Laying up

tantus pedis

tantus pedis

Member
Is there anything I should do to minimize deterioration to my V8 when leaving it for a few months? It's already sat for at least 2 months.
I still need to fish that cam and followers out and sort out the leaking rear caliper. I've bought the brake seal kit but I can't afford any other bits / labour and it's unlikely I will for the for at least the rest of the year.
I'm tempted to get rid rather than watch her rot although she's dry at the moment in a borrowed car port.
Rubbish :(
 
I wouldn't worry too much, I've always considered the P6 to be a car that stores well. We see quite a few "it's been stored for a few years, I put a battery on it and some fuel and it start and ran fine" type stories. More than other makes that seem to come out of a long sleep in bits.

My first PC was dragged out from the back of a shop after a 'few years' standing and just needed the rear brakes done and a steering joint and she gave me three good years before I sold her on to a friend. Had to, had no job or money, that was many moons ago. I now have my second p6 which I now can afford to run. :)
 
Getting a solar charger and leaving it in the car to keep the battery topped up helps ( did for me while i was doing the engine - was £10 from maplin and plugs into the cigarette lighter.... ).

I guess the little things like chocking the wheels on wedges to stop them getting flat spots and leaving the brakes off?

I'm sure there will be some other things to try...

Rich
 
It's all mainly common sense. Leave the car well ventillated, but out of direct rain. ie don't use a car cover. Try and kep the sun (!) off it. If possible leave on axle stands to keep the tyres clear of the ground (flat spots as Rich says). The solar charger is a good idea. Start the engine every week to keep oil and water flowing around the engine. If you're confident of not letting water in, leave the windows cracked to keep the interior ventillated. Not much you can do about the brakes - but then that's why it's laid up anyway.

Hope that helps

Chris
 
I did read recently that starting the engine for short bursts can do more harm than good due to bore wash from the choke rich start-ups.
 
The Rovering Member said:
I did read recently that starting the engine for short bursts can do more harm than good due to bore wash from the choke rich start-ups.
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This is very true, IMO it needs to be driven/run up to full working temp, all fluids or best left alone :)
 
I've got an 820 that the wife keeps as her "winter" car, so it spends most of the time parked on the drive, I start it every few weeks but make sure I get it fully warmed up until the fans kick in, I move it back and forth a few feet to keep the brakes free and rotate the tyres a little. I also remove the battery and keep it in the garage and charge it every so often.
 
I also have been told a load of silicagel in a plastic bag is good when car is laid up to take away moisture inside car. I have a bag of this next to my ecu in footwell.
 
It's surprising how much water is collected in the poundshop 'damp traps' we've been keeping in the interiors of the daily drivers. Unfortunately the missus hasn't been able to find them in the shops of late.
 
Watch out for rats and mice as well .I know a chap who had mice nibble througn the main wiring loom of his car and it was a write off
 
@keynsham
How long does a car have to be left in one place to form flatspots on the tyres?
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it's a bit random. I've had it happen in a period of 2 months previously....
 
I had a car parked at work for a while, and some creature ate the leather gearstick gator. At least it wasn't the wiring loom as Dave says.

I have a long running battle with mice in my garage, I'm currently bating the traps with Nuttella but the mice manage to just eat the Nuttella without tripping the traps !, I've also got one of those ultrasonic mouse repellers, but they seem to totally ignore it, in fact I think they come out at night and dance to it !
 
Raving mice... fantastic. You need to catch them and make them perform for your financial gain...
 
If you don't mind cats, then get a cat. My two bring in a constant supply of (don't tell Bill Oddy) wild life from the school behind my house. Once they had a girbil ! Maybe from the school.......... :oops:
 
I'm not a big cat fan, and the wife is allergic but we do get regular visits from the local moggies, they're always roaming round the garden, that's probably why all the mice hide in our garage ! :LOL:
 
One of my cats caught a rat the other day. Killed it and brought it into the dining room to show me. It looked like the set of a horror movie, there was blood all over the floor! :shock:
Can't really complain though, he was only doing his job. :)
 
You are lucky, my cat catches them then brings them in the house and releases them alive!! he is a real conservationist and works on a catch and release program. I suppose he may have a religious persuasion he is possibly a Buddist either way it's a bloody nuisance to have large rats and the odd rabbit wondering around the house.

Graeme
 
No, Mo always kills them and usually eats them too. Mice, rats, birds, lizards and wetas generally. Some times he plays with them first but they mostly end up being partially devoured. He didn't get to his current size (8.5 kilos) by letting good food go to waste!
 
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