We've got to go back to the UK for a while, probably for about 6 months, but perhaps as long as 9. I don't have anyone I can rely on to maintain my Ford Ranger while I'm gone so I'm going to have to leave it parked up in our drive. Obviously there's several precautions I'll need to take to preserve the vehicle as effectively as possible but I have no experience of this and I'm unsure about what to do exactly and what to be most concerned about. I would really appreciate any advice from people who have experience of this particular scenario. The research I've done so far has bought me to the conclusion I should:

1) Disconnect the battery at the negative terminal.

2) Over inflate the tyres slightly to prevent flat spots.

3) Block up the exhaust and AC pipes to prevent rodents getting inside.

4) Fill the fuel tank, add fuel stabiliser, and then drive the car for a while before I park it up for the last time.

5) Cover the car.

Are there any further steps I should consider taking and is using a fuel stabiliser something I should definitely do? I'm going to buy myself a battery charger so I can charge the battery on my return but what is the likelihood of my battery being ruined after this long and failing to charge? I've heard that after this long the car's fluids can degrade, and so could the rubber hoses and pipes, especially in a country as hot as Thailand. What is the likelihood of this happening? And if the fluids have degraded badly how much damage could that do to the engine? I'm thinking that the only definite way to prevent damage to the engine by degraded fluids is to drain and replace them all before starting the engine but is this being over precautious? The mechanic at the Ford garage in our province seems to think so, he said after the battery is charged the car will drive fine but he didn't sound very convincing. I've spoken to a neighbour that often leaves his car for long periods and he says he doesn't bother with replacing fluids, once he's charged the battery the car drives fine and I'm overthinking this but I'd like some further advice on this.

You seem to have covered most of the correct things to do, you'll also want to cover the car in a tarp as well.

Cars don't do well if sitting more than 4 months, sht happens.

Do you not need to take theft prevention measures?

Six to nine months is a very long time to leave a car without running in a hot and humid climate like Thailand. If at all possible, try to arrange a place it can be parked under cover or at least in shade so the sun isn't beating down on it every day. Otherwise, the risk of damage through condensation is significant.

Don't just cover the car with a tarp; get a breathable car cover.

https://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Weather-Protection-Universal-Frontier/dp/B0CXJ2PDRC/ref=sr_1_6?sr=8-6

Make sure you block the exhaust and AC pipes with steel wool; rodents can chew through anything else.

17 hours ago, NickyLouie said:

You seem to have covered most of the correct things to do, you'll also want to cover the car in a tarp as well.

Cars don't do well if sitting more than 4 months, sht happens.

Yes and this is why it's a source of anxiety for me at the moment because I bought the car new three years ago and it's my pride and joy. What's the worst case scenario after leaving it for six months? Very painful financially I should imagine!

11 hours ago, Evil Penevil said:

Six to nine months is a very long time to leave a car without running in a hot and humid climate like Thailand. If at all possible, try to arrange a place it can be parked under cover or at least in shade so the sun isn't beating down on it every day. Otherwise, the risk of damage through condensation is significant.

Don't just cover the car with a tarp; get a breathable car cover.

https://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Weather-Protection-Universal-Frontier/dp/B0CXJ2PDRC/ref=sr_1_6?sr=8-6

Make sure you block the exhaust and AC pipes with steel wool; rodents can chew through anything else.

The vehicle will be parked in our drive which has a huge canopy so it's completely covered and protected by the sun. That looks like a quality car cover, do you recommend it because you've used the same one?

13 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Do you not need to take theft prevention measures?

No and that's one of the advantages of living out in the boonies because it's very unlikely it would be stolen. We've got some great cameras and we live on a private, gated estate that has 24 hour security.

2 hours ago, Siam_Sam said:

The vehicle will be parked in our drive which has a huge canopy so it's completely covered and protected by the sun. That looks like a quality car cover, do you recommend it because you've used the same one?

That's very good, a canopy will be effective in protecting the car from the sun. I didn't use that exact car cover, but a similar one at a similar price. I was mainly concerned with snow and freezing winter temperatures, but it worked well in the summer, too.

You should remove the battery and connect it to a battery maintainer connected to mains power in your house. This will keep the battery fully charged for the period you’ll be away - lead/acid batteries love being kept in a fully charged state. Battery maintainers are inexpensive.

