Leaving the car parked for months

[Juliso35]

Hi

A friend of mine also has a Xantia and is likely to have to leave the country for six months. He asked me what the best way to leave the car parked. What tips should be taken in mind when leaving a Xantia parked for a long period of time
I said:
Leave it low on blocks to avoid the wheels acquire a flat section.
Depressurize it to make the spheres "have a rest".
Disconnect the battery
Put it a Tyvek type cover

What else should you consider? This tips are ok?

Thanks

[HDI]

If it's being left outside a cover can be a good thing and a bad thing. The good is it keeps it clean. The bad is if the wind can get at it the cover WILL mark the paint, moisture will not evoporate so the interior will suffer and corrosion of various parts will be worse than if left uncovered.
Tyres should be ok for 6 months but if they tend to deflate over time then supporting the car so the load on the tyres is either removed or reduced is a good idea. Also easy on a hydraulic Citroen ! Then the suspension can be set on low which will unload the spheres. Remove the battery and arrange to either have it charged every month or kept on a maintenance charger.
Also, change the oil immediately before storing, then just run the engine to circulate at full operating temperature, turn off and leave it. Don't have the engine started during storage, it's worse than just leaving it as moisture accumulates inside the engine and cause corrosion.
Some also recommend to block off the exhaust tail pipe and air intake, I can see the logic.

[Citroenmad]

I regularly store a car for this period and not had any ill effects from doing so.

I generally:
-Pump up above the recommended pressure, to keep the tyres from developing flat spots
-Take the battery out and keep on a slow charge or charge it every so often
-I always use breathable but waterproof car covers if stored outside. It keeps the weather from getting to the car, helps protect against the effects of UV and also keeps rain water out of the water traps - such as door bottoms, scuttle etc. Yes these have water hole drains but that is only if they are not blocked and water always settles somewhere due to the way the car is parked. A breathable car cover should let any condensation escape. Ive had very good results with these types of car covers.
-Never use the handbrake or put it in gear, I always put some chocks against one of the wheels.
-Put the car into low

Thats probably about all I do.

As said, with such a long lay-up an oil change before storage would be an advantage. Parking the car up when its been at running temp to get condensation out from the engine and exhaust etc is a very good idea and what I do.

[spider]

I'd agree with leaving the handbrake off and chocking the wheels too, more an issue with drum braked (rear handbrakes) though.

I do recall someone saying it was better to put it on axle stands so the suspension could "hang" although I'm not sure if that would apply or be a good idea with a Xantia anyway, more a conventional shock / spring car. I can see the kind of advantage of letting the suspension 'rest' in effect though but I'd not do this "step" myself.

[rmunns]

The reply mentioning oil change reminds me of a prob I had with a Hyundai - I didn't use it for weeks and when I tried to start it I got a big surprise. The oil level had clearly been low when I stopped the car and it had then drained right out of the top of the engine, to such an extent that when I tried to start all I got was a very very rapid turnover with no compression at all. It took a while for the penny to drop - the hydraulic camshaft was drained - what a poor design.

[spider]

I would of thought the splash onto them with cranking would eventually fill them up a bit enough to function.

[Richard_C]

I agree with 'handbrake off'. I left my Synergie (drums) for 2 months handbrake on in garage and it was a pig to free it all off. Hadn't intended to leave it that long, circumstances. Being in the garage no room to get at much either.

Failingto learn, I went away for 2 weeks and left my SAAB in the garage (discs). It had been raining when I put it away, and the surface rust that formed on the discs managed to seize up one wheel.

My garage is very slightly 'uphill' - so if I get the speed right when I reverse in I can now roll to a halt without even touching the brake pedal ....

I suppose you could deal with the tyre flat spot problem by rolling the car onto its roof, but that might give other difficulties.

Don't forget the need to SORN it and/or watch out for the continuous insurance if garaged but not SORNed - fines are automatic regardless of circumstances.

[jgra1]

by rolling the car onto its roof,

i left my bike for 3 months, on the tyres, came back to find cracking at the point where the tyre was touching the ground..(new tyre too) would always try and take the weight off them now, unless they can be rotated every few weeks..

[falling-out-with-my-car]

my 2cv has been sat on one spot for six months on its Michelin's and the Tyre pressures go up and down with temperature I check the pressures once a week and it has been fine mind you its not a very heavy car.

[Azrael]

You should also remove the wipers - they might get glued on the windscreen. Also oil the door seals and the key barrels.

[Xantidote]

oil to the rubber door seals

Is applying oil to rubber door seals OK? I've been trying the application of vaseline to door seals in an attempt to prevent them freezing up, and not letting me in!

[Northern_Mike]

oil to the rubber door seals

Is applying oil to rubber door seals OK? I've been trying the application of vaseline to door seals in an attempt to prevent them freezing up, and not letting me in!

I use washing-up liquid for this..

[myglaren]

There are proper rubber lubricants that don't degrade the rubber.
Silicon grease being one easily available one.
Washing up liquid is OK where the excess will get washed away (plumbing jobs) or if you remove it when it is above freezing but it does tend to turn into a sticky mess after a while as it dries out, also there is a high percentage of salt in it.