How often do I need to start my Tacoma?

So I'm an OTR driver
Was wondering if I can let my taco just sit for the 2-3,3 1/2 months I'm out driving without it starting up?? Would that be an issue or should I just leave it at a relative house so they can start her up every other day or so??

Thanks fellow tacos!

 

I'm otr as well...i leave mine sit 4 to 6 weeks with no prep. It has always started fine at my storage site. I put a trickle charger on it after i get it home and it always takes a charge. I'm still on my orig batt and i only change the oil once per year. If i were you, I'd leave a trickle charger on it and put some stabil in the fuel. If you're like me, i don't feel like driving anywhere when i'm home...my truck will never wear out at my rate of usage.

 

My Tacoma also sits idle for anywhere between 1 to 3 months out of the year while I am away. My philosophy (not sure if correct or not though haha) has been that it's better for the truck to remain off that to be started every so often just to remain idle.

Even though the truck is parked outside all year round I do have access to a garage for storage.

All I do is make sure the tank is completely full with fresh fuel and a liberal amount of stabilizer. Wash the truck inside and out real nice. Lift the wipers and leave the windows slightly cracked. Personally, I also plug the tailpipe and put cloth around my windows for critters.

My truck is a manual and I like to chock the wheels and leave it in neutral with the handbrake off.


A trickle charger for the battery would also be a nice idea but I personally haven't used one.

Anything less than 3 weeks and I typically just leave it as is.

 

Not sure if this is a big deal. When trucks are at the dealer ready to be sold, some of them sit there for months and months without moving, or rarely moved. Now if you weren't going to touch the truck for a year or two, then yeah, I'd do the fuel stabilizer, battery trickle, etc.

 

This^
Otherwise you may get water condensing in the tank. Since the fuel line draws from the bottom of the tank, = water in your fuel line.

I've also heard of disconnecting the battery all together instead of trickle charging.

 

Let it sit for long durations of time hurts nothing.

Be more aware of rodents getting under the hood and chewing the wires. For some reason rats and mice like the taste of the wiring. Its pretty common.

 

On my 98 Tacoma I didn't drive it much and it sat outside, One time when I went to start it up and turn on the wipers to clean the Windows the wiper fluid didn't work. So I pop the hood and found that squirrels had made a nest in the engine compartment and chewed the fluid hose and some wires.
Long story short to fix the problem besides the pellet gun, I put some moth balls in a plastic bottle with drill holes and zip tied it inside the engine. It seemed to work but so did the pellet gun. Also you can spray it with hair spray and sprinkle some cayenne pepper and that works too.

 

Looks like his truck is in the garage

 

Cool, I'd like to thank for everyone's time in helping me out with this
I will look into this trickle thingy haha

Thanks again

 

You want a battery tender. That may be what some are calling a trickle charger, but you want something that is self regulating, not a constant low charge.

I prefer to over inflate the tires on a moderate time sitting, just bleed them down when you return. Helps prevent flat spotting.

For extended periods (6+months) setting the frame on stands, tires off ground, and fuel stabilizer are worthwhile.

Periodic starting is ok only IF the vehicle is driven enough to warm everything up, burn off condensate, etc. before it's reparked. Starting and idling for 30 minutes in the driveway is worse than not starting it at all.

 

I store my Mustang for the Winter each year. I change the oil and overinflate the tires a few pounds, stick some bounce sheets around as its supposed to keep mice away. I also put Sta-Bil in my tank and believe it or not there is a section in the owners manual about storing it and it recommends starting it up about once a month and letting it get up to operating temperature before shutting it off to burn off any moisture. I have followed this procedure for the last 18 years and have never had an issue.

 

X2 "to burn off any moisture" good to do.

 

One of the guys at work was just telling me today that peppermint oil is supposed to repel mice (just Googled, and it looks to be confirmed). He said he filled a plastic water bottle halfway, poked some holes in it, and also zip tied it inside the engine bay (away from the motor). Said it worked.

Sounds like the same thing spitdog did, except with a different ingredient.

 

Damn these are some good ideas
Again thanks everyone for their time

I'll have more questions if anything LOL