Long term storage (2+ years), what should be considered?

[CALL911]

Due to the military I will be away from my Z in my sig for the next 2 years :(. I already ran fuel stabilizer in it, have disconnected the battery, it is up on jack stands with a car cover over it, and have a couple open containers of baking soda in the car.

Is there any thing else I should do to it for storage for this long? The most it has ever been in storage is about 10 months, and usually store it every winter for about 4-6 months. Each time I have pulled it out of storage it has always fired right up. Can or should I be expecting anything for this long period of time?

[Fastbird]

Dry rot is all I'd really worry about, and mice given where it's being stored. IIRC you have it pretty high on the jackstands though right?

[CALL911]

Dry rot is all I'd really worry about, and mice given where it's being stored. IIRC you have it pretty high on the jackstands though right?

Yeah, its up a good 8-10 inches (bottom of tires to the ground), and there are cats that constantly are on patrol for mice, so dry rot would probably be the biggest concern.

Would this be helped if the car were started for a 10 minute period every 8 months or so?

[chevy42083]

Is there anyway to "preserve" poly bushings?

I only ask cause the sway bar endlinks on my truck literally crumbled and fell apart after a 3 or 4 year storage. Once the sway bars moved, they broke the poly up and it fell off in like crumbs.

[KissMyWhtSS]

Honestly, if I were in that situation, I'd throw my dad the keys and have him take it out a couple times a year for me.

[BLOWNDFIZ]

I know it will be a bitch but it might not hurt to spray some fogging oil in the spark plug holes if you can. I was thinking about what I do to winterize the boat and this is part of my process.

Oh, also Stabil has a new "marine" stabilizer, it's blue in color that is formulated to store fuels that contain ethanol. Now that pump gas all has ethanol it's a good idea to switch from the red stabil to the blue.

You might put a think of d-con on the intake to keep mice away. It's amazing the places they can get to.

[Fastbird]

Honestly, if I were in that situation, I'd throw Sean the keys and have him take it out a couple times a year for me.

I like how this guy thinks. :D I got the garage room man!

[KissMyWhtSS]

I like how this guy thinks. :D I got the garage room man!
That is actually my dad's name. :whistle:


Wait... no... it's not. :doh:

[CALL911]

I like how this guy thinks. :D I got the garage room man!

:claps::laugh:

Sean, you are one of the very few people on this earth I would trust to drive the car when I am not around. I may take you up on this gesture in the future if it seems the car may be damaged otherwise.

Ideally I would like to be the one who drives it as the air:fuel was a little wacky under WOT now that the methanol injection is working well again. It seemed a snidge on the lean side and I didn't have time to really investigate it further. It may have just been that one time and not any more, but it did make me worried a little bit. It should be the same as it was when it was tuned, but I fear that I may need a re-tune if it is running lean.

[Firebat]

I'd take the battery completely out of the car and let someone else have it. Without it being on a trickle charger or something it probably won't last.

Dryer sheets inside the car and around the car. Mice don't like them and stay away from them. Mice like to chew on wires too.

Fill the tank completely and add stabil

Change the oil. Put some crappy cheap conventional oil in. Before you start it up, change oil again with good oil, synthetic.

Fresh antifreeze and filled up.

Grease, lube any suspension that needs to be.

Good car cover, one that breathes