Preparing to leave the car idle again for 2 years, any ideas?

[Velleman]

Our car will be left idle again for 2 years or so, we don't plan to visit Thailand until then as we now live in the EU, and we don't feel like traveling during this pandemic.
What can be done to minimize breakdown?

 

What we're doing now:

- Car parked in a carport, roof / shadow covers the car but during a short time sunlight (UV) hits the wheels.
- PVC car cover.

- Have someone turn on the engine and air conditioning for 15 minutes once a month.

The Michelin tires which we purchased 3 years ago (only driven for 2000km) already show some small cracks, probably dried up or damaged by UV light it was standing idle the past few years.

Is it wise to lift the car?

Are there any other things we can do for leaving a car in such a hot climate?

[MrJ2U]

Disconnect the battery and get some fuel stabilizer.

 

Hopefully its parked under a roof.

 

If possible have a friend start it a few times a month.

 

 

[Velleman]

I'll look into that fuel stabilizer.

Why disconnect the battery if someone starts the car once a month or so?

And yes, it's under a roof.

[guzzi850m2]

I think you have the bases covered.

 

Maybe a good idea to open the engine hood when the car is started, rats and other animals may build a nest and start eating the wiring.

 

Have you considered selling the car as it will just sit there and drop in value?

[Velleman]

15 minutes ago, guzzi850m2 said:

I think you have the bases covered.

 

Maybe a good idea to open the engine hood when the car is started, rats and other animals may build a nest and start eating the wiring.

 

Have you considered selling the car as it will just sit there and drop in value?

Yeah, i've considered it but the car already lost 65 ~ 70% of its value since we bought it new 9 years ago.
Wife also has a hard time letting go of material things... ???? haha. Nah, once the pandemic is a bit under control then we plan to visit Thailand again for holidays once or twice a year. We prefer to have our own car than renting one.

Edited December 4, 2021 by Velleman

[pgrahmm]

We store our car in the US in a shipping container....I keep a battery maintainer on it...It sat for 5 years & started up like it had sat overnight....We usually go back once a year but C19 has knocked us out of sync....

However, the 3 times we've started it after prolonged sitting it's fired right up.... Once started it goes right straight to the shop for full maintenance....I think I finally just had it replaced even though it passed all testing procedures....

 

When I had to leave a Toyota pick up here for long periods I left it suspended up on jack stands....I felt it was less inclined to be "used/borrowed" while in my absence....

 

Where our 4Runner is in the US the climate is generally mild & never, if ever freezes....

 

A battery minder might be a good idea to use.... Beside the battery maintenance, it also keeps the electronics dialed in....

 

[mistral53]

1 hour ago, Velleman said:

- Have someone turn on the engine and air conditioning for 15 minutes once a month.

Can you elaborate what good this will do for your car? I can make a long list how this will damage the engine, but maybe I fail to see the whole picture.......

[CharlieH]

If it was me, knowing a full 2 yrs before I returned, I would drain all the fluids, remove the battery, put it up on stands and remove the wheels,if its under cover I wouldnt bother with the cover either as it provides a perfect nest for snakes and rats ! Being dark etc.

 

 

 

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

Sell it.

[gim12]

i have stored mine for many months several times and  a  mechanic told me store it with a full gas tank, even with the battery disconnected, he said it stops condensation/water forming in the tank

[seedy]

Remove battery, fuel tank full, - you can put it on stands to keep the weight off the tires if you want but not necessary.

Do NOT cover it with a PVC cover - which is plastic and will trap any condensation under the cover, encourage mold growth.

On your return, new battery if required, check tires for cracking.

If good to go - drive it away.

Oil, coolant, all fluids will NOT have to be replaced.

[HAPPYNUFF]

If you follow the advice given by CharlieH, Seedy and Gim12    youve done right.        Most importantly, for the tyres, jack it up off the ground, even use  wooden blocks if no  jack stands.  You could even have the motor started  in that case if you left the battery in. and put it in gear  to    left  everything rotate occasionally.   Starting it for 15 minutes each month isnt going to do much, the motor wont warm up  and the  sump oil wont be circulating much in that time.

[marty147]

 

Release the handbrake otherwise the cable can stick and/or the rear shoes can bind to the drum.

[Jeffr2]

I have a neighbor's son start ours and drive it around every month.  Give him a few hundred baht to do so.

[Longwood50]

You might consider putting the car up on jacks to keep the pressure off the tires and creating a flat spot.  Also, now they sell pretty cheap solar battery tenders to keep the battery fully charged.

