My Car Has Been In Storage For 3 Years

[RODSCALIP5]

I have been stationed overseas for the last 3 years and both of my cars have been stored for 3 years. One has been stored in garage, while the other one has been stored with a car cover. I have not seen the cars yet, but would still like some suggestions.............

Where should I start? Do I go ahead and do the whole 5 step procees? Which Meguiars Products should I use?

I know its kind of hard giving suggestions without details on the Paints condition, but right now I am a little worried. Thanks.

[Andrew C.]

Re: My Car Has Been In Storage For 3 Years

Well if they have been out of contact with the elements, I'd suggest just going ahead with a wash, clay, optional polish or correction based on if you have any swirls/defects, and then seal it with your LSP of choice!

Since they have been in storage or covered by the car cover, they should be fine, now if they were uncovered the whole time, then you have a situation haha

[TOGWT]

Re: My Car Has Been In Storage For 3 Years

[I know its kind of hard giving suggestions without details on the Paints condition, but right now I am a little worried. Thanks.]

Until we know what the condition of the paint / interior is it would be impossible to provide meaningfull recommendations

Engine Start Up

• When time comes to start the engine, pull the fuel pump relay/fuse and crank the engine without it getting any fuel for a while to prime the lubrication system/circulate the oil. This will avoid washing down dry the cylinder walls with fuel before it starts up.
• Assuming you heated up the car to full operating temp after changing the oil and filter (pre-storage) at start-up there should be only minimal deposits and contamination.
• Fill the stored car with low viscosity oil during storage and start the engine occasionally to ensure the oil and water gets a chance to circulate
• Drain the oil system and before replacing the oil and filter fill it with oil as this will enable oil priming upon start up and prevent dry cranking

[Blueline]

Re: My Car Has Been In Storage For 3 Years

[
• during storage and start the engine occasionally

I have read that this is the worst thing one can do to a stored engine.

[TOGWT]

Re: My Car Has Been In Storage For 3 Years

With synthetic oils that coat the engine parts no fault-no foul, with conventional oils if left for too long they will drain and you'll be starting a 'dry' engine

[Blueline]

Re: My Car Has Been In Storage For 3 Years

Not everyone uses synthetic oil (and that coating you mention is only a manufactures claim) Every engine my Dad stored for a lengthy period was "primed" with a little oil fog through the plug ports before starting, hence no dry cylinder walls. However, whatever works, or seems to.

[TOGWT]

Re: My Car Has Been In Storage For 3 Years

It is not my intent to start a pi**ing match, but after 40+ years in the petrochemical / polymer research industries, a polymers ability to provide a coating is "factual" not just an unproven mfg claim. It is also the reason behind longer useful life and their ability to be run without oil relying only on the coating (see tests by BMW, MB, et al)

[aris]

Re: My Car Has Been In Storage For 3 Years

I have read that this is the worst thing one can do to a stored engine.

+1

When i had my truck i stored it every winter...from october till April...i did it this way for 7 years and never had a issue

I don't see tha point in starting it..all that is going to do is build condsiton in your gas tank IMO

[Michael Stoops]

Re: My Car Has Been In Storage For 3 Years

Engine starting aside (since it had nothing to do with the OP's question) you really will need to critically evaluate the finish on both vehicles upon your return. Wash and dry each car thoroughly and then pull them out into direct sunlight for a critical evaluation. Feel the paint surfaces with your bare hand, preferably with your fingertips. If you feel any rouhness then claying is indicated. The car that sat inside might have minimal contamination in this regard, provided it was top condition prior to storage.

Three years, even sitting in a garage, is asking quite a bit of any wax. Once that wax is gone even dust can start bonding to the surface over time. The car under the cover is likely going to need claying as most covers aren't fully weather proof, so some dust and moisture is bound to have penetrated over time.

Visually things are probably going to be quite different between the two vehicles. The garaged car shouldn't have any more below surface defects than it had when you put it away - things like towel marks, fine swirls, etc are only to show up if the car is touched in some way. If it has just been sitting there and nobody has been wiping it down, no cats have been using it for climbing practice, etc it should not have picked up any fresh below surface defects.

The car under the cover could be a whole different story. Three years of wind, and there had to be some over that time, may well have left a calling card or three on the paint. As dust accumulates and the cover flaps (even a custom fit cover is going to have some movement when it's windy) there are areas that will experience some degree of rubbing. You're bound to have some fine scratching or other marring in these areas, so look closely under very strong, direct light.

This two step evaluation of the finish on both cars will give you a plan of attack for both. While the full 5 Step Paint Care Cycle is probably going to be a good idea for both, how much time you need to spend on each step on either car will vary. But regardless, you need to diagnose the condition first before knowing what you really need to do.

[TOGWT]

Re: My Car Has Been In Storage For 3 Years

+1

When i had my truck i stored it every winter...from october till April...i did it this way for 7 years and never had a issue

I don't see tha point in starting it..all that is going to do is build condsiton in your gas tank IMO

Reading things out of context we could go round and round for days-

5. Do not drain the fuel tank, as an empty tank will cause condensation and it will start to rust! Top off fuel tank, then pour Stabil into the tank and run it for a few minutes (to get it into the fuel lines) If you don't cycle your fuel through the tank every two months, it starts an oxidation process and will turn into varnish over time, this can clog your fuel lines, One ounce protects three gallons of any type of fuel.

See Long Term Vehicle Storage –http://www.detailingbliss.com/forum/...rage-8050.html

[Garage Troll]

Re: My Car Has Been In Storage For 3 Years

Wow! Talk about a detailed response, Mike. Nice. :xyzthumbs

Personally, I would be more concerned with the car with the cover on it since it's been through many seasons. Is there any way you could have someone check up on it and upload some pics?

btw... thanks for your service.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: My Car Has Been In Storage For 3 Years

TOGWT, aris - can we keep this on point, please? The cars were put into storage three years ago and RODSCALIP5 is asking what he might need to do for the paint upon his return. It's a bit late to be giving him pointers on how to properly do something he did three years ago!!

Let it go, and let's concentrate on helping him with any potential paint issues he may be facing in the near future.

[RODSCALIP5]

Re: My Car Has Been In Storage For 3 Years

Garage- Yeah, Ill upload pictures once I get back.......still 8 days to go!

Mike- Thanks for the advice. The Vehicles are fairly new, one a 2007 and one a 2006. The 2007 was last detailed July of 2009 with NXT while I was on leave. The 2006 is in Gov. storage which I was told was stored with a car cover indoors. But who really knows. I have been out of the loop on detailing products, and reading this forum it seems I have some catching up to do. Do you recommend a DA for me, or should I stick with hand detailing?

Everyone else, thank you for the advice. The Gov storage should have kept up with maintenance on the 2006. The 2007 is a different story, although while I have been on leave I have driven it. Both cars with eventually end up at the stealership for maintenance ASAP.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: My Car Has Been In Storage For 3 Years

Do you recommend a DA for me, or should I stick with hand detailing?

Once you try a good D/A buffer you'll never, ever, go back to hand detailing again. The results are just so much easier to achieve, so much more uniform, and far less draining on the body.

[aris]

Re: My Car Has Been In Storage For 3 Years

I never stored anything that long but when i used to store my truck in the winter i would wash it then clay it and then wax it when i pulled it out of storge.

Use meguiars deep crystal car wash, mild clay bar, i been using meguiars gold class wax