How to keep SORN car in good condition

Maureen43

Hello All

I'm planning (for various reasons) to keep my car as SORN and uninsured for about three months.

However, I don't want the car to deteriorate in that time.

Is there anything I should or shouldn't do to keep it in top condition?

Many thanks
M.

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Make sure that it is absolutely dry and put in the garage.

Put one of those damp absorbers inside, stand it on the floormat, and be careful not to spill it when you come back as it will be full of some vile liquid.

Charge the battery once a month.

Check the tyres are at the correct pressure when you come to drive it again.

If you can't garage it, same as above, except the brakes will be very rusty, and will need a fair few applications to clean them.

Cars stand longer than 3 months on dealers forecourts with no problem, the only real worry is "modern" cars will flatten the battery if left standing.

rsvtoddy

I do mine for 4 months each winter - ideally put an intelligent battery charger on it like the one Aldi sell and don't leave the hand brake on or it will sieze! Also try and leave it with as little fuel as possible as it is reckoned that it goes off.

It will be fine for that length of time.

Strider590

rsvtoddy wrote: »

I do mine for 4 months each winter - ideally put an intelligent battery charger on it like the one Aldi sell and don't leave the hand brake on or it will sieze! Also try and leave it with as little fuel as possible as it is reckoned that it goes off.

It will be fine for that length of time.

Actually, brimming the tank leaves less room for air and the problems start when the moisture in the air is drawn into the ethanol in the fuel, because it turns into an incombustible liquid and sinks in the tank.
Obviously the less fuel in there, the more air.

Fuel does go off, but this ethanol phase separation is MUCH worse.

Also the Aldi charger is not meant to be used without disconnecting the battery, although I suspect they say that to avoid being sued.
I've had a selection of smart chargers over the years, from the top brands and every single one has gone faulty after around 12-18 months and cooked my battery.

I've got two CTEK chargers that sit there trying to force 18 volts into my battery, 14.5 is the maximum safe voltage for on vehicle charging, once the battery finally reaches 18v after about 1 week, it then float charges at 16v instead of 13v, so again far too high.

I actually use a large solar panel and my own charging module as a maintenance charger now.

Lorian

Wash it then wax it if its going to sit outside. The first thing to deteriorate will be the brake discs, if you can do something to keep the summer rain of them it will help.

Maureen43

Thanks

I don't have a garage. Would one of those whole car covers be a good idea?

What can I do to prevent brake disc deterioration?

For the battery...will it help if I turn the car on and leave it running periodically?

Gloomendoom

With regard to the battery, I have a couple of cars, one ancient, one modern, that are only occasionally used and they are kept hooked up to cheap motorcycle battery maintenance chargers. They both start on the button when needed. The battery in the older car is probably fifteen years old by now.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NCS-MOTORCYCLE-SPECIFIC-SMART-12V-ACID-BATTERY-CHARGER-OPTIMISER-MAXIMISER/200905657536?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649


I wouldn't worry too much about the brakes. I once left a Rover 800 in a farmyard for three years. When I went back to it (with a new battery), it started up and everything seemed to work so I took it for an MoT really just to see what needed doing. I was particularly concerned about the brakes. It passed first time.

Richard53

A car cover would be good IF it was breathable. A non-breathable cover would just trap moisture inside and let the car rot. Fresh air would be preferable.


For the brakes, just leave it in gear with the handbrake off. As said above, the brake discs will inevitably rust, but if the handbrake doesn't seize on then the rust will vanish within a few miles of normal driving.


The rule about running the engine is - only start it if you are going to run it for long enough to be fully warm - about 20 minutes. Any less than that will do more harm than good, and you will use more battery by starting the car that the alternator can replace, so you battery would gradually deplete. Much better to hook up to a smart charger and leave it on permanently if possible. I have had an Optimate for years and left small motorcycle batteries and large car batteries hooked up over the winter months with no problems at all. It's what they are designed to do. CTEK are another good make. I had a Halfords model but it didn't work and went back for a refund.

n217970

3 months is nothing, just start it up for 10 minutes every fortnight to top the battery up. Brakes will be fine but just remember when you get it back on the road the first couple of times you use the brakes they will not be great. After a couple of times braking any rust will have been knocked off and will be back to normal.

facade

Maureen43 wrote: »

Thanks

I don't have a garage. Would one of those whole car covers be a good idea?

Not really. They keep most of the bird poo off, but flap about in the wind and mark the paint. The waterproof ones trap condensation, and make it go rusty and smell inside, the breathable ones aren't waterproof.
(Same as an outdoor coat- you can have waterproof or breathable, not both.)

What can I do to prevent brake disc deterioration?

Cover the front wheels with big plastic bags, or put boards over the wheels that cover the holes that rain gets in through.

For the battery...will it help if I turn the car on and leave it running periodically?

Only if you run it for about 45 minutes, any less and it won't charge the battery properly, also moisture produced damages the exhaust.

Forgot to say, do NOT park it on grass, only impermeable hardstanding. Grass underneath is a guarantee that it will rust the underside.

(For the same reason, never buy a caravan or motorhome that has been stored parked up on grass)

onomatopoeia99

rsvtoddy wrote: »

I do mine for 4 months each winter - ideally put an intelligent battery charger on it like the one Aldi sell and don't leave the hand brake on or it will sieze! Also try and leave it with as little fuel as possible as it is reckoned that it goes off.

It will be fine for that length of time.

While fuel may "go off", I recently started ,my VW T25 after over 18 months and it went first time (I also installed a new battery at the same time). Took about 15 seconds cranking for the mechanical pump to draw the fuel up to the carb, but then it burst into life, no coughing or spluttering etc.

I feel that the reported degradation of fuel over time is overstated.