Laying Car And Engine Up For Several Months

[johnhenry 20]

evening all

 

coming under huge pressure regards my dissertation to lay the car up head to uni and do some work - car is going to have to come second if it doesnt stop being a madame tomorrow.

which is bloody frustrating as its a freshly rebuilt engine, and pretty much nut and bolt restored car now

 

If i was to lay the car and engine up for several months - maybe up to christmas or later. what would you recommend? - its full of oil (mineral 10w40) as suggested for running in oil.

 

i was reading, should drip oil into each cylinder, then spark plugs back in, and hand crank it every 6 weeks.

 

What seem reasonable?

 

Cheers

John

[notamondayfan 44]

I thought someone with more experience might have replied, but what I have done when I parked up my 205 was to just return to it every few weeks and start it. Let it run for a few mins to get up to temp, roll back and forth to make sure the brakes don't stick, and that was about it.

 

Also don't use the hand brake, use blocks instead. Try to keep the interior well ventilated if possible. Make sure you have plenty of good coolant for the cold months to come. You could also put it on axle stands and remove the wheels so the tyres aren't touching the ground.

 

As long as you are storing it somewhere dry the car shouldn't come to any harm.

[Richie 32]

I thought someone with more experience might have replied, but what I have done when I parked up my 205 was to just return to it every few weeks and start it. Let it run for a few mins to get up to temp, roll back and forth to make sure the brakes don't stick, and that was about it.

 

Also don't use the hand brake, use blocks instead. Try to keep the interior well ventilated if possible. Make sure you have plenty of good coolant for the cold months to come. You could also put it on axle stands and remove the wheels so the tyres aren't touching the ground.

 

As long as you are storing it somewhere dry the car shouldn't come to any harm.

 

Thats what i did when my car was laid up for 18 months. Some people take the wheels off to help the tyres, i was changing the tyres after 18 months storage anyway so didn't bother.

[notamondayfan 44]

Yea I didn't bother either as my tyres were knackered anyway.

 

Also, I don't know if this was coincidence or not, but my fuel hose to the carbs started to corrode and leak after a few months over winter, the rubber split and spewed fuel out. I don't know if it was from moisture, not being used, or if it had nothing to do with being left.

[matt.f 16]

Take it it's in a garage?

If your leaving the wheels on put a bit of carpet underneath the Tyres,leave the windows down 4" or so,get an indoor cover etc.I'd place some moisture traps in there aswell.I'd start it up every now and again aswell just to get things warmed up.

 

Or just go the whole hog and buy a Permabag like I have for my Fiesta RS turbo.Not cheap though

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

Don't stick oil in the bores and just leave it and double check that no air can get into the ports both side's, there is Graphite grease in there which will stay there until started up, The crank doesn't sit in oil so filling it up with oil makes no difference, The bearings again have a assembly lube there which is very sticky so again make sure all the holes in the block are sealed and it's not in a damp or humid place and not on a concrete floor

[MiniGibbo 142]

Ive always been told NOT to start the car the entire time its stored as it wont get upto proper temp in the time you leave it..

 

As above though on carpet, with "kitty litter" in the foot wells in tubs so soak up any moisture.

[Paul_13 212 1 Cars]

If Its been rebuilt I wouldn't leave it idling.

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

As said, Never just start a engine every few weeks as it does more harm than good,

A example today was I started a 1.9 TT car abit with a blown headsgaket which had been stood for around 8 years, Same fuel, belt etc and with some new plug she fired up after a couple of turn's