storing the cat

andymartin

Well-known user
Nov 23, 2011
661
32
Fife
so the clio is giving me nothing but greif and as a result I am trading it in and going to get a vaxhall insignia 2.0 diesel all going well
due to finances I have the option of selling or storing the cat,so I have decided to store it when the insurance renewel comes in it will not be renewed and will be sorned for the next two years

on storing it should put it on axle stands?
 
To be honest I'd just run the fuel tank until it is on fumes, disconnect the battery, chock it up and leave the handbrake off.

After two years of storage I'd personally add new tyres to tge price of returning it to the road but opinions will differ.

Is the storage place fairly dry?
 
If your tyres still have plenty of tread then I would suggest taking them off the car so you don't end up with flat spots after 2 years, I would also suggest that if the car is not going to be moved for the 2 years that you fill the engine with oil to prevent internal rusting (y)
 
An empty fuel tank will develop condensation. Fill to the brim when storing. It'll be lousy when you do come to use it again and you'll have to add some additive to bring the octane value up again, but better than a rusty tank.
This was the advice given to us by the REME mechanics when we went off on 6 and 12 month tours and I've seen plenty if advice on other car forums to back it up.
When I had my Mustang, I only ran it during the Summer, so it was stored for as much as 8 months at a time some years. I used a Black & Decker trickle charger attached to the battery to keep the electrics from dying.

If you can run the engine once a month for an hour or two that'll keep the oil circulating and prevent seizing and stop the seals drying up. Run the A/C at the same time for at least 40 minutes a month. Stick a hose on the exhaust and run it out of a window or door otherwise loads of particulate crap will settle in the garage...

If you don't jack it up on stands, put a double layer of carpet off-cut under each wheel to help prevent flat spots. Personally I'd take the wheels off if it were standing for more than 6 months. I've twice had to replace tyres on my Cougar that were killed by being stored outside through the winter months, whereas the Mustang tyres lasted 7 years by being on carpet in a garage.
 
An empty fuel tank will develop condensation. Fill to the brim when storing. It'll be lousy when you do come to use it again and you'll have to add some additive to bring the octane value up again, but better than a rusty tank.
This was the advice given to us by the REME mechanics when we went off on 6 and 12 month tours and I've seen plenty if advice on other car forums to back it up.
When I had my Mustang, I only ran it during the Summer, so it was stored for as much as 8 months at a time some years. I used a Black & Decker trickle charger attached to the battery to keep the electrics from dying.

If you can run the engine once a month for an hour or two that'll keep the oil circulating and prevent seizing and stop the seals drying up. Run the A/C at the same time for at least 40 minutes a month. Stick a hose on the exhaust and run it out of a window or door otherwise loads of particulate crap will settle in the garage...

If you don't jack it up on stands, put a double layer of carpet off-cut under each wheel to help prevent flat spots. Personally I'd take the wheels off if it were standing for more than 6 months. I've twice had to replace tyres on my Cougar that were killed by being stored outside through the winter months, whereas the Mustang tyres lasted 7 years by being on carpet in a garage.


Sound advice

Just one thing though, the Cougar has a plastic fuel tank so this point may be moot
 
I'd still rather have old fuel in the tank than a fuel/water mix, but thanks. I hadn't even noticed... Plastic... What a marvellous technological age in which we live... Lol
 
You can buy fuel stabiliser - easily sourced from e-bay IIRC which will stop the fuel breaking down.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lucas-Fue...085?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item43d48c1145

I'd disconnect the battery and reconnect it every month or so and run the car up to temperature. I'm lucky in that I keep my other probe in a garage. I inflated the tyres to a few pounds over the standard pressures and roll the car back and forth to prevent flat spots - it would of course be better to buy some of the tyre savers which take the pressure off the tyres better.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiamma-Ca...880?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item25975d30b0