Due to my job, Im going to be moving out of the country for 2-3 years and unfortunately wont be able to bring my crossfire with me ... Ive been doing some searching/research on here about how to do it the right way, but there are differing opinions on some things and it seems most have only stored theirs for a few months to a year, not 2-3 years... So I still have some questions. Heres a list of what I've come up with and questions about different parts of it.

-It will be in a climate controlled storage unit

-I've read to wither put the battery on a trickle charger or take it out. I dont think the unit has outlets, so I was just going to take the battery out

-Ive read to change the oil before storing it, so I was going to do that

-Most posts say fill the tank all the way and add stabil, however the bottle says stabil is only good for about a year. Considering it could be in there for 3 years, what should I do? Drain the tank?

-Some posts say to put the car on jack stands, other say just park it on some cardboard to avoid flat spots on the tires. It will be getting new tires when I pull it out of storage, so Im not worried about flat spots, but are there advantages to the suspension or anything by putting it up on jacks? Which one should I do?

-Im going to have the car washed and waxed right before and cover it. Some people say the 'car capsule' type covers are the best... Does it matter? opinions?

-Also, Ive read to put bounce dryer sheets in the engine compartment and to plug the exhaust to keep critters from going to town on the wiring and what-not..

Thats about all I've been able to come up with... If anyone has any ideas/suggestions/help it would be much appreciated!
Thanks!

 

Lots of opinions.
If you are going to be three years I would say just leave it on its tires and plan on buying new ones when you get back.
If you have new tires on it I would sell them and put junk ones on it.
I would also definitly change the oil before putting it away.
I also reccomened coating the engine and suspension parts in a light coat of oil.
It is easier to clean up oil than it is to remove oxidation.

I'm sure more people will chime in with more ideas.

 

I'd fill the gas tank as full as possible to help prevent condensation inside the tank. Yes it can happen even in a temp controled storage. Power failures do happen from time to time.
When you get back, push the car out of its storage space, and flat bed it home DON'T TRY TO START IT.
Disconnect the fuel line from the electric fuel pump, and the fuel line filter, then with compressed air blow out the fuel line from the engine back. Then with a new battery, just turn on your ignition and the fuel pump will drain out all the old gas. (so fill it up with reg. gas before you park it).
I'd install a new fuel line filter before hooking everything back up.
Installing old tires wouldn't be a bad idea, but if you over inflate the tires you have now and place a couple carpet remnants under all 4 tires, you probably won't have any problems.
Rodent discouragment is a very good idea. Trust me, I know.

 

Sell it, especially if it has over 30Kon it.
You will be able to buy one when you come back cheaper. You may want something else anyway and it will not be worth what it is now and the storage fee - if any, will be lost as well.
Sentiment costs $$$.

 

Probably the best advice yet.

 

https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...t=store+museum

 

Are you military? Company called adkos can store your car and take care of it for you, start it check fluids... and if military its free

 

Sent you a PM

 

Bring it down to Parker! I'll make sure that it gets driven and fluids changed.

 

I have to chuckle just a little knowing how long many of these cars just sat on storage lots, then on cars lots for months on end. Some for 2-3 years with nothing done to them. All good advise here including just selling it. Mine set a lot, but I do start them and move them so they aren't just sitting there. You do have to take the battery out. Gasoline would be my worry. And if in a climate controlled storage, they may want you to drain it all out. Insurance reasons. Which to me isn't a bad idea. There is always problems with long term storage. Seals dry out, things corrode, but it is what it is... I would buy myself some cheap jack stands and put it up on them. Not all the way up, just enough to take some weight off the tires, but tires just touching the ground. This makes sure no one will try to move it for any reason, and take weight off the tires, but not stretch your suspension, leaving it just hanging....good luck, and if you are military, pay attn to the above post.

 

... this isn't serious, right? what museum would want an srt-6 with 67k miles on it?

 

Wow, Im kind of surprised selling it seems to be a fairly popular answer... I don't now if I could get myself to do it even if its probably the most logical choice.
Thanks for all the input and other info!

 

Lots of fuss about nothing realy - the car has managed to sit on its supension for 67K and a few years with no problems, so sitting stationary in a nice dry garage shouldnt harm it. Rodents cant get up the exhaust unless they can chew through the baffles and Cats, anyway, dont worry youll blow out the dead ones when you start it up. Just disconnect the battery, dont lock the doors, throw some blankets over with windows partially open. Spray WD40 all over any moving parts and bare metal (theres lots underneath). When you come home treat her to an oil change and filter, some new tires and a battery and off you go.

My last XF sat outside for a whole english winter and summer (12 mnths) right up until the day I turned up to buy it. Though the door locks were stuck at first so struggled to get in and the tires were a bit flat, she started first turn of the key, just as though she had been running mins earlier. I dug her out of a heap of leaves and long grass, used the on board compressor to blow the tires up and drove 250 miles home smilin all the way! She scrubbed up well as you can see!

 

Nobody mentioned anything about the brake fluid. Absorbs moisture over time. Get a good moisture resistant fluid (like Castrol GT LMA - mow moisture absorption) and consider get a fluid exchange to save the seals. Gasoline stabilizer. Battery tender Jr. Environmentally controlled storage will be fine. My wife left her Xfire in the garage for a long time. Only downside was spongy brakes when I started her back up again. Tires will be fine. No sun beating on them in the temp controlled storage unit.

If you have a friend that you trust. Leave a key and have him/her start her up to running temp once every 3 or 4 months, just to make sure.... if possible.

 

Well Steve, all I can tell ya is our mice must be a little more industrious than what you Brits have. Mice have an incredible capability of getting into the smallest nooks and crannys and literally destroy a car. They even took up residence inside my factory CAI and had a feast on the factory air filters. They were able to chew their way half way through one of them, next stop would have been the plastic screen above the mass air flow sensor. The caverns inside the engine would have been a "tunnel-of-love" for a family of little Micky and Minis.
Mice even got into the under hood sealed fuse box of my Chevy Van. The only gap was where the wiring harness entered, and it was smaller than a pencil eraser. They inadvertently pulled out a couple critical fuses while chewing on the plastic .
Here's what they did to my Crossfire.
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...appen-you.html

Don't we have synthetic brake fluid?

 

I recommend you check thoroughly with your Staorage Facility provider, as last time I investigated in Texas, for the storage of one of my cars, I was required to drain ALL fluids from the car before storage. Everywhere I checked had the same requirements. You couls cheat I suppose, BUT what if anything ever happened, FIRE Etc., it may not have been your fault BUT ????? Just check First.

 

All of the above, plus I would coat the rubber weather stripping & seals with 303 or Meguiars, as well as apply leather conditioner to the seats. A coolant flush would be good and consider changing the tranny, brake & power steering fluids when you get back.

I stored mine at a Porsche service center last winter, and they also propped the windshield wiper arms slightly off the windshield with balsa wood blocks to relieve the spring tension, as well as leaving the handbrake off, tranny in neutral with one wheel chocked ( manual trans only).

Having said that, I like 180's advice to sell it and get another one when you return. A lot can happen in 2-3 years. Good luck on the job assignment!