Stored for a long time

waldo · Postby **waldo** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:14

I am about to deploy and will need to store my car for a year. I am worried that by it not being started in a year that some of the seals will dry up. Is this correct and if it is what should I do to store my car. By the way it is a 2004 rx8

erod550 · Postby **erod550** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:14

Here's what I found on a quick search.

http://www.wikihow.com/Store-a-Car

Some good info there. Being on the Miata boards a lot I see them talking about using gas stabilizers when storing the car for the winter. Probably a good idea. The article mentions that.

Operator · Postby **Operator** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:14

Do you have any friends or family in the area?!?

chickenwafer · Postby **chickenwafer** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:14

First thing is do normal stuff with any car. Put it on jackstands so the tires don't get flat spotted. Get the gas below a 1/2 tank and put Sta-bill in it and run the motor for a couple minuets to get the fuel stabilizer thru the entire fuel system.

Rotaries HATE to sit and the seals can dry out and crack if it sits for a long time. The ideal situation would be to have a friend start the car and let it idle until it reaches operating temperature (like 20 minuets of idling in the garage) once a month or so to keep it running good.

If this isn't an option, pull the leading spark plugs and spray some WD-40 in the chamber, put the trans in neutral and spin the engine (in the correct direction!!) with a socket on the front eccentric shaft nut with a wrench and get the next chamber. Spray more WD-40 in there (liberally) and then do the same so you get to the third chamber and soak it as well.

Put in some old spark plugs (they will get fouled) and it should be good sit. It would be a good idea to change the oil (before you do the WD-40 procedure) and run the engine with the new fresh oil in. Also disconnect the battery.

DON'T run the engine once you've done the WD-40 treatment. Otherwise you have to do it again.

iani1.1 · Postby **iani1.1** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:14

heres one for rotaries, well rx7s but im sure its all the same. http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/storage.htm

waldo · Postby **waldo** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:14

Hey thanks for the info. I wish family was an option but can't trust my brother after what he did to my BMW during my last deployment.

Operator · Postby **Operator** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:14

Just looking at the options posted. Maybe take the the wheels off after you put it on jack stands, then let your brother start it once a month. Not sure what he did to your BMW, but at least this way, he wouldn't be driving it. Also throw "the club" on it. Just throwing out ideas.

chickenwafer · Postby **chickenwafer** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:14

If your car is being store for longer than a year I would take the wheels off and make sure it up on jack stands. Some say not to do this but the benefits are much better than over-inflating your tires and praying they don't get flat spotted.

If you're worried about the suspension getting some damaged or anything from leaving the car in the air for a prolonged period of time (even tho I have done this on my old RX-8 for up to 4 months at a time) then maybe source some crappy wheels with older tires (that still hold air) and inflate them to 50psi and put those on, so your nice tires don't run the risk of getting damaged.

Stealth01 · Postby **Stealth01** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:14

Step 1: Give me the keys
Step 2: Tell me to go drive it once a month, preferably at over 100 mph
Step 3: Come home safe.

Stored for a long time

Stored for a long time

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