[N0OS3]

3 months+ in the garage

I've considered unplugging the negative on the battery and maybe jimmy'ing the trunk latch open (for some reason my hard-mount key entry doesn't work...)

anything else i should do?

[Zechariaha]

Where are you storing it? (gargage, storage unit inside outside) ?

[N0OS3]

Originally Posted by Zechariaha

Where are you storing it? (gargage, storage unit inside outside) ?

garage

[tibra1]

1) Wash & Wax
2) Cover with quality car cover
3) Inflate tires to 45 psi
4) Fill up gas tank and use Stabil fuel stabilizer
5) Battery tender (if you can) dont disconnect battery

[obert]

I have heard of people putting the car on jack stands.........maybe just leave the back seat unlocked so you can just pull it down to open the trunk from the inside.

Maybe put some gas stablizer in the tank to help keep the gas good

[Royal Flush]

Don't mean to , but regarding

Originally Posted by tibra1

4) Fill up gas tank and use Stabil fuel stabilizer

is that only supposed to be used during long lengths of storage time like the OP, where the car isn't going to be started or used?

The reason I ask is I had a conversation yesterday with a co-worker where I told him I've been on the same tank of gas for 1 month+. He said that's good regarding money wise, but not good for my car and that I should use a fuel stabilizer. Thoughts/facts?

[gary88]

Battery tender is an absolute must.

Stabil isn't necessary for three months (couldn't hurt though), but you should park it with the gas talk completely filled.

[tibra1]

Originally Posted by Royal Flush

Don't mean to , but regarding



is that only supposed to be used during long lengths of storage time like the OP, where the car isn't going to be started or used?

The reason I ask is I had a conversation yesterday with a co-worker where I told him I've been on the same tank of gas for 1 month+. He said that's good regarding money wise, but not good for my car and that I should use a fuel stabilizer.

I agree with your co-worker gas begins to degrade after 1 month..I use stabil all throughout the winter..even though I start and run it to temp at least once every week or 2..

Extreme cold causes ethanol to separate from gas..especially if the vehicle is going to sit for extended time w/o starting..stabil is cheap insurance

You will get those who say it is not necessary..i use it

[obert]

Battery tender is super easy to hook up and dont cost alot of money

[Royal Flush]

Originally Posted by tibra1

I agree with you co-worker..I use stabil all throughout the winter..even though I start and run it to temp at least once every week or 2..

Extreme cold causes ethanol to separate from gas..especially if the vehicle is going to sit for extended time w/o starting..stabil is cheap insurance

You will get those who say it is not necessary..i use it

Noob questions

So even if I daily drive it, I still need to use it?

Procedure as follows?

Fill up tank(16.1 gallons)
Use 1oz stabilizer for every 2.5 gallons (around 6oz stabilizer, 6.4oz to be exact)
???????
WINNING

Since the gas currently in my tank has been there for 1monthish, should I run the tank empty and then fill it up with gas/stabilizer, or am I good to go on just doing the routine fill up at 1/4th of tank and then adding stabilizer?

[tibra1]

Originally Posted by Royal Flush

Noob questions

So even if I daily drive it, I still need to use it?

Procedure as follows?

Fill up tank(16.1 gallons)
Use 1oz stabilizer for every 2.5 gallons (around 6oz stabilizer, 6.4oz to be exact)
???????
WINNING

Since the gas currently in my tank has been there for 1monthish, should I run the tank empty and then fill it up with gas/stabilizer, or am I good to go on just doing the routine fill up at 1/4th of tank and then adding stabilizer?

As soon as the weather starts getting really cold (below freezing)..I start using stabil along with my fill-ups..adding stabil to old gas will not help..so yes I would burn off the gas in there first..and then upon filling use stabil..this will keep gas good for at least a yr..but more importantly it is especially helpful during extreme cold b/c it protects against ethanol separation

I guarantee there will be a least a few posts saying its a waste of time its not needed..blah blah..its what I do b/c I rather be safe..stabil cost like $6 a bottle so its not a huge expense

[achien]

I have been out of the country and not driven the car for almost 3 months and it had no issues. "Cranking-up-the-engine" on the first start up might take longer.

[BMWs4ever]

Originally Posted by tibra1

1) Wash & Wax
2) Cover with quality car cover
3) Inflate tires to 45 psi
4) Fill up gas tank and use Stabil fuel stabilizer
5) Battery tender (if you can) dont disconnect battery

I too like to inflate my tires to 40-45psi when storing it for the winter but here's something I have been thinking. If my tires are run flat and can stand on their own weight without air then what's the point in putting a little more air in for the winter. The car should easily be able to sit with the 32-36 psi in it already without creating a flat spot one would think ?????

