Leaving a car - how long is too long?

[ben_h100]

Hi all, I have a quick question

I am going abroad for a while at the end of the year, and am planning on leaving my car in the UK for when I pop back over.

My question is, how long should I be able to leave the car stood still in terms of fuel, batteries, tyres, etc? Security isn't an issue but I am concerned that I will fly home to find the battery is flat or the fuel has fouled in the tank.

I expect the first `gap` to be around 5-6 weeks, but after that it may be two or three months until I return.

FYI it is a 2009 Ford Focus.

Anyone with an idea/experience etc I would really appreciate your input.

Thanks..!

[Petrolhead_Rich]

Get a solar charger to keep the battery topped up..

Oil change asap once you get back if left for more than a montho IMO

Main worry would be rodents, they love to chew pipes and wires and foam insulation under the bonnet!

Also place a cloth under the wipers so they don't "Stick" to the windscreen!

make sure the car is clean inside, smells build up if you leave food/drinks packets in the car...

Make sure its cleaned and has a good polish/wax before you go.

[Bricol]

Done it loads of times with my "sensible tin-top, an integrale, left outside, due to work. Park car with handbrake off so it doesn't seize on, make sure you know your radio codes, lock it and disconnect battery negative/earth lead.

If it's a decent battery, it'll have no hassle starting it in 3 months, let alone 5 weeks. If you are worried, remove battery and leave it a charger and instructions for them to put it on charge a few days before you come back.

My going to the tip, Pug 106 got left for 5 years . . . jump start from another car, a bit of fuel down the carb, and it's still running 4 years later - a new battery needed after all that time admittedly.

Bri

[Fatman2]

Petrolhead_Rich said:

Oil change asap once you get back if left for more than a montho IMO

Are you kidding? I'm not flaming you but changing oil after a month on 2009 Focus.

I didn't realise oil performance would deteriorate after a month

[Snoop Bagg]

Leave as little fuel in it as possible carpet underneath to stop the cold/damp coming through the concrete. For longer periods personally I'd be tempted to put it on axle stands so the tyres don't deteriorate.

[jon-]

Fatman2 said:

Petrolhead_Rich said:

Oil change asap once you get back if left for more than a montho IMO

Are you kidding? I'm not flaming you but changing oil after a month on 2009 Focus.

I didn't realise oil performance would deteriorate after a month

It won't, that's an odd suggestion.

Over inflate the tyres by ~10psi to help the flatspotting.

[davepoth]

On the tyres - absolute best thing to do is get the car up on axle stands as was said. Even better than that if you can get someone insured on it to drive it round the block once a week it'll be fine.

[Chris_w666]

5-6 weeks is nothing on a car that age just keep and eye on the tyres, for a month or so again it shouldn't be too bad especially if stored indoors but I would want a charger on the battery or the battery disconnected. Some stand on docks for 6-12 months before being shipped to a dealer, polished and sold the only issues with cars stood were flat batteries normally caused by the alarm going off for days at a time.

It is a little different keeping a nearly new car for very occasional use as it is putting away your high maintainance P&J for winter IMO.

[bull996]

Lol at these replies.

Most Fords have sat in a wet grassy field for 2 years before they see a dealer and they are fine.

You dont need to do anything. Anything under 8 months the most i would do is cover it to stop the bird st.

[Trophybloo]

Reactivated my MG ZS180 last week after 10 months of SORNing
Battery needed recharging but I as I was getting it serviced and MOTd immediately I just let it idle for 15mins to check that circulation was ok. Do check your fluid levels before firing up, mine didn't need any top-up and fired up on the first turn of the key. Discs needed a clean up on the front and back calipers were seized, wipers were shot (I think they were anyway) other than that back on the road serviced and MOT'd for less than 300 squid, though admittedly plugs didn't require changing nor the head taking off for this service.

Edited by Trophybloo on Monday 20th September 13:25

Edited by Trophybloo on Monday 20th September 13:25

[reggie82]

jon- said:

Fatman2 said:

Petrolhead_Rich said:

Oil change asap once you get back if left for more than a montho IMO

Are you kidding? I'm not flaming you but changing oil after a month on 2009 Focus.

I didn't realise oil performance would deteriorate after a month

It won't, that's an odd suggestion.

Over inflate the tyres by ~10psi to help the flatspotting.

I thought it was a really odd suggestion too! Surely the oil will be in better condition than if you'd used it for the month?!

