Car off road 6 months - will it be ok to drive again afterwards?

Síle28

I'm going abroad for 6 months next week and I plan to suspend my insurance and park it on private land off the road until I return (and yes I know if it happened to go on fire or be stolen from the land I wouldn't be covered). Just wondering if having someone turn it on every so often (once a week?) to save the battery will suffice or if the car will be ruined after 6 months not being driven anyways? My dad insists it won't work or at least 'will never be the same' again. Has anyone else left a car for 6 months and started to use it again? What problems if any did you have? I plan to have a full service done, 4 new tyres put on etcetc before driving it again.

peasant

Do not start it for a few mins every week, that'll only make things worse, as the engine won't get properly warmed up.

Disconnect the battery altogether and take it out or if that's not possible connect it to a trickle charger.

Dont' park it on grass, as that will grow and trap moisture, causing rust.

Síle28

Oh yeh someone mentioned a trickle charger to me before actually and I had forgotten, where would I get my hands on one of those? Good tip on the grass thing, will park it on gravel so no worries there.

Owen

+1 for not starting it every week - it will only cause grief within the engine. I remember reading something a few years back which recommended taking out the spark plugs, pouring a teaspoon of oil into each cylinder and cranking the engine a few times to coat the linings of the cylinder - but that could all be bullcrap.

Definitely park the car on a hard surface, and if possible on axle stands.

R.O.R

If it's not going to be moved and it's on level ground, leave it in gear and the handbrake off. Should stop the rear breaks binding.

Síle28

Thanks for all the suggestions, much appreciated as I'm certainly no car expert! With regard to leaving it in gear with the handbrake off, that worries me even if on flat surface, to leave it like that for 6 months, I would be afraid something would cause it to roll. Would it have the same effect leaving it in gear with the handbrake on?
So to recap: I should use a trickle charger, NOT start it at all as it won't be driven, park it on hard flat surface in gear and with handbrake on (as I would be afraid to leave it off while in gear). Does this sound like the best plan? Thanks again

L1011

If leaving if un-braked you could chock the wheels to prevent it moving.

seamus

Síle28 wrote: »

With regard to leaving it in gear with the handbrake off, that worries me even if on flat surface, to leave it like that for 6 months, I would be afraid something would cause it to roll. Would it have the same effect leaving it in gear with the handbrake on?

The handbrake is left off so as to avoid any stretching/damage to the handbrake cable. You put it in gear to prevent it moving.
If your car is in gear with the engine off, nothing short of a bus will be able to move it on a flat surface.
Try it yourself - take the handbrake off and push the car to see how easy it moves. Then put it in first or reverse and try to move it.

air

Try and keep it indoors if you can at all, even getting it under an open lean to or something would be a big help.
Remove the battery completely, chock the wheels, leave the handbrake off. The engine should be fine, i've started lots of cars that were left outside for a year or two & they all started up fine with fresh fuel & a new battery or jumpstart.

Síle28

In that case, will do, handbrake off and all! Great advice, hadn't a clue myself what would be best, thanks to you all

Quazzie

10 Tips

1. Take the battery out as this will decrease the chance of the car being nicked.

2. Also as suggested stay off grass.

3. Put the car up on axle stands if possible.

4. Keep in the shade.

5. Invest in a universal car cover and keep it covered.

6. Ensure all windows are up and secured.

7. If up on axle stands let some air out of the wheels so they won't be affected by heat (optimistic about this summer)

8. Remove the radio if possible.

9. Try have as little fuel in the tank as possible.

10. Enjoy your time away

Dartz

Just starting it for a few minutes maybe a bad idea, but a monthly drive to get everything up to temperature and keep things unseized will certainly do it no harm.

Problem with that is, you have to trust whoever is driving it, and they need insurance/tax on it.

Síle28

Thanks Quazzie, most useful
Re above post, Yeh, the tax will run out while I'm away and as far as I know unless my car is insured itself, someone else's insurance won't cover them to drive it if my car isn't insured at all...I'll go with all the above and hope for the best

the_syco

Get the insurance suspended, so it's only fire & theft covered. Think this means you get 75% back per month. When you get back, get the form stamped by the Garda saying it was off the road, etc.

ART6

As said here. Put it up on axle stands or blocks definitely, otherwise you could flat spot the tyres and possibly cause corrosion spots in the wheel bearings where the rollers gradually press away the grease. Personally I have found that taking out the plugs and shooting in a squirt of WD40 seems to avoid any re-starting or engine wear problems, even if I have never tried not doing that and even if it does create some interesting smoke screens when re-starting:D

RandomAccess

And don't park it under a tree, the car will be destroyed with green cack.

If you want it to be in the best condition when you get back I would either put an ad in a paper for a lock up/ garage space. Or get it insured under one of your parents and ask em to use it once or twice a week.

One of our cars was left parked up for a time and the clutch cable became very stiff.