I regularly leave my car unused in Australia for periods of up to 6 months. I do most of the stuff in your list apart from the car cover and rodent protection, been lucky so far. I inflate tyres to 45psi, no flat spots as yet. I do have the advantage of storing the car in a much less humid climate.

So far, my now 25 year old car has started first go after each of my absences. Computer engine management and fuel injection systems are wonderful.

I left my car unattended in the UK for 120 days and used a solar trickle charger that was plugged into the OBD2 port of the car

Car always started 1st time just remember to disconnect trickle charger from OBD2 port before starting vehicle

AA and Amazon have it on sale for £13

10 hours ago, Evil Penevil said:

That's very good, a canopy will be effective in protecting the car from the sun. I didn't use that exact car cover, but a similar one at a similar price. I was mainly concerned with snow and freezing winter temperatures, but it worked well in the summer, too.

It sounds like you have the same problem as me but the opposite way round - you leave your car for long periods in your home country when you're in Thailand, right? Do you use a battery maintainer?

9 hours ago, CygnusX1 said:

You should remove the battery and connect it to a battery maintainer connected to mains power in your house. This will keep the battery fully charged for the period you’ll be away - lead/acid batteries love being kept in a fully charged state. Battery maintainers are inexpensive.

I regularly leave my car unused in Australia for periods of up to 6 months. I do most of the stuff in your list apart from the car cover and rodent protection, been lucky so far. I inflate tyres to 45psi, no flat spots as yet. I do have the advantage of storing the car in a much less humid climate.

So far, my now 25 year old car has started first go after each of my absences. Computer engine management and fuel injection systems are wonderful.

Thanks, I was hoping that somebody with personal experience of this scenario would reply. I'm yet to see a rat in our road and we haven't had any issues with them since we've lived here so I'm hoping things will stay that way. How come you don't bother with a car cover? And is it safe to leave a battery maintainer plugged in for that long while we're away? There is much that could go wrong with a car after this long but your post gives me hope. I have a neighbour that leaves his car here for up to nine months of the year and he hasn't had any major problems either.

7 hours ago, vinny41 said:

I left my car unattended in the UK for 120 days and used a solar trickle charger that was plugged into the OBD2 port of the car

Car always started 1st time just remember to disconnect trickle charger from OBD2 port before starting vehicle

AA and Amazon have it on sale for £13

Thanks for your reply. This is another option I could look at although the OBD2 port for my vehicle is inside the car. Where is yours? If it's inside the car how do you run the lead for the solar panel?

3 hours ago, Siam_Sam said:

How come you don't bother with a car cover? And is it safe to leave a battery maintainer plugged in for that long while we're away?

I have a carport, not a garage, and I just have a feeling that a car cover could give some bad guy an indication that I’m away for a long time. The 25 year old paint on my car’s still hard and glossy. Maybe the far lower level of air pollution in Australia vs Thailand helps.

I’ve not read anywhere about any risks of leaving a battery maintainer plugged in for months, after all, that’s what they’re designed for. I leave the battery hooked up in my bathroom, not next to anything that could easily catch fire, just in case.

2 hours ago, Siam_Sam said:

It sounds like you have the same problem as me but the opposite way round - you leave your car for long periods in your home country when you're in Thailand, right? Do you use a battery maintainer?

Thanks, I was hoping that somebody with personal experience of this scenario would reply. I'm yet to see a rat in our road and we haven't had any issues with them since we've lived here so I'm hoping things will stay that way. How come you don't bother with a car cover? And is it safe to leave a battery maintainer plugged in for that long while we're away? There is much that could go wrong with a car after this long but your post gives me hope. I have a neighbour that leaves his car here for up to nine months of the year and he hasn't had any major problems either.

Thanks for your reply. This is another option I could look at although the OBD2 port for my vehicle is inside the car. Where is yours? If it's inside the car how do you run the lead for the solar panel?

OBD2 port is located just above the accelerator pedal cable

This is the one that I used

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x3qITA0MSw&t=3s

and instruction manual here

https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/B149f707oRS.pdf

11 hours ago, vinny41 said:

I left my car unattended in the UK for 120 days and used a solar trickle charger that was plugged into the OBD2 port of the car

Car always started 1st time just remember to disconnect trickle charger from OBD2 port before starting vehicle

AA and Amazon have it on sale for £13

21 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said:

I have a carport, not a garage, and I just have a feeling that a car cover could give some bad guy an indication that I’m away for a long time. The 25 year old paint on my car’s still hard and glossy. Maybe the far lower level of air pollution in Australia vs Thailand helps.

