This is a poll on behalf of Karl"GeorgeDoors"300ZX regarding suggestions / advice on storage of his Z whilst he is off serving his Queen.

Essentially there are two options I believe, please feel free to offer other options but we basically feel they are as follows.

 

1 - Store the car in a garage and once a week start her up for 10-15 minutes to run the fluids around the internals. (Open to suggestions on number of times to start her up and how long to run her for.)

 

Or

 

2 - Store her in a garage and drain all fluids. (Not fully sure on extent of fluids to drain, ie just water and oil or the full hog, brakes, power steering, oil, water an anything people may suggest.)

 

It would be appreciated that poll answers are made by the more knowledgable forum members, ie mechanics and traders but replies in this post from anyone will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Why would you want to drain all fluids? What if he comes home and starts the car, forgetting that there aint in fluids in it. :cool:

 

My zed is off the road at the mo. I've gone with the 'give it a little run every now and again' technique. Its only off the road for about 2-3 months though.

 

I wont vote though as i aint an expert.

i had me uk zed stored up for 14 months, worked on everything bar the engine. Started first time on the nose after that, no rattles or nothin!! mind it was in a heated ,dehumidified garage....It would be suggested that this would not be a wise course of action, if the car was left outside, but within a controlled environment, maybe not so bad...

 

Mark

an engine needs to be run. the oil is there to stop parts seizing up cooling and rusting .if it is going to stored why would you drain oil!!

 

break/steering fluid leave alone it would be more trouble then its worth to bleed the fooker again! if it goes bad just replace when you come to drive it again.

 

all in my opinion of course!

A while back that mint 1981 Ford Cortina was on Ebay and that had been stored, in a climate controlled environment for 20 odd years, but that was drained. I personally feel option one would be best but it's Karl's car and ultimately he will do what he wants, hopefully having carefully considering your valued advice.

Ive tried both ways over the years with motorbikes and problems like brake calipers starting to seize and not wanting to start after a lay up means I now go with trying to give the car / motorbike a run out every other week when the weathers nice.

store with fluids run engine until its properly up to temp at least once a month and make sure park brake is left off place something in front or behind a wheel to stop car rolling if necessary.

 

antifreeze is also anti corrosion alloy blocks wouldnt last very long if it was corrosive.

all storage places will expect to be paid more to start your car,

 

i clicked the wrong option also, not too good at thsi tinternet

I will probably store it for him in my garage so I will be able to start it periodically if required.

I will probably store it for him in my garage so I will be able to start it periodically if required.

 

Well if its gonna be in your garage, thats defo the best idea.

Yeah, I'm no expert, but I would definitely go with the leave everything in and run it periodically option.

We'll see what the "I'm the only gay Karl in the village" decides. Keep the suggestions / advice coming as it is greatly appreciated.

If it is an automatic, it will definitely need to be run regularly and preferably moved backwards and forwards, otherwise the drive plate material in the gearbox dries out and when later used in anger, drops off, leaving you without any drive. Expensive !!!

This is a poll on behalf of Karl"GeorgeDoors"300ZX regarding suggestions / advice on storage of his Z whilst he is off serving his Queen.Essentially there are two options I believe, please feel free to offer other options but we basically feel they are as follows.

 

1 - Store the car in a garage and once a week start her up for 10-15 minutes to run the fluids around the internals. (Open to suggestions on number of times to start her up and how long to run her for.)

 

Or

 

2 - Store her in a garage and drain all fluids. (Not fully sure on extent of fluids to drain, ie just water and oil or the full hog, brakes, power steering, oil, water an anything people may suggest.)

 

It would be appreciated that poll answers are made by the more knowledgable forum members, ie mechanics and traders but replies in this post from anyone will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for any suggestions.

What are you saying?? LOL

P.s I think draining fluids is the best option for long standing vehicles.

I have dropped the oil in my engine and wont refil till its back on the road.

Is it an old wives tale??

yampie - if you're storing it, couldnt you take it out for a short run at the weekend? just 10-20mins after warming it up will keep it all pretty sweet. if you're going to drain it, you have to do it properly - like ALL the fluid out, air out the tyres and put it on axle stands, leave handbrake off, spray waxoyl/grease/WD40 all over and under it, down all cables and moving parts, etc etc. it'd probably take the beat part of a day just to lay it up then more to get it all back together. not really worth it for less than a year IMO. best thing's to keep it going as often as poss.

:cool: stored mine outside at work for 13 months ran it once a month on a rolling rd ( at work ) once back on road drove it for 1 wk then canged all oil in diff engine and gearbox havnt had any touble with it so far HTH :dance:

I think the idea of draining fluids started way back when cars and fluids were very basic. oil was just a refined variation of crude without any additives, and was certainly not very 'viscous' and of course use to thicken with age, a bit like an old chip pan, so people drained when laying cars up. The same goes with water, originally it was just water, and when antifreeze was first introduced, it did not contain any corrosion prevention additives, so people drained it. Today, with technology and science, these fluids are manufactured to cope with all conditions, climates and environments. Leave 'em in.

thx guys for all the advise ur spot on and martin your a star, i ring ya sunday to talk about it ok mate

store with fluids run engine until its properly up to temp at least once a month and make sure park brake is left off place something in front or behind a wheel to stop car rolling if necessary.

 

antifreeze is also anti corrosion alloy blocks wouldnt last very long if it was corrosive.

 

As above....... ;)

I have dropped the oil in my engine and wont refil till its back on the road.

Is it an old wives tale??

You need to start it occiasionally to prevent cylinder/Bore corrosion

mine off road i start it every 6 weeks or so no probs with it and it only off raod a few months

Draining the oil is pointless and as for draining the cooling system,I have taken perfectly good rads off jap bikes and in 6 months there dead antifreeze helps stop corrosion.

As for the braking system if you have air in there you have moisture= corrosion.

Also I was told by a aircon man to run the pump at least once a week,

but I didnt now my a/c pump has stuck solid.