Testarossa storage.

What is a long time to you? Could be from simple battery disconnect and some Sta-Bil run through the fuel to full fuel system drainage and other steps... especially with ethanol blended fuel.

 

Yeah, would help to know your definition of long time.

I store my cars for 6-7 months each winter.

Basic check list

Full tank of fuel (non ethanol blend if you can find it) with fuel stabilizer
fresh oil
battery out completely or tender, kind of personal choice ( I like the car competely dead, to avoid possible electrical hazards)
Some people use tire cradles/foam to prevent flat spotting..I've never experienced it
Some sort of rodent protection. Interior and any entry points into the engine. They love to build nests in the exhaust and airboxes for some reason.

If you are going super long term you might want to "fog" the cylinders to prevent any possible surface rust.

 

if you store for long time ( so more than 2 years ):
drain the fuel and clean all fuel lines with air
remove the spark plaugs and put in the cylinder a little fresh oil, then turn the engine2 or 3 times
lift the car and put some under the axle so that the whhels are not touching the ground ( except the tires are old and you change them before driving again
disconnect the battery and put it out

 

Here's what I did for winter storage.

Full tank + Stabilizer
Overinflated tyres
Battery tender
Main electrical switch off
In gear, park brake off
Hood and boot released
Mothballs around parimeter
Place in bubble with windows open
......Sleepy time
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Bring her to me and I will exercise her twice a month, so you don't have to worry about any of the above.

 

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+2

Just to add, I have laid some plastic and wood and cover it with thick carpet as well to keep humidity low , and use wd40 on some engine parts / levers, and a little light grease to run in the rubber seals.
Usually take me less than an hour to complete.

 

Fancy

 

Long time storage would benefit from a bubble system, I always wanted to get a few carcoon systems for my garage queens.

Carcoon Storage Systems

Pending conditions a dehumidifer is a good idea, get a decent one with automatic control and exit to a drain or through the wall. For cold weather use a dessicant dehumidifier.

A low temperature dehumidifier? What is it?


My curent storage is "too good" for investing in carcoons but I block off direct sunlight and humidity is always around 40-45%.

 

A couple more bits that I've read/been told...

Put a tarpaulin down under the car to stop moisture creeping up (if it's not in a carcoon).
Release the pressure in the fuel system.
Fill all the fluids (coolant etc etc).
Give it a wash/wax.
Reseal all door rubbers to help stop them sticking.

I think that's all.

 

Good points, Ollie.

Mike

 

OP never stated what "a long time" was? Over the winter, or did he just purchase one of the sub 2K mile cars and wants to lock it down until the next big bubble in 2027?

 

I've been wondering about a related question...not so much long term storage but temperature ranges. My garage is (sadly) not climate controlled. In the summers the temps in there can rise to 90+F (30+C) and in the winters down to 20F (-6C). Will those kind of temps have any detrimental effects on the leather? I would imagine the rest of the car can cope with that just fine. Humidity is typically v. low in Colorado so no big issue there.

 

Insulate your garage to avoid these swings ... It will effect the leather and rubber, and unless you test your humidity levels you won't know....I suspect , better odds you have humidity issues as well with this influx of temperature.

If you can keep the garage at max 20c in the summer, and max no lower than 0c in the winter you are fine. This is what I average on extreme days.

 

Thanks Big red. I'll have to look at some kind of HVAC. Controlling winter temps will be easy enough but the problem in the summer is the garage door is west facing and just gets cooked.

 

I think as posted further up in this thread...if you can get a low temperature dehumidifier working in there it will help keep the lower temperatures up a bit at least.