Long Term Storage

[ArmyofOne]

Well, her it comes folks, the time for deployment is drawing near. I deploy to Calfiornia for NTC in march for 6 weeks, then when i come back, in mid to late summer i willdeploy to Iraq for a year. the 6 weeks im not too worried about, as the car can sit that long. but for the yearlong deployment, i have 2 options:

1) Store with a family member, inside a barn, but will not likely get driven, away from elements.

2) store it outside in the elements (NY winter) will NOT get driven, and is exposed to thieves.

if i go with option 1, i will leave a key with my uncle and my cousin, but its not likely either of them will do any more than start once a month or so.

if i go with option 2, it wont be started/or move for a year.

so...how do i prepare my car properly for storage? Lets have it folks, i know the general just, such as fresh fluids, but should i raise it up off the ground to take the weight off the wheel bearings?

[Toysrme]

#1

You know how it goes, it's just like the Charger.

Use some stabilizer in whatever is left. Change all the fluids now so ya don't forget about them when u go to drive it. If it get's really cold, might wanna think about not filling the washer tank up all the way.

use the A/C & make sure it won't get all moldy.

Cover it with a car cover, or like some sheets sown together.

Up to your uncle if he wants to trickle charge, or cycle the battery. If it's more than a weak trickle they can boil the fluid out of the battery. :\ Like, if your radio doesn't have thieft dettereent & stuff, I'd think about unhooking the battery so there isn't a voltage drain on it. Worst comes to worse, ford ECU's are normally cheap! :D

Yea, it's a good idea to get them off their feet it kills the tires. Just make sure you do it securly & across a wide area of contact so you don't bend a frame, or unibody while it sits there.

Read some guides I guess.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive...at/1272486.html

http://www.techguys.ca/howto/winter.html

http://autorepair.about.com/od/carcare/a/storecar.htm

http://www.78ta.com/jack.htm

Edited January 9, 2006 by Toysrme

[ArmyofOne]

#1

You know how it goes, it's just like the Charger.

Use some stabilizer in whatever is left. Change all the fluids now so ya don't forget about them when u go to drive it. If it get's really cold, might wanna think about not filling the washer tank up all the way.

use the A/C & make sure it won't get all moldy.

Cover it with a car cover, or like some sheets sown together.

Up to your uncle if he wants to trickle charge, or cycle the battery. If it's more than a weak trickle they can boil the fluid out of the battery. :\ Like, if your radio doesn't have thieft dettereent & stuff, I'd think about unhooking the battery so there isn't a voltage drain on it. Worst comes to worse, ford ECU's are normally cheap! :D

Yea, it's a good idea to get them off their feet it kills the tires. Just make sure you do it securly & across a wide area of contact so you don't bend a frame, or unibody while it sits there.

Read some guides I guess.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive...at/1272486.html

http://www.techguys.ca/howto/winter.html

http://autorepair.about.com/od/carcare/a/storecar.htm

http://www.78ta.com/jack.htm

the charger doesnt generally sit without being driven more than 2 months or so. we dont really do anything other than throw a cover on and call it good.

so i can remove the battery completely? i dont believe this would damage anything. i woudl liek to avoid ECU damage, though the car is under warranty until january 2009, or 109,000 miles, whichever comes first (4 year 48K warranty). The stereo does have theft deterrent, ( you are talking about the blinky light behind the faceplate) no code needed. the faceplate would be removed. should i remove the sub too? it may be started once in awhile, but i doubt very seriously if it moves the whole time im gone. the barn is not heated, so should i run the normal collant mix? or a straight coolant, until i return?

also, the chager is stored in a climate controlled unit out of the elements. the only element mine will have to deal with are the temps in upstate NY. I will throw a good cover on it as well.

Edited January 9, 2006 by ArmyofOne