[Petrolhead_Rich]

Fatman2 said:

Petrolhead_Rich said:

Oil change asap once you get back if left for more than a montho IMO

Are you kidding? I'm not flaming you but changing oil after a month on 2009 Focus.

I didn't realise oil performance would deteriorate after a month

meant to say a few months, posting while at work leads to errors in typing...

+1 on the handbrake, that is a must I forgot about!!!

On the oil suggestion, It is just an idea, not sure what the recommendation would be for deterioration, but I always work on the principle that frequent oil changes are a good thing, if a car has been stood, potentially in the cold etc for a number of months then some fresh oil through the engine can't hurt.

[Major Fallout]

If it is diesel you might have a problem with the diesel bug.

[BriC175]

bull996 said:

Lol at these replies.

Most Fords have sat in a wet grassy field for 2 years before they see a dealer and they are fine.

You dont need to do anything. Anything under 8 months the most i would do is cover it to stop the bird st.

What he said. We have quite a few cars in our family, and one, for example, is a Morris J Type van (my Dads) which comes out twice a year for shows. It is literally a case of connect the battery, start it up (sometimes the fuel pump sticks, and just needs a little tinkering with), drive it to MOT station, pass with no faults (most of the time), go to show, then after the show goes back in the garage, battery disconnected, it's left for a few months, then repeat for another show (minus the MOT). It gets that year after year (obviously if something is wrong, it will get fixed as and when.. this year it needed an exhaust repair). It has been doing this for longer than I have been alive (21 years)

Honestly, 5 months isn't worth worrying about. The absolute most I'd do is leave it in gear without using the handbrake, and possibly disconnect the battery. Don't worry about oil, or fluids though.

[Fat Audi 80]

BriC175 said:

bull996 said:

Lol at these replies.

Most Fords have sat in a wet grassy field for 2 years before they see a dealer and they are fine.

You dont need to do anything. Anything under 8 months the most i would do is cover it to stop the bird st.

What he said. We have quite a few cars in our family, and one, for example, is a Morris J Type van (my Dads) which comes out twice a year for shows. It is literally a case of connect the battery, start it up (sometimes the fuel pump sticks, and just needs a little tinkering with), drive it to MOT station, pass with no faults (most of the time), go to show, then after the show goes back in the garage, battery disconnected, it's left for a few months, then repeat for another show (minus the MOT). It gets that year after year (obviously if something is wrong, it will get fixed as and when.. this year it needed an exhaust repair). It has been doing this for longer than I have been alive (21 years)

Honestly, 5 months isn't worth worrying about. The absolute most I'd do is leave it in gear without using the handbrake, and possibly disconnect the battery. Don't worry about oil, or fluids though.

Best post so far.

My Audi S2 goes in the garage over the winter for 6 months a year. I have a ctek charger to condition the battery and I very occasionally run it around the block and warm it through thoroughly, and that's it. (Only because I miss the looks, sound and feel of it)

Just make sure you put it away nice and clean and vacuumed and it will be pristine when you get it out again.

[reggie82]

Petrolhead_Rich said:

if a car has been stood, potentially in the cold etc for a number of months then some fresh oil through the engine can't hurt.

Won't the oil be in better condition than if you'd been driving it around for them months though?

[BriC175]

reggie82 said:

Petrolhead_Rich said:

if a car has been stood, potentially in the cold etc for a number of months then some fresh oil through the engine can't hurt.

Won't the oil be in better condition than if you'd been driving it around for them months though?

It will be.

Do you think when new engine oil is in storage at Halfords or the like, the temperature is perfectly regulated, and they stir it up every so often to keep it fresh!? No.. It will be just fine sitting in the engine.

Edited by BriC175 on Monday 20th September 14:22

[Matt UK]

ben_h100 said:

I expect the first `gap` to be around 5-6 weeks, but after that it may be two or three months until I return.

I would do nothing. My MX5 sits in the garage for longer periods than that.

Just wake it up, let it warm up, give it a quick check over and off you go.

[ben_h100]

Thanks for all these useful replies. I'm going to leave the car outside so will probably get a cover of some sort to place over it. I have no experience of disconnecting the battery, might do that over spring when it will be left for a few months.

Unfortunately, I can't leave the keys with anyone to keep it ticking over.

[Acheron]

Lol, am i the only person who though 'do nothing'?