Question about not using the car.

Wierdochild89 · 10-11-2008, 04:44 PM

Is it ok for the car to be unused for 3 months? My Si has been sitting in my garage with 3000 miles for months because i am at a university. Does this cause harm to the engine and its components?

Thanks
Eric

***lovecheese*** · 10-11-2008, 04:45 PM

Have it started once a month... I'm deployed for 6 months and my car only gets started once a month.

708CvCSi · 10-11-2008, 04:54 PM

make sure to pour Sta-bil into the tank to prevent the fuel from going bad and you should be fine

daytonaturbo · 10-11-2008, 08:23 PM

Stabil in the take is the main thing to worry about. No need to start it every month. I pack the car in my avatar away for 6 months every year. I don't start it at all in between. Some people say you should go an take a ratchet and turn the crank over a turn every month or so to take the load off the valve springs that are compressed in that stroke. I've heard starting and stopping the engine doesn't do it because engines develop certain spots in the rotation in which they like to stop at. Also, if you do run it, run it for a good 20 minutes. You need to run it that long to thoroughly warm up the engine and oil in order to boil out all the condensation inside the motor. Not heating the engine long enough leads to condensation development. Like I said, I don't run mine at all, been storing like this for 5 years and the motor likes it just fine.

Some people jack up their car so the tires are off the ground while it's in storage. I don't think that's a good idea because a car's suspension was not designed to sit for long periods of time without the weight of the car on it, and IMO that does more harm than good. Also, I've never had a flat spot develop on my tires like some people will claim.

My routine is, november rolls around, I park the car indoors. Do a fresh oil change(used oil is acidic and not good for engine internals), pour stabil in the gas tank and run the car for 15 minutes, then put dryer sheets all over the inside of the car, pour mothballs around all the tires then throw the car cover on and done, come back 5-6 months later.

***lovecheese*** · 10-11-2008, 08:40 PM

My co-worker drives it to work once a month... mine atleast...

chrisfayter · 10-11-2008, 11:52 PM

when storing a car with Disk brakes it's not a bad idea to loosen your lugnuts as well to release clamping force on the rotor, this will help prevent rotor warpage from sitting for so long. personally I also put a post it on my steering wheel reminding me to torque the lugnuts before I take it out.

I had to learn this lesson the hard way I had a 2000 camaro in storage and it came to a stop smoothly prior to being stored, and 6 months later I had a horrid pedal pulsation. Turns out they were warped with .015"-.018" runout

10-11-2008, 04:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
Wierdochild89 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 573 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Question about not using the car. Is it ok for the car to be unused for 3 months? My Si has been sitting in my garage with 3000 miles for months because i am at a university. Does this cause harm to the engine and its components? Thanks Eric

10-11-2008, 04:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
*lovecheese* 292 HP // 252 TRQ // 9PSI Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 15,410 James iTrader: 7 / 100%	Have it started once a month... I'm deployed for 6 months and my car only gets started once a month. __________________ The link to my stolen thread. http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/intro...ix-inside.html

10-11-2008, 08:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
*lovecheese* 292 HP // 252 TRQ // 9PSI Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 15,410 James iTrader: 7 / 100%	My co-worker drives it to work once a month... mine atleast... __________________ The link to my stolen thread. http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/intro...ix-inside.html

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

10-11-2008, 04:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
708CvCSi Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 257 iTrader: 0 / 0%	make sure to pour Sta-bil into the tank to prevent the fuel from going bad and you should be fine

10-11-2008, 08:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
daytonaturbo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 129 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Stabil in the take is the main thing to worry about. No need to start it every month. I pack the car in my avatar away for 6 months every year. I don't start it at all in between. Some people say you should go an take a ratchet and turn the crank over a turn every month or so to take the load off the valve springs that are compressed in that stroke. I've heard starting and stopping the engine doesn't do it because engines develop certain spots in the rotation in which they like to stop at. Also, if you do run it, run it for a good 20 minutes. You need to run it that long to thoroughly warm up the engine and oil in order to boil out all the condensation inside the motor. Not heating the engine long enough leads to condensation development. Like I said, I don't run mine at all, been storing like this for 5 years and the motor likes it just fine. Some people jack up their car so the tires are off the ground while it's in storage. I don't think that's a good idea because a car's suspension was not designed to sit for long periods of time without the weight of the car on it, and IMO that does more harm than good. Also, I've never had a flat spot develop on my tires like some people will claim. My routine is, november rolls around, I park the car indoors. Do a fresh oil change(used oil is acidic and not good for engine internals), pour stabil in the gas tank and run the car for 15 minutes, then put dryer sheets all over the inside of the car, pour mothballs around all the tires then throw the car cover on and done, come back 5-6 months later.

10-11-2008, 11:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
chrisfayter Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Stillwater, mn Posts: 19 Chris Fayter iTrader: 0 / 0%	when storing a car with Disk brakes it's not a bad idea to loosen your lugnuts as well to release clamping force on the rotor, this will help prevent rotor warpage from sitting for so long. personally I also put a post it on my steering wheel reminding me to torque the lugnuts before I take it out. I had to learn this lesson the hard way I had a 2000 camaro in storage and it came to a stop smoothly prior to being stored, and 6 months later I had a horrid pedal pulsation. Turns out they were warped with .015"-.018" runout