Well, the Navy has decided that they want to deploy me to Cuba for my last 8 months of active duty. I will be placing my car in a storage area, so I was curious what suggestions and or precautions you guys would suggest that I take prior to putting the car in. As far as the facility, it will basically be a warehouse, so the car will be under cover, but as far as I know, it won't be climate controlled. The warehouse is in NJ, so it will be cold during the winter. Thanks in advance for the info...

 

or u can drop it off at my place and i'll take care of it!

 

I'm sure this has been discussed on the .org numerous times. I believe you should disconnet the battery. If you don't put your car up on blocks, you should overinflate your tires. Put a can of Stabil (or whatever its called) in your gas tank. I would be inclined to keep the gas tank relatively low, say 1/4 but not full.

You may want to change the oil and filter before you go, but am not to sure about this. Conversely change it when you get back.

Put a car cover on the car.

Put storage insurance on the car, which should cover liability, theft, malicious damage, etc.

Can't you get someone to drop by periodically and start the car up and drive it around a bit?

 

I got a empty space in my garage. How much are they charging you or is it free? har har.. trying to make few bucks.

 

I second what Bobo said. Choice 1 = have a friend/relative swing buy every two weeks at most and at least start it, if not drive it. Second choice = wash/wax, low fuel with stabilizer (add fresh fuel as soon as you get back before starting), keep window(s) and/or sunroof ever so slightly open so interior can "breath", disconnect battery, car cover, security measures (club, pull fuel pump fuse, etc.), etc.

 

Further to what ptatohed added, if you can't have someone drive the car at least get them to start the car up and drive it ahead a few feet and back a few feet to turn the wheels over. Also let it warm up completely before turning it off.

 

hymm...if you guys think about it....if he has a friend that can do that. why not just leave it with the friend at the friend's house??? n put a cover on it there???

 

It appears that he doesn't want to do that. Sometimes lending a car to a friend is like lending money to a friend - not a good idea!

I lent my 1973 BMW 2002 tii to a friend many years ago and he rolled it & it was written off. It was truly a low point in my life.

 

i just want to add that my calipers have rusted shut after the year outside...so finding a cover/garage is very beneficial IMO

 

Thanks for all of the input. The car is going to be left with a friend of my family, so I trust that he wont be out abusing the car. I called geico, and will have comprehensive coverage on the car while it is in storage. My dad will hopefully go down every other week and start the car and let it run for a few minutes at the very least.

 

Thanks for serving our country Zeus.

 

well, i didn't mean lend the car to them. i just meant, park it in front of their house. i have visitor spaces in my development that can easily be used as a parking space. but the only thing ist hat its not covered. hey...why don't u rent one of the storage places n just parallel park ur car in there..heeh..-= )

 

I am sort of in the same situation.. I am leaving for college and will be leaving the car at home on the driveway on the side of the house.. I will be coming home to start it up once in a while too. I'm also thinking about purchasing a universal car cover.


It's gonna be sad not having my car

 

dude, leave it at my house. Ive got room in my garage, and Ill take it out only to warm it up...I SWEAR! hehe, where are you going to school?

 

Actually it's not that bad. We have bad winters up here in Canada so I store my car from November to April and drive an automatic Tempo during the winter months.

Two things:
1-Driving an auto will prevent me from getting tired of stick.
2-Driving a Tempo will make me absolutely love my car when I get to drive it again next spring.

Sounds stupid but it's true. Now I could drop a 3.0 Yahama SHO engine in the Tempo and make it a fun beater...

 

Move to Vancouver, sell the Tempo and you can drive the Maxima year round, lol! Not all of Canada is affected by bad winters.

 

Haha you guys are the best. At least if I ever need to leave the car with someone, I know I have plenty of offers. Ptatohed, it's my pleasure. I'll make sure i smack a few detainees for all of you

 

What's winter?

 

You should consider yourself extremely lucky! I can think of worse places to be deployed than Cuba.

 

Suuuuure you would


U of Iowa, its like 45 min away