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[05omegav6]

Is there any mileage in leaving the fuel tank either brimmed or totally empty to minimise condensation

[blackviper90210]

I was led to believe that petrol does go "off" if left for too long, but not 100% I'm afraid 

[05omegav6]

I was led to believe that petrol does go "off" if left for too long, but not 100% I'm afraid 

That rings a bell, but equally, if you don't brim a diesel tank, condensation allows bacterial growth which kills the fuel system in pretty short order

[omega3000]

If left standing for an extended length the engine can get internal corrosion of the cylinders, as any oil on the surface will gradually drop under gravity, and the cylinders are open to atmosphere via the valves.. it is impossible for all the valves to be closed at the same time !!

When I had the MGB off the road for 3 years the plugs were only in finger tight and every 2 months I put a tablespoon of light oil (3-in-0ne) into each cylinder then turned the engine over  2-3 times using a ratchet spanner to "spread" the oil - easy enough with all the plugs out - then reinserted the plugs finger tight. When the bodywork was complete and the engine was stripped there was no sign of any corrosion at all. As a bonus removing the coke/crud from piston tops and valves was very easy as well as it was well soaked after 3 years !

I'll get a can of 3 in one Mr E  Not much fuel in the tank , never has been  Started it up today and she sounded good ... now to investigate oil burner 

[Webby the Bear]

Are you doing like a time capsule but with a car? 

[omega3000]

Are you doing like a time capsule but with a car? 

Kind of , hopefully this will be one of those cars you will drool over when the rest have rust in piece 

[Shackeng]

Omega will be off the road for a while so should i take battery off  Only trouble with that is wont be able to start it , but i heard starting the car up just to warm it up can do more harm than good  So will omega be ok just left standing outside .. maybe put it up on stands and take wheels off 

Indeed it can. Leave it alone until you intend to drive it again. Engines don't forget how to run and don't feel the cold.

My neighbour has asked me to run his Lexus 400 for half an hour once a fortnight while he is away, so you would not recommend this? He will be away for about 6 months.

[Kevin Wood]

Omega will be off the road for a while so should i take battery off  Only trouble with that is wont be able to start it , but i heard starting the car up just to warm it up can do more harm than good  So will omega be ok just left standing outside .. maybe put it up on stands and take wheels off 

Indeed it can. Leave it alone until you intend to drive it again. Engines don't forget how to run and don't feel the cold.

My neighbour has asked me to run his Lexus 400 for half an hour once a fortnight while he is away, so you would not recommend this? He will be away for about 6 months.

Tell him it would be kinder for you to give it an Italian tune-up.

Otherwise, just keep the battery charged. Every time you start the car, the exhaust and crank case get filled up with condensation and acidic combustion products, and without a good drive, there is never enough heat to drive them off again.

[Shackeng]

Omega will be off the road for a while so should i take battery off  Only trouble with that is wont be able to start it , but i heard starting the car up just to warm it up can do more harm than good  So will omega be ok just left standing outside .. maybe put it up on stands and take wheels off 

Indeed it can. Leave it alone until you intend to drive it again. Engines don't forget how to run and don't feel the cold.

My neighbour has asked me to run his Lexus 400 for half an hour once a fortnight while he is away, so you would not recommend this? He will be away for about 6 months.

Tell him it would be kinder for you to give it an Italian tune-up.

Otherwise, just keep the battery charged. Every time you start the car, the exhaust and crank case get filled up with condensation and acidic combustion products, and without a good drive, there is never enough heat to drive them off again.

I agree, and not something I practice, however, he is not keen for me to drive it!

[omega3000]

Only thing that mite need looking at if a car is laid up for some time is the brakes  Only left the omega 5 days and when i went to move it the rear brakes creaked like they were locking on  Never leave the handbrake on , i just leave it in park 

[ronnyd]

Only thing that mite need looking at if a car is laid up for some time is the brakes  Only left the omega 5 days and when i went to move it the rear brakes creaked like they were locking on  Never leave the handbrake on , i just leave it in park 

Re leaving handbrake off when parking, doesn,t this damage a small toggle or pin in the auto box. I may be wrong but
i think i have read it on this forum somewhere. Please inform me if i,m wrong.

[Andy B]

Only thing that mite need looking at if a car is laid up for some time is the brakes  Only left the omega 5 days and when i went to move it the rear brakes creaked like they were locking on  Never leave the handbrake on , i just leave it in park 

Re leaving handbrake off when parking, doesn,t this damage a small toggle or pin in the auto box. I may be wrong but
i think i have read it on this forum somewhere. Please inform me if i,m wrong.

If the car is left on more than a slight slope, then the parking pawl is loaded up. Unless I park my cars on said slope, it just goes into Park ..... never had a problem. 

[Entwood]

Come to a stop, handbrake on, select park .. no strain on the pawl whatsoever, and it acts like it should.

In the case of "laying up" .. if the car is on stands then leave the handbrake off .. seemples .. if on the floor, chock the wheels, release the handbrake, then select park .. no stress on the pawl ..