Hey guys. In May I'm going to be traveling to NY for work and will be there for approx 6 months. I live in MA and will not be bringing the car with me so it's going to be sitting in the garage for the time while I'm gone. I've never stored a car before and was wondering if anyone else has, and what tips or suggestions you have for this? Ill be giving her a good detailing before I leave and already have a car cover to also put on her while she's in the garage. I'm going to put 3" hardwood blocks underneath all the tires to get them off the concrete seeing concrete sucks the moisture right out of tires. I'm not worried about flat spots in the tires because I have to buy new ones when I get back anyway. Other tha that I'm not sure if there is anything else I should do? Any other ideas or comments are welcome. Thanks in advance

 

^^ hmm 6 months, i would empty the gas not worth trying to save it because it will prolly be bad. When you get back change your oil and that should be about it. if its garage kept then u should be fine.

 

Thats a good point with the gas, pretty sure it goes bad after 3 or 4 months. Didnt even think of that. With my luck ill run the tank down to almost nothing and the last of it will evaporate on me while im gone. haha

 

No. It would be better/easier to top it off then add fuel stabilizer. I'd also perform an oil change before you let it sit.

 

Just dont use VP Import in the gas tank when storing.

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...highlight=rust


Best thing to do is give it to a family member/best friend to drive it once a week or so. Unless you dont have any you can trust....

 

Gas has a life of about 6 months. But obviously we don't like to take chances.

I would also make sure that there is absolutely no rodent activity in your garage, maybe even put down some mouse and insect traps in the garage.

Make sure that everything that is above the height of your car is properly secured. i.e. mom's bowling ball isn't on the top shelf of that all-too-wobbly shelf.

I wouldn't worry about the blocks under the tires if you are getting new ones anyway. You may want to invest in a battery saver.

Are you going to have someone at home that can start the car for you at all?

There was a nice special on speedtv once about storing a car properly. You should see if anyone put it up on youtube on the sly or something.

 

Hmmm, I might have to do some research on the gas tank opinions. I've asked a few people off the forums and I've also got some mixed answers. Would possibly having a half tank + fuel stabilizer sitting for 6 months sit, then when I get back fill up the rest of the tank with fresh fuel be a good idea? Kind of the best of both worlds?

As for the oil change, I was probably going to do this once i got back. I just did a change about 2 weeks ago and I only dirve the car every 2 weeks or so now due to the winter months.

Haha, yes I'd had seen those pics also. Needless to say I'll be staying away from that fuel for sure! I'm probably going to have my GF come and start it once a week or so. She cant drive a standard (not that I would want anyone else driving my car anyway) so that will probably be alright. thanks for the idea!

Also another good idea with making sure all objects that could possibly damage the car are far far away. I keep the garage pretty organized and as clutter free as possible, but there are a few things I should probably move before I leave. I'm going to try and search for that SpeedTv show. Thanks for the heads up!

 

No problem. I had my 85 camaro project in the garage and by the time it came out when I was done I was lucky all the glass wasn't broken. There were rakes, shovels, baseballs and all sorts of junk tossed on top of it. Then again...it was an 85 camaro...lol

Good Luck in NY, where will you be staying/working? (I worked in midtown manhattan for a while, live on Long Island)

~Tom

 

Trust me. Add the stabilizer to a full tank and when you come back in 6 months drive it as if nothing happened. No need to drain the tank or mix in new fuel. I've been using this for years on my motorcycle and my Evo (I travel a lot for months on end). Just follow the instructions on the bottle and forget about it.

http://www.sta-bil.com/sta-bil/products.htm

 

Haha, even though it is a mullet machine it does not deserve that kind of torture! I'm going to be working in the sticks in NY. I cant think of the name of the town off the top of my head, but I know its pretty much on the PA line. Bighemton, NY? I could be very far off on the spelling of that. Were working for US Pipline and we will be putting a 48" natural gas pipe in the ground for about 100 miles. Not going to be the type of conditions I want the evo to see, thats why shes going to have to stay home. I wish it was near, around the city. lol

 

Well if you've used it and it works, might as well give it a shot. I'll just be careful at first when I start driving again, have to keep my eye on the WB make sure the AFR's are alright. I know this will be alot easier if I'm going to have the GF starting the car every week. Kind of hard to start a car when there is no gas in the tank! haha

 

make sure you show her how to start it and you could just have her start it every couple weeks adn let it run for atleast 15 minutes before shuttin it off so it can fully warm up. don't start it and let it run for 5 minutes adn shut it off, that is worse than not starting it at all

 

put it on jack stands if you want to avoid flatspots in the tires. change the oil right before. fill the gas tank full and add fuel stabilizer. supposedly fill the gas tank full to avoid getting moisture/condensation/water in the gas tank (from what I've been told)

 

Well, where your going is actually called Binghamton, NY. I went to school there for a couple of years. If you can, in...I'd say June or July, get your Evo there and when you have some time cruise down Rte. 9 into PA. Its an absolutely beautiful ride on some nice and winding roads. Not sure if you are into outdoors stuff but there is a lake just north of Binghamton with camping. If you go early in the season there is like no one there and would make for a nice trip with the wifey. If you want the info I can find it out for you from some friends.

~Tom

 

I store my car every year November through March. I have always topped it off and added Sta-Bil and disconnected the battery. It always fires right up in the spring and I change the oil that day as condensation can build up over a long period of letting it sit. I have done this 3 winters in a row now and have had zero issues. I have never changed the oil right before, just right after. Also I do not put it on jack stands and have never gotten a flat spot. I think our sidewalls are rigid enough to sit that long if the tires are properly inflated to avoid flat spots.