[tibra1]

Originally Posted by BMWs4ever

I too like to inflate my tires to 40-45psi when storing it for the winter but here's something I have been thinking. If my tires are run flat and can stand on their own weight without air then what's the point in putting a little more air in for the winter. The car should easily be able to sit with the 32-36 psi in it already without creating a flat spot one would think ?????

Yea its more geared for normal tires but wouldnt hurt to do that on RFTs either.

[Bimmer100_]

Originally Posted by Royal Flush

Noob questions

So even if I daily drive it, I still need to use it?

Procedure as follows?

Fill up tank(16.1 gallons)
Use 1oz stabilizer for every 2.5 gallons (around 6oz stabilizer, 6.4oz to be exact)
???????
WINNING

Since the gas currently in my tank has been there for 1monthish, should I run the tank empty and then fill it up with gas/stabilizer, or am I good to go on just doing the routine fill up at 1/4th of tank and then adding stabilizer?

As long as its quality premium gas, it should be good for a MINIMUM of 6 MONTHS...

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by bwsteg

As long as its quality premium gas, it should be good for a MINIMUM of 6 MONTHS...

I'm not certain that is still the case with the E10 ethanol most of us have to contend with as I recall hearing that it degrades after only 2 to 3 months.

Not having driven my 128i 'vert for 2 months due to surgery, I was nervous about the 10 week old fuel. Drove it today with no issues, but I still prefer to add Stabil to E10 if it won't be used within a couple of months.

Tom

[galahad05]

Originally Posted by tibra1

As soon as the weather starts getting really cold (below freezing)..I start using stabil along with my fill-ups..adding stabil to old gas will not help..so yes I would burn off the gas in there first..and then upon filling use stabil..this will keep gas good for at least a yr..but more importantly it is especially helpful during extreme cold b/c it protects against ethanol separation

I guarantee there will be a least a few posts saying its a waste of time its not needed..blah blah..its what I do b/c I rather be safe..stabil cost like $6 a bottle so its not a huge expense

Marine or regular Stabil?
Regular stabil uses....*drum roll* alcohol.


EDIT: My bad. No it does NOT. I was thinking of another fuel system stabilizer. Both variants of Sta-Bil use a napthalene base with mineral oil and proprietary "other" stuff, but no alcohol. The Marine version is stronger.

[tibra1]

Originally Posted by galahad05

Marine or regular Stabil?
Regular stabil uses....*drum roll* alcohol.

EDIT: My bad. No it does NOT. I was thinking of another fuel system stabilizer. Both variants of Sta-Bil use a napthalene base with mineral oil and proprietary "other" stuff, but no alcohol. The Marine version is stronger.

Ha..I saw that and was about to let it rip..no alcohol in any stabil products

I use the red one which is the regular..its sufficient..I have never used the marine formula but when I contacted Gold Eagle about the difference between the two..they said the marine is essential the same only more concentrated

[tibra1]

Originally Posted by bwsteg

As long as its quality premium gas, it should be good for a MINIMUM of 6 MONTHS...

One month for e10 gas to begin degrading.

[Tuesday]

Originally Posted by tibra1

1) Wash & Wax
2) Cover with quality car cover
3) Inflate tires to 45 psi
4) Fill up gas tank and use Stabil fuel stabilizer
5) Battery tender (if you can) dont disconnect battery

+1

I just got back from a 3 month trip - I did not do anything stated above except get an OEM cover, and I won't make that mistake again.

Battery was dead, tires were all 10+ lbs low, fuel is garbage (I can tell by the rough idle and slow acceleration) and the paint looks like it has dirt molded to it (covered it dirty). I don't have a lot of time to think about stuff like this before leaving for so long - but I will make it a point to do all of the above from now on. Great advice.

[dirtmaster666]

Originally Posted by obert

I have heard of people putting the car on jack stands.........maybe just leave the back seat unlocked so you can just pull it down to open the trunk from the inside.

Maybe put some gas stablizer in the tank to help keep the gas good

i like to put mine on stands..just to make sure no flat spots and extra stress on suspension which is not needed

[N0OS3]

Just touching on tire pressure, my normal tire pressure is 42psi (because my tires sit flat against the road)... i'm not worried about pressure getting lost though.

As for fuel stabilizer, not really a worry... fuel degrades, but it doesn't goop like diesel fuel does. I know condensation may build up over extended periods of time so i'm sure i'll use a container of ISO HEET or two when i return from the trip...

A friend of mine did an extended "Flush" on his RX8 a few months back... says it feels like it's the best thing he could have done for his car. What he did was let the oil drip for 2.5 months till (i'm guessing) every last drop came out. Same thing with his coolant. When he returned from his time away, he filled it all up and he claims it ran like the first day he bought it [new]. -i wouldn't dare do this to my car cuz knowing my stint of bad luck, my car wouldn't agree with a long drain cycle.