What procedures to take, my car won't be used for 6 or so months

[villageidiotY2K]

Hi my dear friends, as the subject, what steps need to be taken? 

I don't have someone to run the car while it's not being used. 

IT will be stored under the roof. 

 

Below are some ideas I've gathered from the net. 

1.pull the battery cables

2.fill the gas tank to the full

3.wd40 the brake pads

4.wax and car cover

5.change all the oil 

 

Is there something else to be cautious of? 

I'm a bit concerned about the cv joints not being greased up.

Is there ways to grease this area? 

I don't know much about cars or just about everything

 

So pls kindly advice without too much technicals. 

 

Cheerios

 

 

 

 

[villageidiotY2K]

Its 2008 old Honda sedan if that helps a bit

[Kwasaki]

Pump tyres up to max on tyre wall.

Disconnect battery if its fully charged from your last ride out. 

Leave handbrake off.

WD stuff is good engine and all. 

Put Moth balls and close air con inlet from out side. 

Don't bother with other stuff you mention til your back 6 months and a bit is nowt worry about. 

 

 

[toofarnorth]

I would do as suggested by Kwasaki above.   Close off all vents , pump tyres to 40psi , disconnect battery . 

[Matzzon]

Or you could just give the key to your neighbour. He will drive it, take good care of it and return it in mint condition. ????

[HauptmannUK]

Assuming the car is shaded from the sun and rain then 6 months is no big deal.

Disconnect battery and handbrake off is all I would do.

No need to spray WD40 - especially not on the brakes!  The tyres will have flat-spots when you return, but will smooth-out after a 10km drive on a hot road.

In the car trade in UK you will find many cars that sit for 6 months or more between owners.  Brake disc corrosion is the main concern but seldom a problem in Thailand if the car is sheltered.

[KMartinHandyman]

Pint or two of fuel additive to the full gas tank and leave a quality low amp maintenance charger on the battery is what I do in the states.

[villageidiotY2K]

Why no wd40 on the brakes? 

I thought it will anti rust. 

IT will be kept under the roof, but I feel the moisture from the rain might corrode the brake system. 

 

I'm not giving mah ride to the neighbor, friends or yaads! 

Cuz I can predict the mileage being scooped up by 10k, dented and Scratched, inside trashed up with cigarette, beer bottles, cum stained tissues, used condoms (and lottery tickets) alcohol, semen, pussy stench, speeding fines (or murder conviction) on the surprise. 

I don't wanna get the fully package. 

[briofoz]

Do not put WD40 on brakes.

 

Bucket of rice on the inside of the car to stop mould growth from moisture.

[seabear]

A dehumidifier. I use Farcent. (from HomePro)

Mice can be a problem. Use an Anti mouse product. ?

[Asquith Production]

I used to put my car on axle stands if left for more than 4 months and take the wheels off. Otherwise your tyres could develop flat spots. You could then put the tyres out of the sun where they wont degrade.

[bogozy]

I am always get up the car, standing on bricks. No load on the tyres, and suspension. 

[Sumarianson]

2 hours ago, briofoz said:

Do not put WD40 on brakes.

 

Bucket of rice on the inside of the car to stop mould growth from moisture.

And something for the ants to eat!

[Don Mega]

Fill the tank with Benzine, not Gasahol as the ethanol content can absorb moisture.

[Bigz]

As mentioned earlier mice can be a problem in Thailand. They chew some stuff under the bonnet in my car last time costing me 3000 baht. Now I got a cat so mice are no longer an issue.

[jvs]

Yes very good idea to spray the brakepads with oil,stop them from squeaking .

I would install a drip charger also,after six months not being used here a battery is dead(forever)

[jimn]

I regularly leave my car in Thailand for 5 months and my car in the UK for 7 months all I do is disconnect the battery. This year because of the pandemic I have only just returned to the UK after being away an extended 9 months. I had forgotten to disconnect the battery and it was flat, the breaks were also sticking a little. I jump started the battery and after a few trips the breaks sorted themselves out. Tyres were a little deflated. Nothing to much to worry about you will be fine.

[SePl]

i'm not really sure that it's necessary to do anything actually ? just change the battery when you come back, this is all what is needed.