I’ve not read anywhere about any risks of leaving a battery maintainer plugged in for months, after all, that’s what they’re designed for. I leave the battery hooked up in my bathroom, not next to anything that could easily catch fire, just in case.

If it under a carport do not put a car cover on it.

car covers are great for trapping dust and moisture.

If you park it for a long time under a carport, first put a cotton sheet over it first, then the plastic one.......🤗

You will likely find that the fuel injectors will need replacing on your return as gasoline will have dried up hard and blocked them inside. Unless it is a diesel, then you might get away with it due to the oil content.

Leave the handbrake off or you may find the brakes have seized on. Leave it in gear so it cannot roll away or follow the next comment:-

Rather than over inflate the tyres you could leave the car on jack stands with its wheels off the ground. This also helps to stop someone stealing it.

Leave it under cover or dirt, tree sap and leaves plus the sun will ruin the paint.

I would not worry about the fluids in the car as they will be ok.

3 hours ago, DaRoadrunner said:

Rather than over inflate the tyres you could leave the car on jack stands with its wheels off the ground. This also helps to stop someone stealing it.

+1

However, I would still over inflate the tyres. It can't hurt.

I'll add, is there anyone who can check on the car? How do you know it will still be there when you get back?

Also, if it has an aftermarket car alarm, be sure to turn off the back up battery.

Have the code for the sound system handy for when you get back.

You may also consider using some rubber conditioner on door seals etc. Helps keep the rubber soft, rather than going hard from lack of use.

9 hours ago, DaRoadrunner said:

You will likely find that the fuel injectors will need replacing on your return as gasoline will have dried up hard and blocked them inside. Unless it is a diesel, then you might get away with it due to the oil content.

You’ve given me something else to worry about. However, I’ve been lucky so far. After more than a dozen absences ranging from 3 to 6 months, injectors on my 25yo fuel injected, petrol engined car are still fine, well at least they still seem to be working. I do add fuel stabiliser, don’t know if that reduces fuel evaporating in the injectors.

19 hours ago, DaRoadrunner said:

You will likely find that the fuel injectors will need replacing on your return as gasoline will have dried up hard and blocked them inside. Unless it is a diesel, then you might get away with it due to the oil content.

Leave the handbrake off or you may find the brakes have seized on. Leave it in gear so it cannot roll away or follow the next comment:-

Rather than over inflate the tyres you could leave the car on jack stands with its wheels off the ground. This also helps to stop someone stealing it.

Leave it under cover or dirt, tree sap and leaves plus the sun will ruin the paint.

I would not worry about the fluids in the car as they will be ok.

I'm no expert but I think if you add fuel stabiliser to the tank and then drive the car for a bit so that the mixture is drawn through the engine, it prevents the fuel injectors from damage. My car is also a diesel. I can leave the handbrake off but I don't think it would be a good idea to leave the car in gear? Our carport is perfectly flat anyway so there's no chance of the car rolling away. I'm definitely going to cover the car.

16 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

I'll add, is there anyone who can check on the car? How do you know it will still be there when you get back?

As it stands there's going to be nobody to check on the car but I have neighbours both sides of our house. We have security cameras all around the house that I can access from my phone. We also live on a one-road-private estate with a gated entrance and 24 hour security. It's very unlikely the car will be stolen.

1 hour ago, Siam_Sam said:

I'm no expert but I think if you add fuel stabiliser to the tank and then drive the car for a bit so that the mixture is drawn through the engine, it prevents the fuel injectors from damage. My car is also a diesel. I can leave the handbrake off but I don't think it would be a good idea to leave the car in gear? Our carport is perfectly flat anyway so there's no chance of the car rolling away. I'm definitely going to cover the car.

Thanks for that advice - I’ll be even more careful to always add stabiliser, and of course driving a bit after adding it (but leaving the tank mostly full). My car’s an automatic, and I’ve always left it in park, with the handbrake on very lightly (my carport’s not quite flat).

Although my car’s capable of running on E10 (10% ethanol), I never, ever, use the stuff, as I’ve read there’s a risk of the ethanol partly separating out from the petrol after a long period of non use, and attracting water.

1 minute ago, CygnusX1 said:

Although my car’s capable of running on E10 (10% ethanol), I never, ever, use the stuff,

What are you using if not 10% ethanol ???

