Leaving for 6 Months - What to do with Z4?

[BrentonW]

Hey there!

I’m soon going to be returning to working on cruise ships for about 6 months at a time. A friend of mine is letting me store my car (2008 3.0si Coupe) in his garage while I’m gone. I’m trying to decide if it would be best to take the necessary precautions and just keep it put, or have my friend take it for a spin around the neighborhood every week or two. From what I’ve read, if storing it long term you should fill with gas, do an oil change, block all entrances so animals can’t get in, maybe a battery tender? Are there any pros or cons to letting it sit vs having someone drive it occasionally?

Just trying to figure out what the best option for the car is!

Thanks!!

 

[idej_z4]

When I store mine over the winter I make sure it has at least a quarter of a tank of fuel, is on a trickle charger and pump up the tyres to around 50psi - the last one I think I picked up off the Forum as it helps stop dead spots in your tyres.

Enjoy your trip! 6 months on a boat atm doesn't sound bad at all!

 

[rdm05z4]

Also might be good to put in a gas stabilizer in it. You could have your friend drive it. Some thoughts are lot of short trips are not good for a car. But then again think how you would feel if "god forbid" someone hits the car while your friend is driving? I would just store it and take the precaution.

 

[Conrod]

I suggest you also add some fuel stabliliser to the tank. I use Ethanol Shield from Screwfix.

 

[Rockhopper]

Fill the petrol tank to the brim, less chance of condensation forming that way. Also less surface area of fuel exposed to the air to allow it to deteriorate. Leave the handbrake off and put a trickle charger on the battery. That's all I used to do when i worked overseas.

 

[buzyg]

If you have good friends, then I would consider the other option. Cars are more reliable when they get the odd run out, but you need to trust they will warm it through and drive it sensibly, rather that rag it from cold and park it up in the rain in the town centre, while they go for a pizza.

Our neighbour had an MX5, they used to store it each winter. Each spring they would bring it out of the garage and something would be broken. So expense and a fortnight of still not driving it until the gremlins of the winter were repaired.

Our son had a similar aged Mx5, he moved to NZ and left the car on our drive and left the keys with us. I would drive it every month or so and warm it through, check the tyre pressures and oil nothing more. Not a thing went wrong with it over two winters. Alas we sold it for him this year as Covid has meant he can't get back to blighty to enjoy it himself.

 

[BrentonW]

Fill the petrol tank to the brim, less chance of condensation forming that way. Also less surface area of fuel exposed to the air to allow it to deteriorate. Leave the handbrake off and put a trickle charger on the battery. That's all I used to do when i worked overseas.

What exactly is a trickle charger needed for? Obviously to make sure the battery doesn’t die, but if it does die, does it cause any issues with the car other than needing to jump it to get it started again?

 

[Rockhopper]

It'll wreck the battery if it goes flat and is left flat for a while, they don't like being treated like that

 

[C4Dman]

The following advice was given out by UK leading car storage company and presented in one of the car owner’s club magazines we subscribe to which was to help owners with cars affected by the first lockdown, this generally assumes the car is in a garage, so may be different if kept outside, but this is what they advised;
• Keep your car in a dry, well ventilated garage
• Check for evidence of rodents
• Spread a newspaper under the car so you can easily identify any fluid leaks
• Keep the car on a trickle charger/battery conditioner
• Prevent tyre flattening by either over inflation (generally around 20%), or use a tyre cradle. If over inflating then it is imperative you remember to reset the tyre to the correct pressure before driving the car again
Warm ups
Cars do not like remaining undriven for long periods. A variety of problems can ensue including dry bearings and seals, perished hoses and seized brake calliper pistons. Until lockdown restrictions are relaxed allowing you to take your cars out on the open road for a proper drive, the following procedures are used on a 6-weekly warm up programme:
• On a dry day take the car outside and start it up, allowing it to warm up for 2 minutes
• If you have sufficient space, drive slowly in tight circles to the left, then to the right, in 1st gear and then in reverse. 3 or 4 minutes in total. (I use a turning head by driving in and out on full lock, to the left and to the right).
• While you do this, gently apply the brakes, on and off repeatedly
• Park the car with the engine running. For 30 seconds gently rev the engine to around 3,500 revs, up and down from idle
• Leave the engine running at idle for 15-20 minutes, allowing the water to come up to normal operating temperature (note-never leave the car unattended while idling, even on private property).
• While the engine runs up to temperature, operate all the electrics: windows, roof, aerial, seat adjusters, heater fan etc
• Turn on the air conditioning and let it run on full cold for 3 minutes
• Return the car to the garage and either plug it back into its charger/conditioner, or switch on the battery isolator
Hope this is useful for some people, as we have found it very useful for us over the last year. There may be other options or alternative ways at looking at the above, we just wanted to share what we have.

 

[craig3.2]

The following advice was given out by UK leading car storage company and presented in one of the car owner’s club magazines we subscribe to which was to help owners with cars affected by the first lockdown, this generally assumes the car is in a garage, so may be different if kept outside, but this is what they advised;
• Keep your car in a dry, well ventilated garage
• Check for evidence of rodents
• Spread a newspaper under the car so you can easily identify any fluid leaks
• Keep the car on a trickle charger/battery conditioner
• Prevent tyre flattening by either over inflation (generally around 20%), or use a tyre cradle. If over inflating then it is imperative you remember to reset the tyre to the correct pressure before driving the car again
Warm ups
Cars do not like remaining undriven for long periods. A variety of problems can ensue including dry bearings and seals, perished hoses and seized brake calliper pistons. Until lockdown restrictions are relaxed allowing you to take your cars out on the open road for a proper drive, the following procedures are used on a 6-weekly warm up programme:
• On a dry day take the car outside and start it up, allowing it to warm up for 2 minutes
• If you have sufficient space, drive slowly in tight circles to the left, then to the right, in 1st gear and then in reverse. 3 or 4 minutes in total. (I use a turning head by driving in and out on full lock, to the left and to the right).
• While you do this, gently apply the brakes, on and off repeatedly
• Park the car with the engine running. For 30 seconds gently rev the engine to around 3,500 revs, up and down from idle
• Leave the engine running at idle for 15-20 minutes, allowing the water to come up to normal operating temperature (note-never leave the car unattended while idling, even on private property).
• While the engine runs up to temperature, operate all the electrics: windows, roof, aerial, seat adjusters, heater fan etc
• Turn on the air conditioning and let it run on full cold for 3 minutes
• Return the car to the garage and either plug it back into its charger/conditioner, or switch on the battery isolator
Hope this is useful for some people, as we have found it very useful for us over the last year. There may be other options or alternative ways at looking at the above, we just wanted to share what we have.

Good wee bit if info

 

[Spahr]

I bought my 2003 E85 in September and left for Florida in mid-October last year. We planned to be away at least six months, due to covid, we stayed a bit longer. I rented an unheated garage (it freezes here in PA). I filled the fuel tank, and parked it in the garage. Roof up and windows up. I took out the battery because there was no power in the garage and took it home to trickle charge it while I was gone. When I got back I popped in the battery and the car fired up like I just parked it 10 minutes ago! I had one tire leak down but after a quick re-inflation I was on the road. So from my experience I'd say don't sweat it too much!

BTW, next time this great little car is coming to Florida with me!!!

 

[BrentonW]

Appreciate all the great info!! Thanks so much