SUV in Storage for 3-6 years I need some advice on what should I do to it before we leave?

Question

It's a 2005 SUV and my husband and I are going to be over in Saudi Arabi for about 3-6 years because of his job. Though he talked to his brother who was also over seas for a few years and when they came back their van wouldn't start.

So please if anyone has any advice for what we should do to our SUV before we leave I would be more than thankful to read it.

We leave in Georgia so it dosn't get to cold here.

Thank you for your time

Answer 1

According to this site http://www.ehow.com/how_14375_prepare-car-long.html

STEP 1: Choose a garage or other storage facility that's dry. Damp air will cause rust over a long period of time.

STEP 2: Fill the gas tank and add a fuel-stabilizing additive to prevent the gas from oxidizing and deteriorating. An empty or low gas tank will rust internally as moisture may accumulate inside the tank.

STEP 3: Relieve the weight from the tires by putting the car up on jack stands (available for about $15 a pair - you'll need two pairs). Check with the owner's manual and/or your mechanic about the safest place to place the jack stands.

STEP 4: Wash and wax the car well to prevent corrosion.

STEP 5: Disconnect the battery (although it will probably need to be replaced later, anyway) so the alarm doesn't go off. For shorter term storage (when you're not in the area) you can ask a friend to start up the car every few weeks and let it run for five or 10 minutes (don't run a car in a garage without proper ventilation - carbon monoxide can kill).

STEP 6: Cover your car with a good quality car cover or tarp.

I would also add to relax any convertible tops and make sure the radiator is topped off with a good antifreeze mix.



The same site has tips for retrieval from storage:

STEP 1: Purchase and install a new battery. If the car has been in storage less than a year the battery may be rechargeable.

STEP 2: Change the oil and oil filter.

STEP 3: Remove the spark plugs and squirt a small amount (a few tablespoons) of motor oil into each cylinder to pre-lubricate the engine.

STEP 4: Take the car off the jack stands and add air (probably 32 PSI, but check your owner's manual) to all the tires.

STEP 5: Change the fuel filter if the car has been in storage longer than three years.

STEP 6: Drain the gas tank and add new fuel only if the car won't run.

STEP 7: Replace the spark plug cables if the car has been in storage five or more years or if the cables look cracked and brittle.

Answer 2

First of all in georgia you wont have to worry about too much rusting, the first thing i would do is run the tank low on gas and put a bottle of Stabil in it, JB fuel stabilizer will work, or sea foam. then i would fill the tank with the highest octang gas i could find. next put the truck into the storage unit, put it up onto jack stands. open the hood and remove the battery from the car entirely. batterys can crack in extreme heat and cold so it is better to be safe. the battery will be drained upon return, but not be dead. have it checked at your local parts store upon return and they can tell you if you need a new one or not. if it was my car i would pull all the spark plugs and dip each one in a little 30w or 40w oil to prevent them from corroding in place. make sure before you park it you have a fresh oil change, and all food removed from the vehicle. mice can get into almost anything and that is a headache to fix all the damage they can cause. other then that there is not too much else you can do, put a cover on it and make sure you have some kind of storage insurance on it. this is what i do to my car when i store it for long periods of time but i also live in minnesota where alot more can go wrong when storing a car. good luck and have safe travels.

Answer 3

The best thing to do is to sell it and put the money left over after payoff into CD's to use to get another car when you get back. It is expensive to put a car in such long term storage and then without regular driving and maintenance, so many parts will go bad anyway. There is too much rubber and plastic in cars to store them. Professional storage will cost more than you make in Saudi.

Just the first few things on the storage list are:

Climate controlled garage with micro-particle dust removal system.

Put car on jack stands properly placed to relieve all unsprung and sprung weight (yes this is complicated).

take off tires and set pressure according to manufacturers storage recommendation. After 3 to 6 years they should be thrown away anyway and new ones used.

Cover every single rubber part with an approved grease for coating for storage.

Cover all vinyl and leather with approved product.

and on and on Battery wiring, etc etc

Sell it now or come back and have a very dangerous piece of worthless junk waiting.

Answer 4

Give it an oil change, lube job,.Store it Up on jacks to stop the wheel bearings going flat . That means all 4 wheels must be free of the ground. Flush the fluid from the engine and put straight antifreeze in to stop corrosion., Drain the gas tank and add gas stabilizer to what remains. Take out all the spark plugs and add 1 ounce of mineral oil to all cylinders. Remove the battery. It will need charging when you get back. Cover vehicle with Large tarp to keep dust off it. and hopefully you are leaving it this way in a closed garage.

Answer 5

i own a repair shop,and what you need to do is fill it all the way up with fuel,and add a cam of sta-bil to the tank this keeps the fuel fresh ,the reason i say fill it up it will prevent it from rusting,then it needs to be jacked up,and one block put under each wheel,just enough so that the tires don't touch the ground,this keeps then from forming flat spots in them,and lower the air pressure down to 25 pounds per tire,disconnect the battery,post ,the negative one,and if its near a plug in,get a cheap float charger and hook up to it,this will keep the battery exactly as you leave it,or just disconnect it,if you don't feel safe leaving a float charger on it,and leave each window down about an 1/8Th of an inch this will keep it vented good,and that's it,when you come back ,the worst you might have to do is buy a battery ,but it will start and run i keep a challenger stored like this 9 months a out of every year,good luck,i hope this help,s.

Answer 6

Iwould run it very low on fuel, as low as you can. Then add a bottle of stabil to the gas tank. I would also put some all purpose oil in the air filter, just to help keep things from rusting up. Your battery will be dead when you comeback. So plan on bringing a gas can full of fresh gas and a battery booster to start it. Other than that you should be fine. I would run it easy for the first few hours after gettingit out, as your brakes and steering components will be a bit rusted.

Best of Luck!

Answer 7

I would have the oil changed and a 4 X 4 oil filter put on because they have a valve in them to keep the oil from draining back into the oil pan, when you have parked it, take the battery out and sell it. wrap plastic around the opening to the air filter to keep out varmints and fill all the fluids up full like brake, power steering,transmit ion and other things.I hope it's on the inside from the sun so you can also leave a couple windows down about 1 quarter inch. lock your doors for sure.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

I all I can add to Pat from Ohio is you might also add a box of moth balls just open and place in the car. This will keep any critters from making the car home for the time you are gone.

Answer 10

It would be helpful if you could find someone to leave it with so they could start it periodically other wise the gaskets and seals will dry out or you could sell it before you go!