3 minutes ago, johng said:

What are you using if not 10% ethanol ???

Just ordinary petrol (gasoline for Americans), 91-93 octane level. Is nothing other than ethanol blend available where you’re from?

Are you living in Thailand ?

as far as I know 91 octane 'gas'

is now always 10 % ethanol

95 octane without 10 % ethanol is very hard to find and expensive too.

I seem to remember the Thai government setting dates for the ending of any 'gas' without at least 10 % ethanol..though they may have pushed that back ? ?

No, my car’s in Australia, I divide my time between Thailand, Europe and Australia. Too frightened to drive in Thailand.

You’ve just educated me, I had no idea that E10 was almost mandatory in Thailand.

5 hours ago, CygnusX1 said:

I had no idea that E10 was almost mandatory in Thailand.

Gasohol is highly corrosive to the fuel system and unsuitable for many older cars.

Susco Sinopec do have a Benzine 95, which as far as I know, contains only gasoline. It is also cheaper than competitors.

Caltex also have straight 95 gasoline, as do some, but not all, PTT stations.

I would absolutely go with a decent trickle-charger/maintainer, and leave the battery connected. I have a NOCO 10 that is great.

I used to leave a vehicle in the US for six months at a time regularly and never had any trouble with it. Gasoline should have a stabilizer, diesel no need. Topping the tank off is a must.

Covering it is a good idea, but ONLY if the cover fits perfect, is lined and is tight. Make sure the car is clean before you put it on. I had a custom Wolf cover, but it was a few hundred dollars twenty years ago. If the cover is loose or does not fit correctly, when the wind blows, the buffeting can damage the paint.

Tires do not get flat spots anymore.

On 1/10/2026 at 8:55 PM, Yellowtail said:

I would absolutely go with a decent trickle-charger/maintainer, and leave the battery connected. I have a NOCO 10 that is great.

I used to leave a vehicle in the US for six months at a time regularly and never had any trouble with it. Gasoline should have a stabilizer, diesel no need. Topping the tank off is a must.

Covering it is a good idea, but ONLY if the cover fits perfect, is lined and is tight. Make sure the car is clean before you put it on. I had a custom Wolf cover, but it was a few hundred dollars twenty years ago. If the cover is loose or does not fit correctly, when the wind blows, the buffeting can damage the paint.

Tires do not get flat spots anymore.

The NOCO 10 looks like a great piece of kit. You don't think I need to bother with fuel stabiliser if I have a diesel car? And you don't think my tyres will develop any flat spots after six months?

If the car is a hybrid, I would not leave it non driven for so long. The best solution would be to see if a car concierge firm like CWC in Thailand can watch over your car (i.e. take it for a quick drive at lease once every 3 weeks) in a trustworthy manner during absence. There surely should be something reliable in Bangkok. I use services of a car concierge back home to have the company drive the car once every 3 weeks when I go for the winter break in Asia. And of course the car has a tracker to watch the mouvements on the phone to be sure. You can find reliable small trackers to hide away someplace in your car as to monitor the movements when handing it over to a third party to drive it for the car's maintenance use only.

8 hours ago, Siam_Sam said:

The NOCO 10 looks like a great piece of kit. You don't think I need to bother with fuel stabiliser if I have a diesel car? And you don't think my tyres will develop any flat spots after six months?

Assuming the tank is topped off, diesel will be fine for six months. Use a stabilizer if it makes you feel better, it won't hurt anything. If you use one, buy a good one.

My tires never developed flat spots, and I left it parked for six months, twice a year for five years when I relocated to Thailand. I never had a fuel issue either, and it was gasoline. I would not leave a gas-burner for six months today with the all the alcohol and whatnot in it.

I left my diesel Fortuner here for seven months over covid when I got stuck in the US, and besides a dead battery, everything was fine. It was only supposed to be a three-week trip, so I did not hook up the charger. Had to replace the battery.

I think the tire flat spots has not been an issue for quite a while due to the improvements in synthetics additives. Boat and RV trailers are often left sitting a year at a time without issue.

4 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Assuming the tank is topped off, diesel will be fine for six months. Use a stabilizer if it makes you feel better, it won't hurt anything. If you use one, buy a good one.

My tires never developed flat spots, and I left it parked for six months, twice a year for five years when I relocated to Thailand. I never had a fuel issue either, and it was gasoline. I would not leave a gas-burner for six months today with the all the alcohol and whatnot in it.

