So I will be away for about 12-14 weeks overseas. Just wondering how y'all prep your car for being in the garage/storage for a long time? I've heard others would do something with their 12V battery and the petrol level so that condensation doesn't accumulate. I don't have someone who can take the car and run it during this time I am away unfortunately.
What Do You Do with Your Car if You Are Away for a Long Period of Time?
DannyC on 07/02/2023 - 10:54
Comments
you don't have a friend, colleague, neighbour or family member ?
it will also depend on the car as well,
i have a relatively new car so i would just raise the car off the ground
So you would leave the four wheels at full droop for 14 weeks?
no just enough that the tyres aren't taking the full weight of the car,
cost to replace 4x tyres on my car would be about $1800
cost to replace a battery about $400it's only for 12-16 weeks.
might not do anything at all
Where are you located - Maybe someone on here can go around to your place and start it up every so often.
We are a trustworthy community.
Petrol: run dry.
Diesel: Keep tank as full as possible, but before filling it add a squirt of treatment.
Leave trunk unlocked, then lock car and just disconnect the -pole of battery. Lock trunk. No need to trickle charge. If paranoid, get a $35 jump start battery online.
Keep tyres off concrete, anything perfectly dry is better like cheap chopping boards. No need to jack.
Check insurance policy.
Enjoy your break.3-4 months?
That's nothing.
Either trickle charge or disconnect the battery.
disconnect the battery and try to store with as little fuel as possible (defs with the fuel light on). For petrol car, avoid ethanol fuels for last tank (ethanol can attract water, esp over this timeframe in an empty tank). Keep a jerry full of 98/diesel pretty much up to the brim at home in a ventilated (cool & dark preferably) room. Air up tyres 3-5psi above normal (not really needed). check rego and insurance not due whilst overseas or renew in advance (to avoid future headaches)
When you come back connect battery up and fill up car with fuel from jerry. This will ensure car has fresher fuel (although in 3 months nothings really going to happen).
First drive should be to a servo (keep car running for min 15mins beforehand to charge up battery and let engine reach operating temp after a long time dormant) and top up tank and fill tyres with air.Any long trip (6+ mths) then agree with above and jack car up on stands/blocks and remove tyres.
Alternative to running tank dry is to brim right up to the neck of tank (minimise air exposure in tank) and follow same process (without the jerry). I'd prefer the jerry option though.
A mate of mine went to afgan for a 9 month campaign and just left his car at my place. I swapped between his car and my car every couple of days.
Got a friend who can do that for you?When I went to the 'gan in 2017, I just left the car in the garage. When I got back, it needed a jump start with NRMA but was otherwise fine to go.
This is OzB after all, OP should see if it money can be made by looking up “Can I make money renting my car?”
Can I make money renting my car?
Then a thread will appear in probably 16 weeks - "Rented out car whilst on holiday, insurance isn't covering repairs from renters damage"
Follow up posts.
Either:
Renter looks like they spent 2 months as a mechanic and decided they could do panel repairs
Or:
Renter wants to rent it again to check if I’ve done repairs he paid for. What should I do
Turn it off and on again
(in 3-4 month's time)
Just disconnect the battery. I normally just take my battery inside the house.
I disconnect the negative terminal on the battery so it doesn't drain.
Trickle charge the battery, add some extra psi to the tyres and enjoy your holiday.
3-4 months is fine.