Oil Change Question

I have an upcoming deployment in mid-June and my truck will be stored for the year that I'm gone and will only be started a couple times a week.

I have been using full synthetic and have about 3,000 miles on the current oil. Should I change it before leaving? Or wait unil I come back from deployment? I should be getting R&R leave sometime, but I'm not sure when.

Thanks for your time!

 

Do it before you store it. It will be happy when it's cleaner. Use some inexpensive oil (synthetic) and change once you get back as well.

 

Oil - change to extended
Not sure when and if you had made a change but brake fluid, atf in tranny and power steering should probably be changed as they will be sucking moisture from the air.

 

The truck only has 36,800 miles right now. I know the brake fluid hasn't been changed along with the atf in tranny and power steering. The truck will be stored inside a garage if that will help with the moisture related issues. BTW, doesn't the atf in the tranny get changed at 100,000 miles or is that b/s that I've heard?

 

Your truck is 05 right ? If thats it then your brake fluid is probably at the point that needs changing anyway. its not only the mileage it is also the age.
100k for tranny is what manual specifies but nobody really believes that anymore. You are in Florida so unless truck is stored in location that has dry storage area I would rather have new fluids. remember any moisture and things will rust internally despite being submerged in fluid.
I mean I am crazy about maintenance but I know that even not used fluids do expire so having them fresh is probably good thing to have.

 

Yeah, it's an 05'
I'm stationed in Fort Sill Oklahoma and it's pretty dry here..I think, but I'm going to call the stealership and schedule to get those fluids changed out to be on the safe side. Hopefully they don't try to kill me on the price to do all of this. Are they always the best place to go to for these types of services?
I appreciate your help!

 

Same with my 2002 Taco. Cranked right up after sitting.

 

Def. on the fuel stabilizer and try to make sure the truck
is moved some so the tires don't flatspot too bad.

good luck on the deployment!

 

If it's started a couple times a week, is it possible to have it driven a couple times a week. At least long enough to get things up to operating temp?

 

I will pick up some of that today and add it when I change the oil. I got the fuel stabalizer already. Thanks for te tips

 

Yeah, it's supposed to be driven around the facility, but I'm not sure how often and how long. It's paid for by the army so I don't expect to much.

 

If you put new fluids its going to be fine for few years. No worry
See if you can fill up tank with pure gasoline 93/91 octan.

 

yeah, I'm gonna put new fluids and I have a gas station down the street that sells 100% gasoline. So I will fill it up and add the stabilizer to it and hopefully she will be good to go.

 

Yeah, I wouldn't expect much either.

Is it going to be stored indoors or outside? If it's outside, definetly put a couple good coats of wax on.

I did two 6 month deployments while in the Navy. The MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation - not sure if that's what the Army calls it) offered deployment car storage in an old airplane hanger on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. I forgot how much it was, but it was worth it. Otherwise your car had to sit outside on an abandoned airplane tarmac.

 

It will be stored indoors and it's free. It's in Dallas at a big warehouse that is climate controlled. I'm going to fully detail my truck to include clay bar and a nice thick coat of wax. We call it MWR as well and they hook us up while deployed...usually.

 

dont forget to put it up on blocks so u dont get flat spots on the tires

 

Makes me wonder what happens to vehicles sitting on a sales lot for that period of time; if not longer ???

 

A new vehicle is not going to sit on a lot in one spot for a year.