Storing the Porsche...

Oldmother · 09-02-2009, 11:43 AM

I am getting ready to head back to Iraq for a year this October; I didn't have the P-car the last time I was there, and was just curious what I needed to do for it while I am gone. The wife is pregnant with twins (due in two weeks), so she will be little help starting it up, driving it around a bit, etc, and I don't know any car guys that I trust around here to look after it. The car is garaged, so that is not an issue. I plan to put some gasoline stabilizer in the tank and disconnect the battery. I will get two weeks off to come home roughly halfway through the tour, so it will get a little bit of exercise then. Thanks.

BoxsterGT · 12:47 PM

Lots of Porsches get stored here in the NEast so we have experience with these things.

You want a.....
Fresh change of oil moments before storing (that way its totally clean inside while sitting for a year). Do NOT start & run it, as you only accumulate condensation in the motor from repeated warming & cooling cycles.
Full tank of fuel w Stabil-izer.
Add about 10 extra lbs of air in the tires.
A good cleaning & wax job.
A good dust cover to keep it clean so when you arrive home it will still look spectacular.
A big rubber mat under the car.
Mothballs or Dried Mint leaves (from a health food store) will keep the critters out. (Perhaps your wife or someone can replenish them in about 6 mos when they have lost their zing.) Also will help to tape over the intake snout and tailpipe for the same reason.
Disconnect the battery or better still pull it and use it in another vehicle & buy a new one when you return.
Don't worry about brake fluid until you return, upon which time you should flush & fill w new Ate Blue or Ate Gold or similar.
I think thats it.

Be safe.

Thank you for your service to our beloved country.

Len Cummings

Oldmother · 09-02-2009, 03:13 PM

That is exactly the list I was looking for, thanks.

hcariss · hcariss's Garage

+1
Thank you for your service to our beloved country.

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 09-02-2009, 05:43 PM

Also be sure to close, seal or tape up the heat-exchanger air-inlet flappers, which rodents love to use as a front door to their winter home. And don't believe a word you hear about all the urban-myth home remedies to keep mice away, if you live in a heavily mice-infested area, like most rural country. Dryer sheets, mothballs, cats, fox pee concentrate, magic elixers found on line, mint leaves...you might just as well leave a perimeter of farts. I've tried them all, except for the farts. Physical barriers might work--tennis balls in the exhaust tailpipes, etc.--but probably not. I had to reinstall a near-new headliner awhile ago because mice had entered the bodywork somewhere, climbed up the hollow B pillars, and established nests between the roof and the headliner. And this was on a car stored in a barn on the inside of a solid perimeter of mothballs, with "special" tractor-cab anti-mouse sachets in the cabin, which I bought for some $25 because farmers swore by 'em.

Your best defense against mice is, when you come back, 1/rigorously inspect the entire trunk area for rodent nests, particularly behind the panel that shields the heating/ventilating ductwork, and around the fuel tank. 2/Assume you'll have a nest or two inside the rocker-panel hot-air channels, which will be unpleasant but ultimately harmless, other than a blizzard of nest material and tiny turds the first ime you turn on the fan. 3/And most important, pull the fan/alternator unit out far enough that you'll be able to Shopvac out the nest or two you'll find atop the cylinder fins.

Or, spread some panther piss and be happy, don't worry...

BMWDavid · 09-02-2009, 05:53 PM

Regarding the rodent issue. I find that putting those sticky traps along the garage wall and near points of entry as well as several around the car usually provides protection. The little buggers get stuck in a trap as they make their way around the garage.

I've been doing this for the past 5 years and not one mouse has ever made it to my cars.

David

Roc Doc · 09-02-2009, 06:05 PM

I guess living in Las Vegas has it's advantages.

I had mine off the road for 2.5 years, and although I kept the battery charged, used Stabil in the tank, and changed the oil after the storage, the only side effect was square tires for a few weeks. Moisture is your enemy.

God bless, keep your head down, and come home soon.

.

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 09-02-2009, 06:05 PM

Depends where you live. If you have the occasional mouse, you're fine, like suburban California or maybe southwest Indiana. I live in rural New York; If I put out sticky paper, I'd have 5,000 stuck field mice overnight.

rpmoore2 · 09-02-2009, 06:26 PM

1. I used a car bag - http://www.autoanything.com/car-covers/69A1798A0A0.aspx - all zipped up. There are 2 examples $179 and $199. I bought the cheaper one which was fine other than it was too long. I think its worth the investment.

2. DampRid hanging bag -moisture absorber in a few places.

3. I used STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer which is good for Ethanol-blended fuels if you have that problem.
http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/stabil/default.aspx

Of course the oil change, wash and the tire pressure.

nineball · 09-02-2009, 06:36 PM

for about $25 or so you can pick up a battery tender. i use em on all my machines with batteries that get stored for the winter and have never had a problem.

Oldmother · 09-02-2009, 06:51 PM

I have already spread some rodent poison around, although I have never seen a mouse, I don't want to come home and spend hours cleaning out nests and mouse crap. Thanks for the anti-critter tips, I hope they work.

I have never heard of the car-bag, will have to check into it.

pwd72s · 09-02-2009, 06:53 PM

All above is good advice...I also suggest using a battery tender.

And most of all...many thanks for your service!

nineball · 09-02-2009, 06:57 PM

found one for $28 shipped.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-Deltran-Motorcycle-Car-Battery-Tender-Jr_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhas hZitem2c50b4097aQQitemZ190332537210QQptZOtherQ5fVe hicleQ5fParts.

i have no affiliation with the seller it was just the cheapest one i found on ebay.

rpmoore2 · 09-02-2009, 07:07 PM

Highly recommend the car-bag. It is really thick plastic so it would be tough for mice to chew through (although I'm sure not impossible)
Here are the 2 examples (as I said I bought the cheaper one.)
http://www.autoanything.com/car-covers/20A50302A1.aspx
The only negatives are the length and the zipper gets caught but if you go slow its fine ( really slow ). Also storage of it is a little tough. It rolls up into about 7' long and about 2' in diameter.

Soterik · Soterik's Garage

This is a thread on this from 2004, I use Grady Clays tips at the bottom of the first page.

Winter storage checklist?

cheers, and a BIG thanks as well for your service!

Eric

tincan · 09-03-2009, 12:05 PM

http://www.carcoonusa.com/default.asp

I use one of these outdoors and it keeps the car clean, dry,ventilated and clear of the paintwork. There is also a battery conditioner included in the package here in Ireland. I have put the car away wet and the action of the vent fans dries her out. Best of luck
Noel