Moved to a new house in September and, due to elevation and a more snowy winter, I'm opting for the 3rd car route as the 911 has gotten stuck in the driveway (winter tires do fine, snow just too deep and hard to clear driveway when already out the door and coming home at night with two toddlers in the car seats). Anyway, I'm looking to "store" it for 3 months (beginning tomorrow) or so and wonder what suggestions people have. I'm probably going to start it 2/week and try to run it for a good 10 min or so. The Dealership suggested adding some pressure to the tires (did that) and made no reference to filling the tank, although I did that. I know people often get the trickle charger and I'll likely get one for next winter, but don't really feel like getting spending the $130 or so the dealership sells it for. I don't think I need a gas additive as it will only be a few months and I'll be starting it and running the engine, but am open to suggestions/opinions.

Thanks.

 

Your plan sounds fine to me. I think its better to start it up, get it up to temp, and exercise the engine and other bits like the heater and ac compressor every so often.

My car sat for 4 months with nothing but a disconnected battery and Stabil in the tank. Started it up and drove it 1500 miles. No discernible negative effects and runs fine.

 

Store mine 4-5 months. Clean car, fill tank w/o stabil, 10 over on tire pressure, battery maintainer & no car cover. I don't start it. On insurance I suspend all except comprehensive. You can search the forum on the battery maintainer.

 

Same as above but don't start it if your not going to run it. Idling for short periods is not the best idea. You can get off brand chargers for $50 that work just fine. Stabil before fill up so its run throughout the fuel system. Change the oil too. Mine is stored from November to April without issue.

 

Thank you for the replies. If I do start the car and run it for a good 10 min or so -- twice a week, I thought it would be fine without having an additive or preservative for the gas. For those of you that use something, it seems as though you are also storing for longer periods than 3 months. Being that I haven't gotten a trickle charger and may look at some options, I thought that this course of action would be sufficient to maintain the battery and not worry too much about the fuel. Any other comments or suggestions?

 

I should add that my street is also near a few "no-outlets" so I image during the 10 or so min I'm running the engine, I can drive in a few circles.

 

I have been storing my cars for over 20 years. Once you store it do not start it unless you are going to drive it for at least 45 minutes. Unless you get oil to over 212 you will not boil off condensation that will just form acids in your oil. I put a battery maintainer Ctek 7200 on mine. Do not use a trickle charger as it will ruin your battery if left on for extended periods. I also use Tire Cradles so as not to get flat spotting. Some people have good luck with layers of carpet. Read TireCradle web site on why not to put excessive pressure in your tires. That just makes the flat spot harder and narrower. No problems in over 20'years YMMV.

 

Your plan is perfect, although I don't agree with the excess air in the tires. And I would add Stabil, it won't hurt.

 

Thanks for the additional posts. Much to think about. Generally, it appears that here and elsewhere, Sta-bil receives much support -- although the Sta-bil website seems to think that everyone should use their products at each fill-up... and I don't know if I would drink that Kool Aid; it does sound like sound advice for gas remaining in the tank for 30+ days. Steve -- thanks for the info on Tire Craddles. I found your posts on Rennlist (circa 2004) and went to the referenced homepage for the product. Something to think for the future, although I'm thinking if I take it out for some drive I might be ok -- being that I currently have snow tires on the car (are snow tires any less susceptible to flat spots?). I am curious about the 45 mins you cite -- is that the time required for the oil to reach the temp? I'm hard-pressed to get in a 45 min drive during the week as is, and over the recent holidays the car sat for a few days at a time. Generally, I I use the car each week day, but maybe 20 min at a time. Would you mind elaborating on the 45 mins? Is it related to something about coming out of storage? Thanks.

Edit: Anyone know whether having nitrogen in tires is any better than air in tires for preventing flat spotting? According to information it seems to maintain pressure better and fluctuate less with temperature swings. My Wife has driven Minis for several years and the tire pressure monitors are very sensitive; my tire guy suggests I give Nitrogen a try. Haven't yet.

 

I read an article about filling car tires with nitrogen and basically the author said the air we breathe is 78% nitrogen so what difference is another 22% really going to make.

 

A potential 22% drop in air pressure depending on the total volume of gas in your tires and temps in the storage building. The lower the tire profile, the less volume, generally speaking, and the more influence time and temp will have on pressures. Another way I've heard to avoid flat spots is to raise the car on jackstands just enough to take some of the weight off the tires, but then you have to get the car off the stands every time you want to drive it on a mild winter day.

Just my opinion. I'm lucky to live in an area where I don't have to winter store my car, though.

BTW, the latest issue of Excellence has some advice on storage in the tech section.

 

concerning flat spot. I inflated tires to 58psi as mentioned in porsche manual.
my 997.1 is in my garage. so every month, I puch the car forward 6 inches. the month after, about a feet backword... (without starting the engine, just push the car) that should help I guess?


and

what's wrong with a trickle charger?
I bought one at canadian tire for like $20.
some will over charge and get the battery hot. I have check mine after 2 weeks and it's as cold as everything else (about 50F)

thanks :-)

 

Battery charger/maintainers are cheap, just go to your local Lowes and pickup a Stanley charger for $30.

 

I use my car every few months and I fill the car with gas and plug in the charger and have never had a problem in 3 years.

 

A true triclkle charger will put about 2amps continuos into the battery. This will not hurt the battery for a few days but over a long period of time it will through electrolysis boil the electrolyte away. A good maintainer like the Porsche unit or the Ctek will back off the current till near zero when the battery reaches full charge and can be left on the battery for months without damage. I doubt if the the battery will ever get warm with a trickle charger so you won't know if damage is occurring.
In the past I have used Stabil. I'm a little afraid to use it with direct fuel injection but have no reason or data for this belief?