Opinion Hunting

[ken_ja]

Hi guys,

Wanted your input on a small dilema I'm having. I have no shelter for my vehicle either at home or work. Whenver I travel I normally leave it with my inlaws and my father inlaw takes care of it while I'm away. However, this year in July I'll be carrying my in laws with me to Atlanta for the entire month so i'll have to leave it at my mother's house.

Here's the problem, my mom's Garage has no walls. It's a grilled enclosure with a roof (so small I'm actually going to have to take off my back bumper and the light bar on the roof to make my truck fit). Which is better to store it in? The garage or outside with a car cover (never used one before, and I've heard some horror stories about scratches when it moves against the body panels)? I don't think I can do both because my mother will have to start it every day and it's a tight fit to remove and replace a car cover every day.

Appreciate the input.

[Jeepster04]

Re: Opinion Hunting

I would never use a car cover... Never....

Why does she need to start it once a day? If she is going to be driving it everyday then keeping it in a garage wouldnt help much.

[ken_ja]

Re: Opinion Hunting

If she is going to be driving it everyday.

Not happening!!! The biggest vehicle my mom has ever driven is a VW Polo. Her current cars are a 70's Mini cooper and a 94 Suzuki Alto. I'm actually worried about asking her to just do the daily start.

[Mort Corey]

Re: Opinion Hunting

I think a short daily start might do more harm than good. If you're worried about the battery running down after a month (which I don't believe it would if it were in good condition) then perhaps just have her start it once a week and let it run for fifteen minutes. That should keep things charged and let the oil get somewhat up to temp.

Mort (who would probably change the oil on return if it was his vehicle)

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Opinion Hunting

When we go on vacation, I usually get one of our daughters to bring in the mail and start both vehicles up. Let them run for 15-20 minutes, Never had a problem. I think Mort brings up a excellant point about changing the oil when you come back. Never thought about it. Thanks Mort. Appreciate it.

[kevin g]

Re: Opinion Hunting

Do you have any friends,neighbors or co-workers who have a garage they would loan out to you ?
Maybe offer to pay them or offer a free detail for the use of their garage.

[Don]

Re: Opinion Hunting

Unless you're worried about vandalism, just make sure there is a fresh coat of a sealant or wax on the car then take the battery indoors and leave it on a trickle charger.

Unless you plan on starting the car and letting the engine fluids get up to normal operating temperature, short starts do more harm than good as they cause consensation to build up in the oil, exhaust etc which can lead to contamination of the oil, rust forming inside engine parts - kind of like an automotive version of getting sand in your undies while at the beach - except unlike some people, car parts don't enjoy it

[Paul S]

Re: Opinion Hunting

How about putting it in a storage unit for the one month and hooking a battery tender up to it. No removal of any accesories and nobody has to bother with starting it up now and then.

[Black Bart]

Re: Opinion Hunting

When an engine needs rebuilt 20 percent of the wear is from running and 80 percent is from startup

When the engine first starts it is running without oil pressure that moment of the bearings not having oil pressure is what wears them it is not the driving.
The absolute worst thing that you can do to an engine is start it every day run it a short time and shut it off.

Besides putting a lot of unnecessary wear on the engine it will make a lot of water in the oil.

I have a show car and it sits all winter.
I parked it the first week in Nov. and started it for the first time last week.

This is why people who drive a lot like truckers or traveling salesmen get such high mileage from their engines without a rebuild it is not being started all the time

[sstg]

Re: Opinion Hunting

I also park my car all winter with a car cover in the garage.And start it up in the spring.You DON'T need to start it daily.

[ken_ja]

Re: Opinion Hunting

Cool, thanks alot for the input guys.