storing car

[badblackbeast]

ok ive lost my license for a year so no driving the vr4.do i just disconnect the battery and let it sit or get someone to drive it once a month around the block to get fluids moving around or maybe something else?

 

[rob323]

My thoughts...

Go buy a $50 trickle charger for your battery and leave it on charge permanently. No need to "kick" the motor over every month or so then as that was only done to charge the battery.

When you get your license back and before you go to start it for the first time, drain any fuel that's in it and put some fresh high octane stuff in it, pull the ecu fuse and crank the motor over for 10-20 seconds or so to build oil pressure. Replace the ecu fuse, fire it up and enjoy.

Oh, and keep it registered and insured.

 

[Entaran]

And try to make sure it's undercover or you'll end up with all sorts of gunk in all sorts of places

 

[olly]

if i lost my license for a year i'd still drive my car around.. maybe to the shops and back just to give get the fluids and everything going..

 

[MatS]

As rob323 said, I bought a cTek charger to do exatctly this. It is an auto switching (charge/trickle charge) and aren't that expensive ($120 from repco or there abouts)
http://www.ctek.com/EN-AU/Buy-Charger.aspx?charger=mxs3600

And if you have a decent battery (optima, odyessy, etc..) it has a mode on it to charge at 14.4v as they recomend.

 

[badblackbeast]

thanks guys. i'll get a charger and cover and see u on the road in a year.

 

[rob323]

if i lost my license for a year i'd still drive my car around.. maybe to the shops and back just to give get the fluids and everything going..

Surely not Olly, that's a big risk to take.

 

[olly]

you guys are telling me you won't touch your car for a WHOLE year?..

 

[rob323]

Nope, I would drive mine at race tracks, hill climbs, motorkhanas etc, just not on the street with no 3rd party insurance to cover you if a kid ran out in front of you and you collected him (for example).

 

[badblackbeast]

i was going to drive but because ive been busted driving unlicenced before (12 years ago),its a automatic 1 month jail if i get caught.not taking the chance.

 

[EVO-00X]

Completely empty the tank of fuel otherwise corrosion sets inside your fuel tank. Trust me, it happened to me and I ended up having to remove the fuel tank and chemically clean and treat it then recoat the full interior like new again.

 

[Pyro]

Yes, make sure all fuel is gone! other wise the lines will crack and become very frail, it happened to my mates car,

I'd put fresh fluids (all) before u drive it again, if it's been sitting for a year, but that's just me, probably not necessary

 

[MDK87]

And try to make sure it's undercover or you'll end up with all sorts of gunk in all sorts of places

Yes I know!
Listen to this man.

 

[rob323]

Completely empty the tank of fuel otherwise corrosion sets inside your fuel tank. Trust me, it happened to me and I ended up having to remove the fuel tank and chemically clean and treat it then recoat the full interior like new again.

I was thinking about suggesting that but I would be concerned that all the crud in the bottom of the tank might dry out and go hard like mud and it would have to be cleaned out anyway.

 

[badblackbeast]

thanks all (empty tank as well)

 

[EVO-00X]

Yeah I had some minor crud in the bottom of my tank like a fine powdered dust that solidified and was hard to even scratch off with my fingernail. My tank sat around dormant for 7 years though with about 10 litres of fuel and no filler cap on lol... in the end the removal of the tank and full acid clean and protection coating fixed it right up with a brand new thick glossy shine like new again. (I used a KBS fuel tank repair kit).

I suppose its going to be difficult fully removing all the fuel in the tank as some condensation will still occur unless all the fuel is out. Actually if its (only) just going to be off the road for 12 months he might just be better off filling the tank to the max with fuel and add a fuel stabilser or preservative in it. If he gets a good stabiliser his fuel should still be OK to use after the 12 months but I wouldnt risk it.

 

[JiMi]

full would be better... but yeah... no point risking any more than a baby drive untill that first tank is completly gone... and since thats going to be 12 months time chances are your gonna be ready for a good boosting

 

[EVO85]

Also, make sure that you move the car around so that the tyres don't get 'flat spots'...

 

[Dean]

if i lost my license for a year i'd still drive my car around.. maybe to the shops and back just to give get the fluids and everything going..

i did it olly, was just going to the round about up the road and back, and you wouldn't believe, the first car that went passed me was a policeman.
I shit bricks. luckily he didnt come after me. lol
It's too risky with cars like ours.
Just get someone else to drive it for you champ, thats what i did. Keeps things lubricated

 

[EVO85]

i did it olly, was just going to the round about up the road and back, and you wouldn't believe, the first car that went passed me was a policeman.
I shit bricks. luckily he didnt come after me. lol
It's too risky with cars like ours.
Just get someone else to drive it for you champ, thats what i did. Keeps things lubricated

It's a bloody silly thing to do (drive un-licensed), especially in something that attracts attention - you're playing with fire! I had to do it on a few occasions as the loss off license would have serious implications to my livelihood. I know that I should have thought about that before hand, but I have a business to run.

It was hilarious (when I went to court for my hearing) when a 33yr old man got done twice driving un-licensed. His excuse the second time was that he need a pack of smokes! That went done well with the judge - I struggled to contain my laughter! Anyway, do as said above and don't run the risk of getting caught under any circumstance.