I left my diesel Fortuner here for seven months over covid when I got stuck in the US, and besides a dead battery, everything was fine. It was only supposed to be a three-week trip, so I did not hook up the charger. Had to replace the battery.

I think the tire flat spots has not been an issue for quite a while due to the improvements in synthetics additives. Boat and RV trailers are often left sitting a year at a time without issue.

I had my tyres rotated today and the manager there also thinks that flat spots on my tyres are unlikely after six months. He said that even if that happens and they're not too bad the tyres should return to their usual shape once the car has been driven a little. He also said that he wouldn't bother with fuel stabiliser in a diesel car because the fuel should be fine after six months. This is another reason why I'm glad I bought a diesel car.

I don't think I'm going to bother with a battery maintainer if I have to leave it plugged in in my house while I'm away for six months. I don't think that's a wise thing to do because if something goes wrong the consequences of that could be massive. I don't trust Thai products at all. Instead I'm going to disconnect the battery and leave it, hopefully it'll still charge up when I come back. The worse case scenario is having to buy a new one and at around 3,000 baht they're not as expensive as I first thought.

I'm still unsure what to do about a car cover. Apparently car covers can also create fungus in the car which could cause more damage than the layer of dust accumulated after six months. Maybe a good clean of the car with a clay bar, followed by waxing will be enough to preserve the paintwork. Everyone I've spoke to about car covers has a different opinion so I'm still trying to decide what to do.

32 minutes ago, Siam_Sam said:

I had my tyres rotated today and the manager there also thinks that flat spots on my tyres are unlikely after six months. He said that even if that happens and they're not too bad the tyres should return to their usual shape once the car has been driven a little. He also said that he wouldn't bother with fuel stabiliser in a diesel car because the fuel should be fine after six months. This is another reason why I'm glad I bought a diesel car.

I don't think I'm going to bother with a battery maintainer if I have to leave it plugged in in my house while I'm away for six months. I don't think that's a wise thing to do because if something goes wrong the consequences of that could be massive. I don't trust Thai products. Instead I'm going to disconnect the battery and leave it, hopefully it'll still charge up when I come back. The worse case scenario is having to buy a new one and at around 3,000 baht they're not as expensive as I first thought.

I'm still unsure what to do about a car cover. Apparently car covers can also create fungus in the car which could cause more damage than the layer of dust accumulated after six months. Maybe a good clean of the car with a clay bar, followed by waxing will be enough to preserve the paintwork. Everyone I've spoke to about car covers has a different opinion so I'm still trying to decide what to do.

I would wash and wax, clay-bar when you get back.

I would definitely not used a cheap and or poor fitting cover.

Sock over the exhaust pipe.

You should also consider laying some rodent baits around. There have been cases of them chewing on some wires in an engine bay.

Also, some moisture absorber in the cabin wouldn't hurt.

Something like this.

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/pdp-i5931731019-s25419862619.html?c=&channelLpJumpArgs=&clickTrackInfo=query%253Amoisture%252Babsorber%253Bnid%253A5931731019%253Bsrc%253ALazadaMainSrp%253Brn%253Ab2ef34e04a75f0889166e9564090bb24%253Bregion%253Ath%253Bsku%253A5931731019_TH%253Bprice%253A35%253Bclient%253Adesktop%253Bsupplier_id%253A1000040120%253Bsession_id%253A%253Bbiz_source%253Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.lazada.co.th%252F%253Bslot%253A7%253Butlog_bucket_id%253A470687%253Basc_category_id%253A11929%253Bitem_id%253A5931731019%253Bsku_id%253A25419862619%253Bshop_id%253A285979%253BtemplateInfo%253A107882_D_E%2523-1_A3_C%25231120_L%2523&freeshipping=1&fs_ab=2&fuse_fs=&lang=en&location=Samut%20Prakan&price=35&priceCompare=skuId%3A25419862619%3Bsource%3Alazada-search-voucher%3Bsn%3Ab2ef34e04a75f0889166e9564090bb24%3BoriginPrice%3A3500%3BdisplayPrice%3A3500%3BsinglePromotionId%3A-1%3BsingleToolCode%3AmockedSalePrice%3BvoucherPricePlugin%3A0%3Btimestamp%3A1768207857900&ratingscore=5.0&request_id=b2ef34e04a75f0889166e9564090bb24&review=4&sale=49&search=1&source=search&spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.7&stock=1