Long term storage issues?

serpa4

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Feb 5, 2007
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Leaving my truck in Colorado outside in the snow for about 4 months. Anything to do to make it fare better? I will have it covered with a good fitted cover.
 

paint94979

Beer Nazi
Sep 18, 2006
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Leaving my truck in Colorado outside in the snow for about 4 months. Anything to do to make it fare better? I will have it covered with a good fitted cover.

You will needed to add some type of additive to stop the fuel from gelling. If I was you I would try to have someone start the truck once a week. That could be seriously hard of the entire engine.
 

McRat

Diesel Hotrodder
Aug 2, 2006
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www.mcratracing.com
The tires will take a "set" and go THUMP THUMP THUMP ... for a couple hours unless you get them unladen.

Acids in the oil can cause corrosion in the engine when sitting. So never do long-term storage with dirty oil.

Batteries will be trashed if left connected without trickle charging. Solar trickle chargers work, but you will have to wipe off the snow.

Drain fuel if realistically possible due to the fact that diesel absorbs water, and the water forms algae. Or add an algacide fuel treatment first. But since our fuel system is sealed, you should be OK.

Big problem is often rodent damage. No real answer for this except poison bait under the truck. After a few are killed, they tend to avoid the area for awhile. Mice and rats like to find dark, quiet, hard to reach places to nest, and cars/trucks are perfect habitat.
 

dynarex

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Dec 27, 2006
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soak everything in silicone-everything!you will use about10 cans of it but it will slow the corrosion down-i use trans fluid underneath but it drip on the ground for a few days and the treehuggers may raise hell-try not to use a wd 40 type as its not good for rubber items
i would also coat the brake rotors-i know its crazy but those things will be soooo rusted and pitted from sitting you will have to replace them-
 

dynarex

New member
Dec 27, 2006
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oops -forgot
overinflate the tires by about 20psi if you cant unload them
also as far as rodents i found that fox/coyote urine stops them pretty good-they sell it in a powder and i make a few "sachets" of them and leave inside engine area and interior-you cant really smell it but the mice do
definatly wash truck completely esp underneath-youre not gonna believe the corrosion after sitting-trust me im from new york i know corrosion
 

McRat

Diesel Hotrodder
Aug 2, 2006
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Norco CA
www.mcratracing.com
Of minor pointless interest. Backup generators fire up for 1 hour every week automatically to charge the battery and circulate the oil.

I wonder if their is a similiar product for cars?
 

Turbotug

BEER SLAYER
Sep 3, 2006
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IIRC, the remote start/alarm on my truck has some deal that will start it at a certain time or if the outside temp gets too low.
 

dynarex

New member
Dec 27, 2006
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i think starting the engine is not a good idea unless you can load it and get to operating temp to burn off acids
best thing is fresh clean oil and filter -pull out batteries and let her set
and i agree to empty fuel tank
ck coolant condition and temp rating too