Advice for laying up a car

[Partridge]

Hi gang,

 

I am going to view a Rover 820 Sterling tomorrow. If it is as described I'm 90% sure I will end up buying it, as it is already tugging at my heartstrings from afar.

 

It is far from ideal but the thing will be have to be sitting on GRANDMOTHA_PARTRIDE'S driveway for 4 weeks (maybe in a garage if I can make room). Bearing in mind it's January, the worse bloody time to leave a 20 year odd old car sitting doing nothing for about a month.

 

I have never left a car for such a period of time before, so basically what do I do? Yes I could google it, but I trust this place more than Google.

 

Many thanks in advance!

[trigger]

Only 4 weeks, i wouldn't worry to much then, the best thing is maybe disconnect the battery. My Cortina hasn't been started since September, all I've done is disconnect the battery and I can guarantee that will start straight away once I've connected it again even after all this time.  

[dave21478]

^^^ yep.

 

Park it. Leave it.

[overrun]

Cover the entire exterior in duck oil and fill the cylinders with diesel.

[andy18s]

Check the anti-freeze is up to strength,maybe the battery as above then sprinkle a little "barn find" dust over it....

[michael1703]

Check the antifreeze, if its going to be outside check the scuttle for leaves and that it will drain water out rather than into the car, put a new air freshener in,then put a moisture absorber on the dash

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VEHICLE-CAR-HOME-DEHUMIDIFIER-BAG-MOISTURE-ABSORBER-MEDIUM-GREEN-/221570542304

[Partridge]

Thanks a lot guys! Feel a bit better now, and good call on the moisture absorber. I'm probably being hyper, I just feel a bit guility about buying a mint old car then lobbing it outside in the cold and the wet...

 

Thanks overrun, I'll be sure to follow that to the letter

[dollywobbler]

I know how you feel. I get very twitchy about leaving cars standing. Anymore than a week and I'm starting to imagine the brakes rusting solid. This is probably why I very rarely go on holiday for longer than a few days. Otherwise, I have to leave cars standing around for days on end. 

 

This is a bit silly really. The XM spent most of last year parked up outside, not moving. It doesn't seem to have suffered for that.

[Bren]

I would'nt leave it with a lot of fuel, even for a month. Run it down or syphon it.

[gordonbennet]

On the battery front, have you got one of those Audi/Lidl/CTEK smart chargers kicking about...if not get a LIdl/Audi version when they next have them in, about £14...and leave it on trickle charge with battery connected.

 

Do not like anything with an ECU going flat unless absolutely avoidable, you just never know if the bloody things going to throw a hissy fit upon getting power again.

[overrun]

Homebase had large versions of Pingu moisture trap things for a bargain £8.

A favourite amongst MR2 owners.

[Partridge]

On the battery front, have you got one of those Audi/Lidl/CTEK smart chargers kicking about...if not get a LIdl/Audi version when they next have them in, about £14...and leave it on trickle charge with battery connected.

 

Do not like anything with an ECU going flat unless absolutely avoidable, you just never know if the bloody things going to throw a hissy fit upon getting power again.

I don't have one, byt there's a Lidl down the road which I can get one from. Good thinking...

 

A flat battery on an 800 can be a major ballache. Not so much with the multipoint engined cars, which mine will be, but still...

[steve_earwig]

Cover the entire exterior in duck oil and fill the cylinders with diesel.

And put it up on axle stands. Complete overkill for a month.

 

If you can't get a charger to the battery 'ave it out & stick it in the warm, they don't like getting very cold (my Pug's is in my bedroom, along with the Yam's)

[lisbon_road]

What is a 'moisture absorber'?

[willswitchengage]

Put it on chocks (I just use old paving slabs floating around the garden), I once had drum brakes seize after three weeks

[steve_earwig]

Or leave it in gear...

 

Moisture absorber - Something like silica gel perhaps, the stuff that's in those little packages you get in with new shoes etc that say "do not eat".

[willswitchengage]

Or leave it in gear...

 

True, but I always found stressing the transmission like that for ages didn't seem wise (my driveline is inclined)... 

[mrcitroen]

Or leave it in gear...

 

Moisture absorber - Something like silica gel perhaps, the stuff that's in those little packages you get in with new shoes etc that say "do not eat".

Yeah, don't eat them. Taste rotten and leave you with a dry mouth.

 

I have left cars both outside & in my garage for longer and they have been OK. Never keen on putting anything in the bores incase it gets forgotten about and you end up hydraulicing it.

 

Month will be ok, but I would disconnect the battery.

 

Hope it's a good un.

[trigger]

These moisture bags work well and only cost peanuts.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001GWCA36?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

[willswitchengage]

I have left cars both outside & in my garage for longer and they have been OK. Never keen on putting anything in the bores incase it gets forgotten about and you end up hydraulicing it.

 

My motorbike manual says spray engine oil in the bores when you lay it up and immediately before recommissioning it. No idea why

[colnerov]

What is a 'moisture absorber'?

 

 A margarine spread tub half filled with salt or rice, if it gets too wet nuke it in the microwave and reinstall in the car.

 

 Colin

[dave21478]

Crikey, its not a vintage Bentley being put into a barn for 50 years, its a 90`s car being left for a month - people leave cars of all ages at airport parking for longer than that!

[lisbon_road]

Thanks.  I really like the idea of salt in a marg tub.  Sounds totally re-usable and cheap and I've a load of salt, er, somewhere.  Great. 

[skattrd]

As said 4 weeks is nowt, quite a few of of my cars sit around longer than that between use, just disconnect the battery, job done.

My Lancia Beta was untouched for 6 months, just parked under a cover with the battery disconnected before 300 miles in a weekend to Chumley last year.

I've had Daihatsus sat around for 6-12 months before now with the battery disconnected then start them up and spend a day driving around a track.

 

One thing, don't leave the handbrake on, leave it in gear as the brakes can bind.

[Pillock]

Aye,I just leave the MG in gear with the handbrake off. For a month don't worry unless you know it leaks or the tyres have a slow puncture or whatever.

[dugong]

Moisture bags or aldi cat litter for the ultimate in pikey dessicant. 

Leave the handbrake off, pump the tyres up to 40 psi and leave in gear. 

[meggersdog]

You can lay under,on or in a car but laying up it is just leaning on a car surely

[forddeliveryboy]

Best to avoid driving on wet salt-laden roads immediately before parking up.

[Bren]

The owners of modern vauxhalls are best equipped to advise about having a vehicle "laid up."

[steve_earwig]

I don't think abandoning the thing back at the dealer's counts as being "laid up"