How do I quickly prep my car for a long Drive?
Thread Starter
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 835
Likes: 1
From: Kali
Rep Power: 0 
How do I quickly prep my car for a long Drive?
My car is going to be inactive for at least 4 months while I am out of the country. But as soon as a return, the next day I have to drive a good 500 miles. I would like to avoid any problems on such a long drive but I'm not sure how well my car will run after beind dormant for an extended period of time.
Can people post suggestions/advice on how I should:
a) store the car?
b) prepare it quickly for a long drive right after being reawakened?
Thanks for the help!
Can people post suggestions/advice on how I should:
a) store the car?
b) prepare it quickly for a long drive right after being reawakened?
Thanks for the help!
Originally Posted by MajinB
ok, drain the oil. drop your tire pressure, cover the car.
put new oil in. throw some air in the tires. check everything. twice. happy driving.
put new oil in. throw some air in the tires. check everything. twice. happy driving.
The only thing you would have to do is drive easy for the first part of your trip.
Registered!!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: jersey
Rep Power: 0
Originally Posted by MajinB
ok, drain the oil. drop your tire pressure, cover the car.
put new oil in. throw some air in the tires. check everything. twice. happy driving.
put new oil in. throw some air in the tires. check everything. twice. happy driving.
i would change the oi/tranny fluid when you get back but before your road trip....make sure you other fluids (ie brake, clutch, winshield, power steering and antifreeze) are topped off. If those fluids seem dirty change them before storage.
Check your brake pads, make sure they have sufficent life. I would then clean you car by washing and waxing and throwing in some fuel preservative. Lastly, remove your battery and place it on a piece of wood on shelf or even inside the house provided no one will have to use your car
keep your tire pressure at 30psi, 4 months is not enough time to cause dry rot, make sure you dont store your car on jackstands. This way when you get back, install battery, fire it up, get oil changed(id do tranny to)
check your air pressure (should be about 30psi) and spare tire pressure (should be about 60psi)...then have a good trip
Originally Posted by MajinB
cause after enough time the oil turns into sludge.
a lot of people in my area go south for the winter and leave their cars for 4 to 6 months, no problems!
Thread Starter
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 835
Likes: 1
From: Kali
Rep Power: 0
Originally Posted by free_refil
Don't forget to disconnect your battery. Also is wise to run as low on gas as possible that way you dont have a full tank of stale gas when ya get back.
Can someone verify which scenario is better?
Registered!!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: jersey
Rep Power: 0
Originally Posted by gearbox
change oil when you get back. put car on jackstands, put lubecontrol fp60 in gas. not a big deal.
i vote against this..having the suspension hanging for prolonged periods of times isnt good...most ppl that store cars (except race cars) tend to do it while the car is parked..check the lifts that are sold for car storage..they are drive and do not allow the car to be lifted
half of the things this ppl are saying has already been stated 4 months wont be enough time to damage oil 
Registered!!
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,988
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis
Rep Power: 287 
All you need to do for 4 months is maybe clean it before you leave(mainly personal preferance) and disconnect the battery.
When you get back check the oil level and it wouldn't hurt to change it but not necessary and let it idle till its up to temp.
That should be it but fuel additive wouldn't hurt either. I use to work at a car strorage place and ppl just put there are in as is, and they start up with a lil cranking and run just fine after 6 months or more. So 4 months isn't long at all.
When you get back check the oil level and it wouldn't hurt to change it but not necessary and let it idle till its up to temp.
That should be it but fuel additive wouldn't hurt either. I use to work at a car strorage place and ppl just put there are in as is, and they start up with a lil cranking and run just fine after 6 months or more. So 4 months isn't long at all.
Originally Posted by lxcivic2k1
All you need to do for 4 months is maybe clean it before you leave(mainly personal preferance) and disconnect the battery.
When you get back check the oil level and it wouldn't hurt to change it but not necessary and let it idle till its up to temp.
That should be it but fuel additive wouldn't hurt either. I use to work at a car strorage place and ppl just put there are in as is, and they start up with a lil cranking and run just fine after 6 months or more. So 4 months isn't long at all.
When you get back check the oil level and it wouldn't hurt to change it but not necessary and let it idle till its up to temp.
That should be it but fuel additive wouldn't hurt either. I use to work at a car strorage place and ppl just put there are in as is, and they start up with a lil cranking and run just fine after 6 months or more. So 4 months isn't long at all.
Registered!!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: jersey
Rep Power: 0
Originally Posted by lxcivic2k1
All you need to do for 4 months is maybe clean it before you leave(mainly personal preferance) and disconnect the battery.
When you get back check the oil level and it wouldn't hurt to change it but not necessary and let it idle till its up to temp.
That should be it but fuel additive wouldn't hurt either. I use to work at a car strorage place and ppl just put there are in as is, and they start up with a lil cranking and run just fine after 6 months or more. So 4 months isn't long at all.
When you get back check the oil level and it wouldn't hurt to change it but not necessary and let it idle till its up to temp.
That should be it but fuel additive wouldn't hurt either. I use to work at a car strorage place and ppl just put there are in as is, and they start up with a lil cranking and run just fine after 6 months or more. So 4 months isn't long at all.
Registered!!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton
Rep Power: 0
Originally Posted by Vinnie
Are you sure? I could have swore you were supposed to keep your tank full while in storage so that whatever sediments in your tank aren't lingering at the bottom of your gas tank.
Can someone verify which scenario is better?
Can someone verify which scenario is better?
Thread
Thread Starter
Honda Civic Forum
Replies
Last Post
Xuhme
Cracked block early R18 Overheating
21
Aug 7, 2023 03:40 PM
jackoncruzpr
6th Generation Civic 1996 - 2000
12
Apr 16, 2015 12:29 PM
smmahan
7th Generation Civic 2001 - 2005
2
Apr 15, 2015 08:17 PM
