Taking car out of Storage

P

Pesto

New member
So.....

pulling the Z out of storage on thursday, and I'm unsure if there's anything I should do to it besides just clean it and drive the hell out of it. What's the best idea? Oil change, check tires/fluids, brake service? Got 22,190 kms on it right now.
2006 Z4 3.0si

Thoughts?
 
I am in the same boat, yesterday was the first day I took mine out of storage. I think a lot has to do with if it sat the entire time or like me you started it once a week and if weather permitting drove it for a short ride. First thing I did was check all the fluids and tire pressure. I am going to do a oil change even though it is not due for another 7500 miles but as they say you can never change your oil too much.
I did dump a bottle of seafoam into the gas tank to clean out any crap that might have accumulated in the gas lines. That stuff is awesome.
Other then that I am going to hit it with a professional detail including a good waxing.
Next up drop the top and cruise for long periods of time.......
 
Yes, definitely check the tires.

Pesto said:
So.....

pulling the Z out of storage on thursday, and I'm unsure if there's anything I should do to it besides just clean it and drive the hell out of it. What's the best idea? Oil change, check tires/fluids, brake service? Got 22,190 kms on it right now.
2006 Z4 3.0si

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
 
Mine's been away for 4 months..got her out the other day and had tires checked, oil and filter changed..ready to rock.. :thumbsup:
 
It has sat the whole time, since Nov 1....so I will prob take it straight to the dealer and get the oil changed, maybe check into the sea foam for the gas tank.....
 
Pesto said:
It has sat the whole time, since Nov 1....so I will prob take it straight to the dealer and get the oil changed, maybe check into the sea foam for the gas tank.....
Click to expand...

For those unfamiliar with Seafoam here is a write up. It is for a Benz ( I have a M-series so this is how I heard of the stuff ) but you can apply it for your Z4.

http://www.amgpower.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=21&p=157528#p157528

I did a lot of research before I actually used it and it is pretty amazing how much of a difference it makes. In my Z4 I only dumped it in the gas tank but in my Benz I used it in the crank case as well.The Benz never ran so smooth. It idles so quietly I thought it had stalled ( has 70K miles). It also made a huge difference in my G35.
If you are still unsure check out what other people say about it. Best part is it is nearly available everywhere. I bought mine from Speedway because it is the cheapest there. I believe something like 5 or 6 bux.
 
I would recommend emptying the entire gas tank (as much as possible) before doing another fill up, so that you can burn off as much of that old gas as possible. Not sure about the science behind it, but old gas = crappy/dirty gas.

I do my oil change before I store the car so that you don't have dirty oil sitting in the engine for 4 months. Also so that I don't have to do one now.

And yes, tire pressure and other basics as mentionned above.
 
In reality I would have thought that nothing will happen to a car of this age left in storage for 6 months, unless allowed it to freeze any liquids solid....

Perhaps the tyres will have flatted off on one side if not moved, but they will return to normal after warming and a few miles of driving.

Tyre pressures of course need checking but the rest is likely just for your peace of mind and no real consequence.

Left a lot longer without proper preparation then problems arise if cars are not correctly stored. moisture corroding cylinders, gears exposed above the level of oil rusting, fuel degredation, ete. etc. I know I get some of these on my water/competition abused Jeeps...
 
JetBlackZ said:
Pesto said:
It has sat the whole time, since Nov 1....so I will prob take it straight to the dealer and get the oil changed, maybe check into the sea foam for the gas tank.....
Click to expand...

For those unfamiliar with Seafoam here is a write up. It is for a Benz ( I have a M-series so this is how I heard of the stuff ) but you can apply it for your Z4.

http://www.amgpower.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=21&p=157528#p157528

I did a lot of research before I actually used it and it is pretty amazing how much of a difference it makes. In my Z4 I only dumped it in the gas tank but in my Benz I used it in the crank case as well.The Benz never ran so smooth. It idles so quietly I thought it had stalled ( has 70K miles). It also made a huge difference in my G35.
If you are still unsure check out what other people say about it. Best part is it is nearly available everywhere. I bought mine from Speedway because it is the cheapest there. I believe something like 5 or 6 bux.
Click to expand...

jetblackz, i was under the impression that for higher mileage cars this might not be a good idea because the old oil has actually developed seals around the pistons over the years and that by removing them, we might create leaks? i havent used it before for this sole reason, but i was wondering if your research showed otherwise
 
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