Long term storage

I store my tacoma in a heated garage from November till mid March so about 4 to 5 months. My question is what steps should I take while it's in storage? Start it up once a month and let it warm up? Just let it be? I do have it on a battery tender and gave it a fresh oil change, but wondering if anybody else had any other suggestions.

 

Are you able to drive it atleast once a month for a few miles? Automobiles dont like sitting stationary for extended periods of time from what I have read.

If you arent touching it for a few months I would jack the truck up as to protect the tires, top off fuel tank and you should be good.

 

Thats a good point...yes I can drive it and I should probably do that so the tires don't get a flat spots.

 

Jack it up using the axles so the suspension isn't stretched. Make it sit just like it were on the ground, but without the tires touching of course...

 

Add some fuel stabilizer to a fresh tank of gas, oil change (you already did), and battery on the tender. Put pieces of cardboard under the tires if you want to be extra paranoid. That's all - nothing else to worry about for such a short period of time.

 

From the number of posts on the "effing mice" thread, I might add some sort of poison or other deterrent.

Do NOT start it and let it idle. You will get a bunch of condensation from combustion in your oil. Its better to let it sit. The condensation mixed with other components of combustion make acids. These are burned off if you drive it for 15-20 miles, but not usually if you just let it idle for a while in the garage.

 

oh i agree with that ^^^... watch your condensation. big way to shoot yourself in the foot. my commute to work is short, so i am always sure to drive it for a complete "drying" cycle to burn off moisture completely even when it's used daily.

if your garage is temp controlled or adjacent to a heated area, then i also recommend stuffing some steel wool in your exhaust pipes to keep rodents from setting up camp. it's happened and i've heard the stories, however unlikely.

 

I store my car for the Winter, I put Stabil in the Tank and I do start it once a month or so and let it run up to operating temperature.

 

Rags soaked in peppermint oil in exhaust, under hood, above fuel tank and cab. Capsaicin pepper powder around tires about 6" if rodents are an issue. Block off cabin intake so no bugs if they're an issue.

Otherwise jack stands and let it sit.

 

I am on this plan, but I take her out when there is no salt to keep everything in running order.

 

Yes, try to drive it occasionally. My Jeep sits for a couple of weeks at a time and it definitely gets tire flat spots while sitting. A quick 5 mile trip on the local highway fixes it. Then it sits and gets flats spots again! My younger son gets his license in a few weeks, so the Jeep will go back to daily driver status.