and fire up on the first few cranks.
It depends honestly on how often you WANT to drive it, if your happy not to drive it you can do a lot to store it. If you want to drive it the last sunday of every month then it will be a lot more work storing it when you park it back up every month.
It depends honestly on how often you WANT to drive it, if your happy not to drive it you can do a lot to store it. If you want to drive it the last sunday of every month then it will be a lot more work storing it when you park it back up every month.
Viperz888 said:
If you're going to drive it regularly, you need to really drive it.
Otherwise, I think it would be better prepared properly, then laid up for a decade.
i want to drive it it is a fun blast i will probably only get to drive it 1 or 2 times a month though due to work and family commitments, i dont mind mothballing it either but do not know what i would need to do to prepare it so i can leave it for 10 years, to be honest i would feel bad just letting it sit in my gagrage its not a museum piece Otherwise, I think it would be better prepared properly, then laid up for a decade.
brough74 said:
I would buy a trickle charger for it, when i had an elise i was building my house so i did not get to drive it often maybe once a week or fortnight. In a year it had 2 new batteries but never developed any gremlins
Yep but a battery conditioner would be better, my Caterham is decommissioned for five months of the year and the conditioner has been looking after the same battery for two-and-a-half years now.Mr serge said:
i want to drive it it is a fun blast i will probably only get to drive it 1 or 2 times a month though due to work and family commitments, i dont mind mothballing it either but do not know what i would need to do to prepare it so i can leave it for 10 years, to be honest i would feel bad just letting it sit in my gagrage its not a museum piece
I suppose I could come and drive it for you, but you would owe me 
Seriously though, a few times a month would probably be ok, as long as its for more than an hour or so each time.
I'd seriously consider getting it treated with dinitrol or gravitex etc, especially around/inside the rear chassis legs where they go over the springs as its a common place for them to start rotting. Sills too.
And get some pics up
ETA: And don't be scared of giving it a good thrashing. 4x4s had the updated, 200 block, which is stronger and has better water jackets. There are some weak parts on them, but there are aftermarket upgraded parts for everything, so parts aren't as hard to get as some would think.
Edited by Viperz888 on Saturday 9th February 15:29
Viperz888 said:
I suppose I could come and drive it for you, but you would owe me
Seriously though, a few times a month would probably be ok, as long as its for more than an hour or so each time.
I'd seriously consider getting it treated with dinitrol or gravitex etc, especially around/inside the rear chassis legs where they go over the springs as its a common place for them to start rotting. Sills too.
And get some pics up
ETA: And don't be scared of giving it a good thrashing. 4x4s had the updated, 200 block, which is stronger and has better water jackets. There are some weak parts on them, but there are aftermarket upgraded parts for everything, so parts aren't as hard to get as some would think.
i do give it a thrashing abroad and will do over here thanks for the advice once its been given some tlc i will definately drive it every other weekend.Seriously though, a few times a month would probably be ok, as long as its for more than an hour or so each time.
I'd seriously consider getting it treated with dinitrol or gravitex etc, especially around/inside the rear chassis legs where they go over the springs as its a common place for them to start rotting. Sills too.
And get some pics up
ETA: And don't be scared of giving it a good thrashing. 4x4s had the updated, 200 block, which is stronger and has better water jackets. There are some weak parts on them, but there are aftermarket upgraded parts for everything, so parts aren't as hard to get as some would think.
Edited by Viperz888 on Saturday 9th February 15:29
Mr serge said:
rigga said:
iiyama said:
CTEK conditioner. Accept nothing else!
Acumate does an equally fine job so there are options.I always just talk batteries off a car if it's going to stand for a bit, never been one for putting oil down the bores or putting it on stands, just leave it with the handbrake off and in neutral. If it's going to sieze it'll happen anyway, budget for hoses at some point as well as they dont like the cold
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff