Car off the road for a year - what to do
Discussion
meloe said:
What sort of measures should i take before leaving my car off the road for about a year? Its going to be garaged but i keep hearing contradictory stories about leaving cars unused and the damage it can cause.
Im currently away and my audi a4 been sitting for 4 months and will be a total of 6 months, being started up by sibling but not driven. Over last 4 years often left it off road for months and once a full year (insurance dispute) and was fine. Well looked after and serviced annually and never had any issues- still on origional clutch, engine, gearbox at 105k miles.
If you can, jack the wheels off the road to prevent the tyres developing flat spots. If that isn't possible, rolling it a few inches every couple of months can help.
Ideally, before you lay it up get the whole car good and hot on the very last run so that all the acid in the engine is broken down before you leave it. For extra brownie points you could put a squirt of oil down each plug hole and turn the engine over a couple of times to spread it over the bores. Probably overkill if you're only paying it up for a year.
Ideally, before you lay it up get the whole car good and hot on the very last run so that all the acid in the engine is broken down before you leave it. For extra brownie points you could put a squirt of oil down each plug hole and turn the engine over a couple of times to spread it over the bores. Probably overkill if you're only paying it up for a year.
TBH..its a decent garage, fairly dry, i wouldnt have any real concerns. A year isnt that long.
the tyres may go flat, so it would do no harm to have the car on stands....soley for that reason.
Otherwise, just keep an eye on them, and makre sure they remain inflated.
Do disconnect the battery.
other than that, I'd be prefectly happy to leave it sitting for 1 year...pretty much anywhere.
the tyres may go flat, so it would do no harm to have the car on stands....soley for that reason.
Otherwise, just keep an eye on them, and makre sure they remain inflated.
Do disconnect the battery.
other than that, I'd be prefectly happy to leave it sitting for 1 year...pretty much anywhere.
Brim the fuel tank and use a fuel stabilizer run the engine up to temp to allow it to circulate fuel system,if its diesel then ignore the above 
changing oil & filter before lay-up (already mentioned)is good advice 
what ever you do dont leave it with a capfull of fuel in the tank, unleaded goes off quicker than milk nowadays 
changing oil & filter before lay-up (already mentioned)is good advice what ever you do dont leave it with a capfull of fuel in the tank, unleaded goes off quicker than milk nowadays Edited by That Daddy on Thursday 30th October 15:38
Ive unleaded in a car that has sat for years. I know for a fact it will start when i turn the key.
Most of all these things wont do any harm, but these are modern cars now. Not old junkers. If they couldnt easily handle sitting for a year...then they must be either pure dung, or french.
Battery and tyres ( + handbrake ) would be the only areas that require monitoring, or preventitive action taken with them.
Most of all these things wont do any harm, but these are modern cars now. Not old junkers. If they couldnt easily handle sitting for a year...then they must be either pure dung, or french.
Battery and tyres ( + handbrake ) would be the only areas that require monitoring, or preventitive action taken with them.
stevieturbo said:
Ive unleaded in a car that has sat for years. I know for a fact it will start when i turn the key.
Most of all these things wont do any harm, but these are modern cars now. Not old junkers. If they couldnt easily handle sitting for a year...then they must be either pure dung, or french.
Battery and tyres ( + handbrake ) would be the only areas that require monitoring, or preventitive action taken with them.
And i know for a fact the fuel injectors are gumming up while your car is standing for years on unleaded,i have known injectors to jam shut on cars that are left standing for years(even quality components like Hondas)fuel stabilizers are so cheap why chance it?i have known 2 fuel injected motorcycles do the above after about 18 months sitting in storage with fuel in the tank,why would the handbrake need attention leave it off,just curious StevieTurbo Most of all these things wont do any harm, but these are modern cars now. Not old junkers. If they couldnt easily handle sitting for a year...then they must be either pure dung, or french.
Battery and tyres ( + handbrake ) would be the only areas that require monitoring, or preventitive action taken with them.
Edited by That Daddy on Friday 31st October 09:45
Bacause handbrake mechanisms tend to be crap, and can sieze...or stretch the cable over long periods.
Or in some cases where the handbrake still uses the shoes/drums due to that large contact area, the shoes can stick to the drums.
The problem with disc/pad setups is never as pad due to a smaller contact area. If they do stick, they are very easy to free up.
Or in some cases where the handbrake still uses the shoes/drums due to that large contact area, the shoes can stick to the drums.
The problem with disc/pad setups is never as pad due to a smaller contact area. If they do stick, they are very easy to free up.
stevieturbo said:
Bacause handbrake mechanisms tend to be crap, and can sieze...or stretch the cable over long periods.
Or in some cases where the handbrake still uses the shoes/drums due to that large contact area, the shoes can stick to the drums.
The problem with disc/pad setups is never as pad due to a smaller contact area. If they do stick, they are very easy to free up.
I agree,thats why i leave it off Or in some cases where the handbrake still uses the shoes/drums due to that large contact area, the shoes can stick to the drums.
The problem with disc/pad setups is never as pad due to a smaller contact area. If they do stick, they are very easy to free up.
if the linkages are lubed correctly and the cables outer sleeving is not damaged before the lay-up than you should see no problems,this is not for your info Stevie by the way i know you know this kind of thing already Gassing Station | Engines & Drivetrain | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff