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What If I Leave The Car Of For 2 Months

Zaver

By Zaver,
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iseekool Veteran

iseekool

Posted
Posted
I just wanted to know that what will happen if i leave the car off for 2 months without anyone starting it. As in december i will be going back to my home country for holidays...

These are the steps I take when going away for a while - do these before you leave.

- Your battery will go flat if you do not turn the car on for that amount of time. Either disconnect it (personally recommend) or have a trickle charger - but not the best solution if there is no one watching over it.

- I also recommend having the hand brake in the down position and the car left in gear (if manual) or left in Park (auto), this will prevent the hand brake from "sticking"

- Inflate the tires about 4psi harder than factory spec - this will prevent the tires getting temporary flat spots and by the time you get back they would have slowly deflated back to around factory spec.

- Lift up the wipers - This will prevent the wipers from having a set.

- Change coolant and oil - fill towards the full mark. Stagnant coolant is not good. Having fresh oil will ensure it will flow properly once you return.

- Add additional windscreen washer chemical to the washer bottle, I've had experience where algae actually develops.

- Give the car a good wash and wax.

- Once you return make sure you warm up the car properly and drive it slow initially because all the fluids would have settled over this time.

Hope this helps.

gotRICE? Veteran

gotRICE?

Posted
Posted

Sounds like thats a good plan.

2 months isnt too bad.

Depending where it is you could throw a car cover over it too.

Im about to head to the US for 3 months and im doing the same. But mines stashed at the back of a workshop, so will be covered to keep the nasty dust from cutting exhausts/welding etc away.

ian Experienced

ian

Posted
Posted
Yikes... you guys seriously do all that?

I go overseas regularly and I never do any of this. Feeling a bit guilty now :)

Has anyone found a good way to arm the alarm while the trickle charger is going?

I used to travel a lot to - so what I did was wire a plug for permanent 12v under the dash, and then plug in one of those little solar cell things jaycar has ($30) and sit it on the dash when I went away. It then kept the battery charged enough for the alarm to work and stopped the battery going flat.

- and I made sure I parked the car facing north.. :-)

see http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?I...mp;form=KEYWORD

I've left it for 3 months like that and have had no problem, longer than that I left it with a friend to start it up and drive it once a month

(OO)SKYLINE(OO) Grand Master

(OO)SKYLINE(OO)

Posted
Posted
These are the steps I take when going away for a while - do these before you leave.

Hope this helps.

- Your battery will go flat if you do not turn the car on for that amount of time. Either disconnect it (personally recommend) or have a trickle charger - but not the best solution if there is no one watching over it.

+1 Sounds good.

- I also recommend having the hand brake in the down position and the car left in gear (if manual) or left in Park (auto), this will prevent the hand brake from "sticking"

"Sticking..?" Haven't heard of that before?

- Inflate the tires about 4psi harder than factory spec - this will prevent the tires getting temporary flat spots and by the time you get back they would have slowly deflated back to around factory spec.

+1 A good idea.

- Lift up the wipers - This will prevent the wipers from having a set.

Never new about this? Does the rubber start to set / stick to the windscreens?

- Change coolant and oil - fill towards the full mark. Stagnant coolant is not good. Having fresh oil will ensure it will flow properly once you return.

Could you just top up the coolant and oil levels?

- Add additional windscreen washer chemical to the washer bottle, I've had experience where algae actually develops.

I thought in order for algae to grow, it needs sunlight or any form of light, if it's under the bonnet, no light can get to it...

- Give the car a good wash and wax.

+1 As you always do anyway hehe!!

- Once you return make sure you warm up the car properly and drive it slow initially because all the fluids would have settled over this time.

For sure.

910trx Proficient

910trx

Posted
Posted

"Sticking..?" Haven't heard of that before?

yep it happens - the parts get a little bit of rust in them or the pads fuse to the disc/drum

hard work pushing a car with siezed rear brakes...

Never new about this? Does the rubber start to set / stick to the windscreens?

sticks and also sets in the position they are left in - so u use them and the wipers dont flex properly and are just plain crap

i leave my datsun for 6 months at a time in a garage

i just do the old check levels, charge battery let it run for a bit to charge the battery a bit more, allow to cool, check fluids

drive her slowly calmly for a day or too so i know it is alright.

then gun it!

i also park the tires on cardboard pads (2 sheets thick) to avoid them hardening or flatspotting

and the old man starts it maybe every month or so till it gets warm when i'm not around.

for 2 months i can see there being little need for extensive preperation

just find a well sheltered, dry, safe spot and be ready with a charger once you get back - mates, parents, siblings garages are the best or let them drive it around

have a nice safe trip!

(OO)SKYLINE(OO) Grand Master

(OO)SKYLINE(OO)

Posted
Posted
"Sticking..?" Haven't heard of that before?

yep it happens - the parts get a little bit of rust in them or the pads fuse to the disc/drum

hard work pushing a car with siezed rear brakes...

Never new about this? Does the rubber start to set / stick to the windscreens?

sticks and also sets in the position they are left in - so u use them and the wipers dont flex properly and are just plain crap

i leave my datsun for 6 months at a time in a garage

i just do the old check levels, charge battery let it run for a bit to charge the battery a bit more, allow to cool, check fluids

drive her slowly calmly for a day or too so i know it is alright.

then gun it!

i also park the tires on cardboard pads (2 sheets thick) to avoid them hardening or flatspotting

and the old man starts it maybe every month or so till it gets warm when i'm not around.

for 2 months i can see there being little need for extensive preperation

just find a well sheltered, dry, safe spot and be ready with a charger once you get back - mates, parents, siblings garages are the best or let them drive it around

have a nice safe trip!

Yeah right...

Thanks for that.

One more thing,

- Add additional windscreen washer chemical to the washer bottle, I've had experience where algae actually develops.

I thought in order for algae to grow, it needs sunlight or any form of light, if it's under the bonnet, no light can get to it...

True / False?

Phatboy Mentor

Phatboy

Posted
Posted
I used to travel a lot to - so what I did was wire a plug for permanent 12v under the dash, and then plug in one of those little solar cell things jaycar has ($30) and sit it on the dash when I went away. It then kept the battery charged enough for the alarm to work and stopped the battery going flat.

- and I made sure I parked the car facing north.. :-)

see http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?I...mp;form=KEYWORD

I've left it for 3 months like that and have had no problem, longer than that I left it with a friend to start it up and drive it once a month

Yeah, good idea. I would have qualms about parking my car outside for months though. Luckily I have a garage for it.

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