 

[mvdf]

Sell, by hook or by crook. Less things to think about. Spares you the Por Ror Bor and tax.

 

2 years... that's a long time to leave it parked and idle.

[The Hammer2021]

Put it on blocks.

[Yellowtail]

As others have said, I would not start it at all. It generally does more harm than good, unless it's started and run at speed  for at least 20 minutes. 

 

I would not cover it if it gets any wind

 

I would:

If the oil is not fresh change it, and drive at speed for at least 20 minutes before I parked it

Air the tires to the max

Fill the fuel tank to the top

Close the vents 

Unhook the battery

Put a sock over the exhaust

 

 

 

 

 

[yogi yogi]

On 12/4/2021 at 10:22 PM, guzzi850m2 said:

I think you have the bases covered.

 

Maybe a good idea to open the engine hood when the car is started, rats and other animals may build a nest and start eating the wiring.

 

Have you considered selling the car as it will just sit there and drop in value?

yes why not sell and rebuy in two years i would do that

[yogi yogi]

i would just consider the battery rubbish after two years.  batterys are not that much money.  i like the ides of someone starting it every month for some minutes.  but dont count on battery being good two years later.........two years for me .  i would sell car and rebuy later................

[Yellowtail]

If I were planning on buying a NEW car when I returned I would sell the old one, but quickly and easily finding a cheap, dependable used car that you like is difficult. A nine year old vehicle will lose little value in two years. 

[transam]

If it's a basic ride, it might be a good idea to sell it on, as when you return it will be near 12 years old.......

But, if it is looked at as family, pump up the tyres to around 40 psi, cut up some cardboard boxes to shield the tyres, other than that I would not worry as it will be started now and again. A battery milliamp trickle charger maybe a good idea, the type you leave connected. 

[Ralf001]

3 minutes ago, transam said:

If it's a basic ride, it might be a good idea to sell it on, as when you return it will be near 12 years old.......

But, if it is looked at as family, pump up the tyres to around 40 psi, cut up some cardboard boxes to shield the tyres, other than that I would not worry as it will be started now and again. A battery milliamp trickle charger maybe a good idea, the type you leave connected. 

what does the cardboard actually do ?

[transam]

1 minute ago, Ralf001 said:

what does the cardboard actually do ?

Keeps the sun off....

[pacovl46]

My advice would be to sell it, if you don’t want to do that then you need someone who can drive the car once a week or at least every other week for maybe 30 minutes because the brakes will start rusting and once the car stands for long enough the brakes will have rusted so much that the wheels get stuck and it’s a massive pain in the ass to get them running again. The fuel will go bad also and I’m not sure how well a stabilizer will work, I haven’t looked into that. My advice would be to just sell it, put the money in the bank and when you come back you can buy something else. 

[pookett]

Logical list here: Check list

Some items already covered.

[LarrySR]

Run some non ethanol fuel thru the system and add some fuel stabilizer.

Ethanol is damaging to materials like rubber o-rings, hoses & it corrodes aluminum, rusts steel, and creates a chalky buildup that ruins carburetors/injectors.

[hotchilli]

On 12/4/2021 at 10:15 PM, Velleman said:

I'll look into that fuel stabilizer.

Why disconnect the battery if someone starts the car once a month or so?

And yes, it's under a roof.

If someone is going to start/run the car to warm up a couple times a month nothing to really worry about, just check the fluid levels now and again.

You say the tyres are already cracked, so they're done for, but it wouldn't hurt to maybe check the air pressure once in a while, otherwise leave them on and the car on the ground.

If it's an auto gearbox it wouldn't hurt to select the gears now and again to let the fluid circulate, Also activate/pump the brakes so calipers etc don't stick.

If it's going to be a couple of years before you return maybe let the fuel tank level run down to a minimal amount, and ask your friend to top it up with a gallon now and again to keep the fuel fresh.

 

[Cake Monster]

Read into the original post, the car has already been standing for several Years, and you are seeking ideas to stand it for a further 2 more .

If it were me, I would seriously consider if I really needed to keep that Car at all.

Maybe you are better to sell the Car and rent upon your return as there is so little use .

[seedy]

Gotta a laugh at some of the posts here - on a topic that has been done many times before

My HD sat in a steel crate for almost 7 years. Full of gasahol 95 and Stabil. The brakes did not rust, the fuel system did not fill with chalky whatever. The o-rings were fine. It was never turned over even once during all that time. No one even looked at it !

Drained the fuel, filled with fresh, installed a new battery, rode it away.