Long-term parking at an angle

[Aethe]

Hello everyone,

I have a question regarding long-term parking at an angle — I’ve already asked it on the C6 Owners forum about a month ago, but received no replies, so I thought I would see if someone here would happen to know, as I imagine it's also relevant to other hydraulic Citroëns. I’m copying it below;

This might be another unusual question, but it’s something that thanks to my OCD has been keeping me up at night recently.

I have an opportunity to rent a quite reasonably-priced parking space in a fancy new parking garage for the next year and a half (due to my current one being renovated), but it’s one of those spiral ones, where the floor is never perfectly level, so the cars are never parked perfectly flat, but always sit just a bit angled either to their left or right side.

As I use my C6 very sporadically (once a month or so), it got me thinking whether sitting for weeks on end at a slight angle (left/right, not back/front) might not be the best thing for its precious suspension (long-term uneven pressure between its left and right–side spheres), levelling system or something like that?

Is there something to it or am I worrying for no reason?

Please see the attached photo, it was taken relatively level (according to my phone), vertical lines for reference.

Thanks,
/L

[mickthemaverick]

Only an opinion but I wouldn't think you'll have serious issues, however perhaps if you turn it around each time and park alternately front in and rear in then it may balance out any issues that could be forthcoming if left leaning one way all the time.

[myglaren]

I can't see that being a problem. It is't far off horizontal.
I have parked my cars, several of them hydraulic Citroens, on ground far less level that that and experienced no problems from it.
You could alternately park nose in then tail in to even it out.

[wurlycorner]

Can't see any issues with that from a suspension point of view - certainly the hydraulic side of it at least.
It will lead to increased strain on bushes etc because some won't be sitting at their normal 'rest' position, but that's going to be so minor that the increased wear isn't going to shorten their life to any noticeable extent.
The more relevant consideration is if it's not under cover and left for a long time like that (I can't see the photo for some reason, so don't know). Drain systems in cars (for dealing with rain) are designed to shed at level. If the car is parked at an angle for long periods of time, water can collect and sit, rather than drain out.

[Aethe]

Thanks for your swift replies and for the (relative) piece of mind. And yes, it’s exactly what I’ve been doing so far, alternating back/front : )

What is gnawing at me a bit though is that it’s been in the new garage for about a month now and the first time I’ve taken it out I could have sworn it was swerving to the left slightly (normally if I took my hands off the wheel it would just continue dead-straight, as if it thought it still had DIRAVI).

However I’m not really sure whether something has indeed changed or if it’s just my paranoia and it was the inclination of that particular part of the highway on my short trip. Anyway, I’ll have to try it again next week, now that it’s been parked the opposite way for a while.

[Paul-R]

Did you check the tyre pressures before taking it out for a drive?

[Stickyfinger]

Park, set suspension at low level and walk away.....or park, do nothing and walk away.

Nothing will happen to your car.

[wurlycorner]

Very rare to disagree with you Sticky, but leaving it parked with suspension on minimum leaves all the rubber suspension bushes stretched and twisted from normal position - that will significantly shorten their life. Same reason rubber suspension joints should only be torqued up when weight is on them at normal ride height.