Storage suggestions

[tres211]

I'm moving from Colorado ( extremely dry) to Tennessee and need to leave my 88 911 in storage for about a year before being able to come back and get it. Does anyone know if I am going to have issues with the car after this long period of it sitting still without any starts on the motor. We are very dry here and am concerned about seals and all.
Thanks for your input.

[KingSalmon911SC]

I store my cars in a covered RV storage unit for 8 - 10 months in Idaho (September - May/June).

I use Stabil religously, CENEX Premium gas which contains no ethanol, Battery dissonnected, cars covered. Also, I have a spare set of wheels & tires that I mount so that my good tires don't get a flat spot from sitting. Lastly, I place DeCon in the corners of the storage unit & spread a few mothballs around the inside perimeter of the storage unit.

Richard

[topcarbon]

thats about right.

A year is a long time to leave the car untouched.

You may want to make a brief visit to take it for a spin....just to get the lubricants flowing.

[Schwarzeritter]

1. Do you have anyone trust worthy who can turn the car on from time to time.

2. I understand you're problem very well, I live in Japan half the year, then Sweden / Germany and then lol back to California. My father thankfully happens to often visit my home for my personal cars.

3. Sometimes for clients, we provide a service if space permits and we know they will be away a limited storage. The staff basicly checks the cars twice a week, turns them over, moves them. let's them warm up and cool down. " KingSalmon has a good approach too. "
Perhaps you have someone that can provide a similar service to you in Colorado?

4. I don't recommend just leaving a car in storage especially the 70's or 80's vintage machines for a solid year, this is mostly emphasized on say Porsche or Ferrari's. They get grumpy.

Good luck, I had other thoughts, but it's really more pragmatic for a guy who's going to put up a car away in storage or display for like 5-10 years.

[Jdub]

If the car is a Targa you might leave the top at the first click in the latches and not fully levered down. This can prevent premature seal compression. Same goes for doors - seen this advice and in practice for cars left inert for long periods of time.

[RWebb]

get it up off the tires

seals won't get any drier air sitting than driving - for engine/trans. seals, they just won't have oil splash/vapor on the other side of them

as per above, best thing is to get it driven every 2-3 weeks - have your trusted friend drive it easy until it warms up as per the temp. gauge, then drive it well for 1/2 hour after that

maybe Grady has some nephews who can do it

[topcarbon]

Originally Posted by Schwarzeritter

Porsche or Ferrari's. They get grumpy.

Good luck, I had other thoughts, but it's really more pragmatic for a guy who's going to put up a car away in storage or display for like 5-10 years.

I can tell you when I left my Lamborghini, and would return for a couple of days every month, I returned to a dead battery and a long warm up. I was always unsure if the car would even be sound to drive after a while. I hated to replace the battery, its in the worst place and always started my relationship on a rocky note.

Now, I have the Porsche at a friend's house and he has free reign over the car when I am away. He can enjoy taking it around the block as needed. Hopefully these former troubles will not be with the Porsche.

[Bmxrams80sc]

Where in tennessee? Im in the Smokey Mountain area and it is very very humid here. Make sure to find a garage that is rather insulated. We have de-humidifiers in our garage. Cars in one of the barn will occasionally get mold on the interior. Also make sure the take is full with fuel additive.

[Bmxrams80sc]

Plus one to the mice prevention

[murphyjp]

Get a trickle charger for the battery. You can then leave it in place. You can buy some desiccant bags to sap up any interior moisture.

[porschenut]

I don't think a year will be any problem. My '86 Carrera engine sat for 15 months without being started while I redid the body and interior for my backdate project. Once I got the spark plug cables on the distributor cap correctly, it fired right up and purred like it always did. No leaks either.

[ArcticOne]

Originally Posted by porschenut

I don't think a year will be any problem. My '86 Carrera engine sat for 15 months without being started while I redid the body and interior for my backdate project. Once I got the spark plug cables on the distributor cap correctly, it fired right up and purred like it always did. No leaks either.

+1

Sometimes I think we are overly concerned that our vehicles need to be started every so many weeks. None of the mechanics I have spoke with have recommended it. Best comment I ever heard in response to How to Store a Car was to turn the engine off.

jb

[RWebb]

if the issue is how best to store the car, then exercise is a good idea as is getting the tires unweighted, the battery on a maintainer, mouse screens deployed & etc.

it is not as tho the thing will blow up if stored "wrong"

Porsche has published a list of what to do & a search will prove rewarding