 

[brianthainess]

As said disconnect battery.; inflate tyres a few psi more than normal protect from sun,; leave hand brake off, cover car to protect from bird or Jing jock poo.

Things i would NOT do ; leave a charger connected risk of fire.; Put any oil even WD 40 on the brake discs you could forget and when you go to stop you won't. any rust will wear of after a few klm. your worst enemy are rats and mice chewing through cables. There are electronic devices that are supposed to work to stop this, i have also seen a spray called RAT OFF. good luck

[Pilotman]

I would say that if you have someone you can trust, that you can leave with a set of keys,  who can run the car once a month, check the oil and tyres and keep the oil circulating, then that is by far the best idea. 

[Tarteso]

If you leave the car only under roof but an open place, is not a  bad idea to spread some rats repellent. the box engine is the preferred place for snake nests and the preferred cables for rat food.

 

[mrfill]

8 hours ago, villageidiotY2K said:

Why no wd40 on the brakes? 

I thought it will anti rust. 

IT will be kept under the roof, but I feel the moisture from the rain might corrode the brake system. 

 

I'm not giving mah ride to the neighbor, friends or yaads! 

Cuz I can predict the mileage being scooped up by 10k, dented and Scratched, inside trashed up with cigarette, beer bottles, cum stained tissues, used condoms (and lottery tickets) alcohol, semen, pussy stench, speeding fines (or murder conviction) on the surprise. 

I don't wanna get the fully package. 

WD40 is superb at reducing friction.

Brakes only function by using friction.

Can you see a problem?

 

Perhaps its a Thai thing to spray wd40 on brakes - it would certainly explain all the crashes due to 'brake failure'

[Peterphuket]

I had to read it a few times but WD40 on breaks???

How do you come up with that,

It sucks up the liquid,  the brakes never functional normal anymore.

[Peterphuket]

Rust on your discs don't give any problem, after a few times braking the rust is gone.

The only thing that matters is that the car is not by the sea.

Salt air is disastrous for a long time.

Edited July 26, 2020 by Peterphuket

[CygnusX1]

When I used to be able to travel before the China virus, I left my car unused for 6 months on several occasions with no problems, just parked under a carport.

I remove the battery and connect it to a battery maintainer (not just a charger), put Sta-Bil in the fuel tank, and inflate the tyres to 40psi or so. Never noticed flat spots in the tyres, and rust on the brake discs comes off quickly after a few hard stops. Be sure not to use an ethanol blend as fuel, as this can cause separation of the ethanol and petrol, leading to water contamination (the ethanol absorbs water from the atmosphere).

[Suitcase]

6 hours ago, jvs said:

Yes very good idea to spray the brakepads with oil,stop them from squeaking .

I would install a drip charger also,after six months not being used here a battery is dead(forever)

No need for a drip charger

Every year I leave my car batteries for 5 to 8 months disconnected 

and they are fully charged when I get back

[EVENKEEL]

7 hours ago, Bigz said:

As mentioned earlier mice can be a problem in Thailand. They chew some stuff under the bonnet in my car last time costing me 3000 baht. Now I got a cat so mice are no longer an issue.

God damned mice will make your car smell forever it seems.

[ravip]

I hope you park it in a rodent free area.

 

Rust on the disc is not a major issue. But if the rear brakes are drum type, ensure they are absolutely dry, if not you might have to remove the hubs and clean on your return.

 

WD40 on the brakes? Never heard of that before. Be very sure before doing so.

 

Below are a few tips from some professionals

https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/laying-up

https://www.edmunds.com/car-maintenance/how-to-prep-your-car-for-long-term-storage.html

Edited July 26, 2020 by ravip

[captnhoy]

I have done what you are doing. And YES - mice was a problem. I have since learned that if you load up your car inside and under the hood with the shavings of a very strong smelling bar of soap that keeps the mice away. What soap that is in Thailand I am not sure. I just use my knife to turn one good sized bar into shavings then spread them in the car, under the hood and on the ground under the engine. No mice. Not too difficult to clean up in the unlikely event that you can ever return. ????

[SiSePuede419]

None of the above.

 

Fresh gas is better than old gas, so 1/4 tank full, then add new gas after you get back.

 

I've left my modern cars for six months before.  No problems just needed a battery jump.  A battery jumper that you plug in then connect to the battery works just fine.  They're about 600B in America.