vehicle storage

[6910sb]

I've seen some great advice on TDIClub, but wanted to survey the opinions here about storing my car for two months during the summer in my So. Cal. garage.

I'm not too concerned about the fuel or battery(fill up and disconnect), but i'm wondering about the rotors rusting up. Do they build a light coat only, or will the rust progress over time? I've noticed them rust up pretty quickly after a rain or car washing.

Also critters. I've never seen evidence of mice or birds in my garage, so I'm wondering if I need to cover the exhaust and intake points of entry.

I plan on a wash/wax and put about 40 - 42 psi in the tires.

Am I missing much?

[chittychittybangbang]

If it's out of the rain the rotors won't rust much. I'll let a car sit in the garage all winter and it will have a few specks of rust from the moisture but that's it.

Mice are a concern. The snowscreen blocks mice nests in the intake but they can get under the engine cover and chew wires. It would be rare for them to crawl into the exhaust because of the angle.

A splash of diesel fuel additives wouldn't hurt but I'm not sure if it works the same way as gas storage additives.

[pearlgolf]

Are you checking up on it weekly or are you not touching it for two months? Any rust will be ground off the rotors the first time you hit the brakes.

[danham]

Surface rust on the rotors is, as others have noted, a non-issue. I would only worry if you were parking the car after exposing it to road salt, in which case everything needs a through washing prior to storage, especially if it's heated storage.

Two months is not that long. If you were talking 4 or more, I'd do an oil change just prior to parking it so that corrosion inhibitors were at the max. (This would be the only reason I can think of to change sooner than 10k miles.)

For longer storage you would be smart to take weight off the tires as well. At 2 months, yours will definitely flat-spot, but not so much that a warmup drive will fail to make them round again [g].

Finally, I'd throw a few mothballs in the engine compartment to discourage rodents. Those little ##@! can wreak havoc with hoses, wiring and the insulation/soundproofing on the underside of the hood.

-dan

[6910sb]

I'll be on the other coast for six weeks and three days.

I read a post titled "long term storage" about having to replace rotors due to rusting everywhere on the rotors accept where the brake disc covers. This may be the case if the car is outside during a Canada winter.

[6910sb]

Originally Posted by danham

At 2 months, yours will definitely flat-spot, but not so much that a warmup drive will fail to make them round again [g].

Finally, I'd throw a few mothballs in the engine compartment to discourage rodents. Those little ##@! can wreak havoc with hoses, wiring and the insulation/soundproofing on the underside of the hood.

Will parking on cardboard help with flat-spotting?

I will get the moth balls.

[chittychittybangbang]

The only way to ensure the tires don't get flat spotted is to support the car with jack stands. It's also better for the springs (they'll support the car for years so 2 months really doesn't make any difference) but the hanging weight isn't great for the suspension bushings since they're happiest in a neutral position. You have to make sure the weight is well distributed at the jack point or else it will bend it. If the floor isn't solid and strong the weight will also damage the floor because the bottom of the jack stands can bite in. A small square of plywood will distribute the weight across the floor and it won't be "slippery" since the weight of a car will clamp it down firmly.

[YBDavy]

Why would you fill up the tank? I would have the tank low so that when you fill it back up it's fresh fuel.

[rytlewski]

A full tank of fuel will keep help prevent the formation of condensation. Also do not use a mouse bait like Decon - It attracts as many mice as it kills.

[Fluid]

Right on the first count but you do want to buy Decon mouse bait...for your neighbor