Popular Post Velleman Posted December 4, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted December 4, 2021 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? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post MrJ2U Posted December 4, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted December 4, 2021 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. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velleman Posted December 4, 2021 Author Share Posted December 4, 2021 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. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post guzzi850m2 Posted December 4, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted December 4, 2021 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? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velleman Posted December 4, 2021 Author Share Posted December 4, 2021 (edited) 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgrahmm Posted December 4, 2021 Share Posted December 4, 2021 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.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mistral53 Posted December 4, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted December 4, 2021 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....... 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post CharlieH Posted December 4, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted December 4, 2021 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. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Led Lolly Yellow Lolly Posted December 4, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted December 4, 2021 Sell it. 5 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post gim12 Posted December 5, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted December 5, 2021 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 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post seedy Posted December 5, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted December 5, 2021 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. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAPPYNUFF Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 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. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post marty147 Posted December 5, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted December 5, 2021 Release the handbrake otherwise the cable can stick and/or the rear shoes can bind to the drum. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffr2 Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 I have a neighbor's son start ours and drive it around every month. Give him a few hundred baht to do so. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longwood50 Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvdf Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hammer2021 Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 Put it on blocks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Yellowtail Posted December 6, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted December 6, 2021 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 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yogi yogi Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 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 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yogi yogi Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 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................ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowtail Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
transam Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralf001 Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 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 ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
transam Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 1 minute ago, Ralf001 said: what does the cardboard actually do ? Keeps the sun off.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacovl46 Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pookett Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 Logical list here: Check list Some items already covered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarrySR Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotchilli Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cake Monster Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 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 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seedy Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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