8 Months Leave - What to do with the vehicles?

Alright, I'm about to be gone for 8 months or so starting tuesday. Thankfully the Maverick will stay under the carport - Guess Ill get some car covers for my other vehicles. Are those safe? Won't rub the paint and put swirl marks in will they?

Also, what about the gask tanks? Already cleaned the fuel system out about a year ago on the Maverick and don't wanna do it again. Will the Stabil prevent rust? Should teh gas tank be full or empty?

Anything else I should do to prepare the vehicles for an extended sit?

 

Changing the oil before storage is a good idea also. Personally, I'd leave off the cover if its under a carport. When I store my car for the winter, I just put Stabil in with a full tank and uplug the battery.

 

Yup, this is what i'd do... but you might look into locking gas caps if the neighbors know you arent gonna be around for a while and decide that fuel is too good to be true... of course, the caps only keep honest criminals out...

Good luck on your 8 month hiatus...

 

Where are you going for 8 months if you dont mind me asking?

 

I like the suggestions above. I would also take the battery out and store it inside. If it's only 8 months, I would just put Stabil in the tank. Store it with a full tank to prevent condensation in the tank. You also might put some dryer sheets or moth balls at potential entry points to keep mice out.

 

store it like a boat. stabil in the gas(i always concentrate it almost twice the suggestion), fog the cylinders with fogging oil, clean motor oil as stated above but plan to not use it much before changing again, make sure the coolant is good just in case you get a freeze. also i would put some kind of rodent repellant that works in the trunk under the hood and in the car. there is a thread on that somewhere. make sure no tree gunkies can get into the vents of uncovered vehicles. i have had and heard of the covers abusing the paint, so that could be a hurdle. with boats at least the cover is supported off of it.

 

Thanks folks.

So - Battery, oil, fuel, cylinders and flush the radiator (dont need rust in there as well)

Don't have mice around here. Guess it would be a good idea to put some ant and roach traps out though.

Still not sure If I should put car covers on what won't be under the car port. Maybe one of those nice ones with the soft underside?

Basic training then off to tech school for the guard.

 

not sure what else to add but thanks for your service to this country

 

What branch?

 

if the paint is extremely nice, and a dark color, ex.. my black car.. then no. dont use a cover, it leaves fine scratches thats noticeable on dark cars.. even the felt underlinings.. i had a $400 neoprene with microfiber underlining, and it still left swirl marks...

 

I would rather have a couple of swirls in my paint than have it exposed to the elements in the South for 8 months. I have 8 cars under car covers in my garage. They range from bad paint to new paint. 1 Red, 4 white, 1 Gold Glow, 1 Dk Metallic Aqua, and 1 Black. The Black's paint is 5 years old and still looks good. The Gold is 3 years old, same thing. I put down a sheet cover, then a protective foam cover, then a weather cover. I have a cat and want the paint protected. 5 of them go to car shows with no complaints on the paint quality. My neighbor across the street has 4 cars,Cougars, under car covers. They stay outside. They also have no major swirls. One is Cardinal Red and still looks good after 5 years.

If your paint is decent, I would look into car covers.

Jim

 

Thanks J - But please don't thank me. Thank a war/combat vet

Air Guard



Guess Ill get a car cover or two then. Pretty hard to scratch white anyhow. But the heat, tree sap, and FLYING HURRICANE DEBRIS is a different story


coutangman - I was in Ocala this past weekend. Bummin around 'cave diving country' gettin wet. Beautiful part of the country down there!

 

Bob,

Glad you had a good time here. One of the reasons I moved here from Ky back in '91 was because of the scenery. Looked like a piece of Ky dropped in the middle of Fl with temps 30 degrees warmer in the winter and actually cooler than most of Ky in the summer, because of less humidity and a constant breeze. Most people think of Fl as flat or beaches. The rolling hills and horse farms around here give it a distinctive look. Also, the limestone soil, which lends itself for caves, is great for nutrients that horses need for strong bones. Tha's why so horse farms are here, over 1000 at last count. We are also sitting on top of the Florida Aquifer, which supplies most of the good water to the state. One example is Silver Springs, where the attraction is and where we have a huge all Ford car show each Jan.

I am certified for diving but never dived the caves around here. I hear they are very interesting, though. Got certified in a rock quarry in Hanover, Ind. Too old for it now, anyway. Let me know if you come down again. Maybe we can grab a bite and talk old cars.

By the way, I really like what I see of Alabama, especially the rolling hills up around a small town, Alexander City, and a huge crystal clear lake, Lake Martin. I took my son and 2 of his buddies up there years ago to teach them to water ski. I wanted to be on a lake that reminded me of the Ky/Tn lakes. Also wanted to get where there were no gators. I don't care for the Fl lakes, too murky. Lake Martin, Dale Hollow in Tn/Ky and Barren River in Ky are some of my favorites.

I like to travel your way when I go back to Ky for visits.

Good luck in the service of our country.

Jim

 

Sweet whats your afsc?

 

2e2 - satellite/switch crypto. And you?


Jim - Ill be back down that way in a year or two for some cave trainin. Ill shoot you an email when I do! Also, Ill be moving up near Lake Martin when I get back from training, so if you're ever up this way do the same.