suggestions for long term storage

[James614]

So, my Touring Wagon will need to be stored for 3 years while I go overseas. Just wondering what some here thought I should do to male sure it still runs great when I go to drive it again in 2017.

[wtdash]

I recently read about someone who had their car stored by a company that worked for a gov't agency, and it was taken very good care of....can't recall the specifics, but IIRC, they actually drove the car to keep it in good shape.

I'm sure there are (better) other lists online, but here's ONE to start.

GL,
TD

[SILINC3R]

I put mine in a storage unit big enough for a car. Was 100 a month, but it was out of the elements. Or you could just leave it on base for free haha.

[mike-tracy]

Yeah don't leave it on base for free. Flat tires, dinged doors, etc. I stored my car at my grandma's in Arizona when I was gone for 14 months. Had her start it up at least 1x a month.

[James614]

I don't have much option for where its gonna be left unfortunately. No one in my family has a place for it that I can count on for 3 years.

As for driving it periodically, I've always not liked that idea with older cars. I had it sitting at my house for 6 months on my last deployment under instruction for it not to be driven, which turned out to the right idea because it had developed a slow water leak while I was gone that was slow enough to evaporate off the floor without a puddle but fast enough to leave the cooling system completely empty by my return. I'm not gonna relyon someone else to remember to check something like that if there's no obvious signs of a problem.

From what I gathered, it sounds like fresh oil and jack stands are in order at the least. What about the fuel? Sta-bil says its good for 3 months. Should I drain it instead?

[Legacy777]

There's two thoughts on the fuel....keeping fuel in the tank (full) should keep moisture out and keep it from rusting internally. However, even with stabil I probably would drain the fuel and not run it in the car. Other thought is drain everything, including the fuel lines, etc. You may want to do a little more research to see what the consensus is online.

[James614]

Just found out that the facility they will be storing my car at fully maintains the vehicles. Indoor/covered storage, vehicle is started and warmed up with the heat/AC cycled and moved once a month to prevent stagnated fluids or flat spots on the tires, and all services and fluid changes done according to manufacturer schedules. Nice stuff. Caveat is they don't accept cars with ANY leaks, but so far I should be good on that. Only leak right now is the rear trans output seal which looks super easy to replace.

[Legacy777]

That's good to hear!