Starting car while its stored ?

doode · 01-25-2009, 06:53 PM

So my car has been sitting in a garage since the end of October of 2008.

The battery has been pulled and the car has been sitting on jackstands since then, untouched.

Should i be starting the car periodically to get parts lubed up etc?

Ive got a battery tender taking care of the battery , so thats not a big concern.

If i do start it up, should i be getting it to operating temp? about 30 mins or so?

TIA

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cobra443 · 01-25-2009, 06:57 PM

Just out of curiosity why did you completely store it? Do you not have easy access to it? Best bet would have been to start it every week or so and let her get up to temp. and maybe taking here for a little cruise when the weather was nice.

mygt500 · 01-25-2009, 07:19 PM

Starting is not necessary IMO but if you want make sure your to operating temp and better yet if you can take her for a drive to get the rpms up and turn all moving parts of the car for lubrication. If not run for at least 30 mins and rev the motor at the end to get any water out of the exhaust to slow the progression of rust in the exhaust. If you dont it will sit there waiting to evaporate and rusting parts at the same time! Moisture is the enemy (even humidity).....hope it helps.

If the car is totally lifted of the ground and the suspension has no weight to it and the rims and tires are not touching the pavement it can cause the opposite if sag in the springs and stretch the suspension components and put stress on them in ways they were not designed for. I went back and forth on this a year or 2 ago and everyone agreed that you should not remove the suspension load from the car except to remove some of the weight off the suspension and still have the car sitting close to the stance it had before raising it slightly only....JMO on that too!

Nuke · 01-25-2009, 07:33 PM

Starting the car without getting it as hot and as loaded as it would get during a 10 mile or farther drive is usually NOT the best thing to do. Plus, you'll do nothing positive for the tranny , rear axle, wheel bearings, etc.. If she'll be back on the road within the next 3 or 4 months, I'd leave her be. Don't know what to say about the suspension. I've heard both stories.

jmk3 · 01-25-2009, 09:16 PM

I have heard not to let the suspension hang for extended periods of time. You may be looking at a 4wd Stang when you let her down.

doode · 01-26-2009, 12:43 AM

the car is stored at my parents house as ive managed to convince them that my car is better than their pontiac sunfire

that being said, i'll probably drop the car back on the ground next weekend as ive got some time free

there is still a crap load of road salt and huge pot holes so putting day permits on the car probably wont happen

thanks for the help !

Red Beast · 01-26-2009, 01:50 AM

you definatley should start it up and get the peices moving. start it up, let it sit and run, and if you dont have the time to take it for a drive, then at least just take it around the block a couple times. i would probably leave the battery in there that way your more motivated to start it up. if the battery dies in the car then you know youve let it sit to long.

Nuke · 01-26-2009, 08:09 AM

Are you telling him to start it just to keep the battery charged? Driving around the block a few times does not allow all of the moisture to burn off and increases the likelihood of the formation of acids. Moisture that forms with the engine cold can be handled by the oil's rust inhibitor package and does little damage until the oil is heated and the moisture is not allowed to burn off (as occurs by starting the car and/or just driving around the block a few times). From my experience with oil testing, not starting it at all is the lesser of the 2 evils IF you can't get it out for a good, long drive.

Red Beast · 01-26-2009, 01:40 PM

wel im not saying to just to drive around the block, it would be best for him to take it for a drive, but i was just sayin if he couldnt get it out for a drive, then he still should get some parts moving, i know it doesnt hurt a car to sit, but it should still be played with every now and then