Advice for a car that's been sitting?

Question

10 year old car w/ 5,000 miles, garage kept, being given to me by an elderly family member. It hasn't been started for about a year, driven for about 1 1/2 years. Any recommendations regarding getting it running? Should the oil and gas be changed? What about the antifreeze?

Answer 1

Drain the gas and add new, drive it for a week and change the oil. It might drip out of the valve covers, power steering and transmission from the seals drying up but most times they soften back up. The antifreeze should be fine.

Answer 2

Yes, definitely change the oil, anti-freeze and gas as gasoline actually attracts water as it sits(plus, gas will eventually turn into a lacquer type goo that is very difficult to remove from the tank, lines and injector's and carb's too.) and goes bad. Have the battery checked at an auto shop(they should do it for free) and make sure it's good. If the charge is gone, charge it and re-test to make sure it's still good. Change the air filter element and the spark plugs too. make sure no mice have made a home in the exhaust pipe and air intake hose for the air filter. Check all the fuses in the passenger compartment as well as inside the engine compartment.(The ones inside the car should be right under the drivers side of the dash and the ones under the hood right next to the battery.) Be prepared to have the battery hooked up to a charger/starter power supply as the car's injectors and what not will need primed and will suck up a lot of power on the first starting. Just to be on the safe side, have a full range fire extinguisher ready to use just in case.

Answer 3

drain and replace all fluids, including gas. once you get it started be prepared to change belts and hoses after you have car running as they may be dry and rotting. you sould run it a little while once a month.