Leave The Car Unused For Year(S)?

[st11x]

G'day,

What is your opinion on parking the car, not in a garage but with a cover, for an extended period of time?

Not worrying about depreciation or the lure of newer models, but will not running it ruin the car? I am leaving for a while, not sure if it's a year or a couple. Don't want to go through the trouble of finding another car when I get back, it's tough enough the first time round already.

I heard that you need to drain the oil etc. What if I don't do it? When I get back, I just get the workshop to tow it and service it, will that work?

How about road tax? Not sure if I can skip paying and then start paying when I return (this goes for the scooter as well).

thanks

Matt

[JohnLeech]

If you don't pay the road tax for a couple of years you will simply have to pay any tax due (plus a 10% per year fine) when you apply for your new tax.

Are you talking about parking it unattended and unsecured for a year or two? If so, I don't think your problem will be servicing or depreciation, but you may have "to go through the trouble of finding another car" !!

[st11x]

If you don't pay the road tax for a couple of years you will simply have to pay any tax due (plus a 10% per year fine) when you apply for your new tax.

Are you talking about parking it unattended and unsecured for a year or two? If so, I don't think your problem will be servicing or depreciation, but you may have "to go through the trouble of finding another car" !!

Hmm ... so you can't just inform the authorities that you are not going to use the car and hence avoid the fine.

It will be in a quite secure mooban, and since I'm in a townhouse, the neighbors are closer and act as deterrents. But I do see your point.

Thanks

Matt

[proximity]

If it is a few years your main concern will be corrosion.

Get a full tank of fuel right before you park it. The fuel will be bad after a few years but it will stop the tank from rusting.

For the engine I would get an oil change, put in a full tank of gas and drive it to where you want to park it and then remove the spark plugs. Add one ounce of engine oil to each cylinder and then crank the engine just for second to coat the inside of the cyl...then put the plugs back in. This should keep everything ok for 12-18 months. Disconnect the battery and remove it from the car, it could leak and cause corrosion.

I wouldn't put it up on blocks, that will just damage the suspension eventually. Your tires will flat spot but they'll be so old that you'll need to replace them anyways.

On return get it towed to the shop. Drain and refill with fresh fuel, new battery, and will a little coaxing it should start. Run it for a few km and get it all warmed up...then replace all the fluids..oil, transmission, brake, power steering. Your brake discs and/or drums will certainly have corrosion and may need to be put on the lathe. New tires also. If it were me I would also replace all the belts, hoses, and spark plug/wires.

Lastly I would leave a pan of charcoal and desiccant in the interior to absorb odors and moisture. You'd probably want somebody to come out and replace those each year.

[MoonRiverOasis]

Agree with proximity, except I'd recommend filling your tires with 'storage pressure' to try and avoid flat-spotting - i.e. fill the tires to their rated maximum pressure. However, the tires will deflate with time, so it'll really only work for 6 months or so.

The best option would be if you could get someone (trustworthy) to drive the car (just to operating temp is enough) and refill the tires once a month or so.

[katabeachbum]

Agree with proximity, except I'd recommend filling your tires with 'storage pressure' to try and avoid flat-spotting - i.e. fill the tires to their rated maximum pressure. However, the tires will deflate with time, so it'll really only work for 6 months or so.

The best option would be if you could get someone (trustworthy) to drive the car (just to operating temp is enough) and refill the tires once a month or so.

yepp, storage pressure as indicated on tyres (usually 40-50 psi), they might survive.

Would not cover the car, humidity needs to escape. Remove all carpets and stuff from interior. If possible without letting rain come inside, leave a small gap on windows. If not, the exitwents closes automaticly when vent fan is not running, so locate them and force them open.

Wax the car. Cover windows without 99% UV protection film from the inside.

Replace engine oil and filter to avoid acids in oil during storage.

In LOS climate and with LOS fuelquality, I would leave tank empty. Most modern fueltanks are made of plastic.

If more than a year, replace all fluids after running car warm +10 km. Brakefluid is useless (boilingpoint) only 2 years after new.

Reg is current if taxes are payed within 3 years, small extra charge for being late