Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General CSVT will be sitting still for awhile

Well my leave date is here to go into the Air Force to become a mechnic and my car will be sitting for awhile and I was wondering if I should do anything to it to prepare it for sitting around for that time until I can get it.

Make sure someone starts it up at least once or twice a week, and revs the engine. If you don't do this, your seals might dry up and then you'll have leakage problems. Also, the tranny seals may be prone to drying up if you don't drive it, so they may want to drive it once in a while around the block and shift through the gears.

If it's been sitting for a long time when you get back, it'll be a good idea to change all fluids. This includes Tranny fluid, oil, and brake fuild (bleed out brakes).

First of all, put the car up on stands to prevent damage to the tires (flat spots on steel belts).

Depending on how long you are talking about, one thing to think of is that the oil could get contaminated by the gas. Some drain the oil first and others replace the oil before starting after a long period of time sitting.

Cold storage is one more idea, keeping moisture away from your car is a good idea.

Fill your tank up as any empty space in the tank will alow for moisture to collect.

Hey, just some ideas tis' all.

Stephen

Good point, having someone start the engine is a good idea too.

Stephen

This is intresting, we are telling him to drain all the fluids, take the tires off and put it up on jackstands, start it once or twice a week, and drive it around the block.

If he is only going to be gone for a short amount of time, starting it from time to time and driving it now and then would be good. If he is going to be gone for like a year, I would remove the tires/fluid/etc. Remember what the oil change interval is? 3000 miles or 3 months? If he is gone for a year its going to miss three oil changes, counting he gives it one right as he leaves and as soon as he gets back. I wouldn't want oil sitting in my car for months on end, just begging for moisture to collect in the oil pan. The only thing I don't like would be the 14.5 gallons of bad gas when I got home. The tank is plastic, it won't rust. It would probably better if it was as close to empty as possible.

Though, this is just my two cents.

If he's going to be gone for a year he'll miss 4 oil changes! 12/3=4