Best way to store my 08 for up to 2 years???

[hwebster]

Well - Winter is coming and I've been lucky enough to land some work in the Carribbean! No Snow this year:-laf! However, I need to store my 08 since I am reluctant to just leave it with someone - given my '93 was totaled that way.

Any suggestions, ideas, recommendations on how to best store it and keep it in good running order? (It will probably be stored in a quonset with a dirt floor, and I'll have it tarped. )

As always thanks!

 

[jelag]

Con grad's on the job...

I store my truck for up to 4 months with a 1 1/2 amp trickle charger on the batteries... .

I think the only additional thing that I might do is put the truck on jack stands to relieve the pressure off the tires...

Since the fuel tank is plastic I'd drop the level to 2-5 gals and treat it... or drain it fully... Diesel will degrade over time with heat... if it was always in the 50* range I wouldn't worry much but we just don't have that kind of weather. .

I don't know if you can find a fogger for diesel engines... but I'd consider something to fog the cylinders, intake, exhaust etc... . what would really be nice if a neighbor would come over ever 90 days and start the truck and let it run for an hour or so... .

Just my thoughts... . I'm sure others will add more. .

 

[HBarlow]

I agree with Jelag but I wonder if a fogger would be safe on a diesel engine. Wouldn't a fogger possibly cause an engine runaway situation?

 

[Motorhead]

Tarping a vehicle on a dirt floor would create a sauna effect under the tarp traping moisture. If you want to tarp it, park the truck on top of a vapor barrier of thick plastic. Do the obvious such as fresh oil, fuel conditioner and I would also put it up on stands. I have let diesel sit for two years or more in a old Mercedes and it started up and ran fine. Maybe add an algiside to the fuel. You might as well sell the batteries unless you have 110volt outlet in the storage to install a Battery Tender.

 

[MrLuckey]

If you are thinking of trying to save the batteries i would recommend one of the small solar trickle chargers, that way it's not charging them 24 hrs a day for 2 years.

 

[pullya]

If it were me I'd try to find some sort of storage facility that was temp. controlled and leave it there after doing the other things that were suggested. It might cost a little but I think in the long run you would find that your truck would be in a lot better condition after a couple of years. If not, I'd add to the above list to make sure there is no way any creatures no matter how small could get into the truck. Mice love to nest in some of the strangest places and can get into almost anything. There are a lot of things that they would love to munch on inside the engine compartment and inside the truck.

Jay

 

[2Rowdy]

Funny little story. You might try this.

I snagged this off another forum.





A Redneck from Sweetwater , Texas walked into a

bank in New York City and asked for the loan officer. He told the

loan officer that he was going to Paris for an international festival, for two weeks, and

needed to borrow $5,000. He was not a depositor of the bank.

The bank officer told him that the bank would need some

form of security for the loan, so the Redneck handed over

the keys to a new Ferrari. The car was parked on the street in front of the bank.

The Redneck produced the title and everything checked out. The loan officer

agreed to hold the car as collateral for the loan and apologized for having to charge 12% interest.

Later, the bank's president and its officers all enjoyed a good laugh at the Redneck

from the south for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral for a $5,000 loan. An

employee of the bank then drove the Ferrari into the bank's private underground garage and

parked it.

Two weeks later, the Redneck returned, repaid the $5,000 and the interest of $23. 01.

The loan officer said, 'Sir, we are very happy to have had your business, and this

transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled.

While you were away, we checked you out on Dunn & Bradstreet and found that you are a highly

sophisticated investor and multimillionaire with real estate and

financial interests all over the world. Your investments include a large number of wind turbines around Sweetwater , Texas .

What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow $5,000?

The good 'ole Texas boy replied, "Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $23. 01

and expect it to be there when I return?"

His name was BUBBA.

Just can't beat these west Texas boys.

 

[2Rowdy]

Hijack over continue.

 

[Skydiver]

Battery Tender or some other type of smart charger. Be sure to put lightening protection on the charger. It would be sad if you found out lightening destroyed your ECM.

The jack stands are a good idea. Remember to air up the tires before you drop it to the floor. In two years they will be low.

Rats and mice will cause problems. Moth balls in plastic food trays with air holes might deture them. Just make sure no mice get to your wires.

Leave the fuel tank very full. Leaving air in the tank is bad. Air = water.

If you tarp it you will trap moisture.



If you put it up on jack stands so it hopefully won't move, can you trust somebody to start the engine every 6 weeks to help keep the oil seals from drying out and leaking?

You must get us a video of when you fog that diesel engine. OMG. ???

 

[Road Dog]

The "leave the tank full" is old advice from when fuel tanks were steel and condensation on the inside meant rust. Less fuel is probably better these days. I'd put some Winter Diesel (or additive) in the tank to help with those cold Saskatchewan winters and put a big jar of desiccant in the cab to absorb the moisture from the air and prevent mould (available at any RV shop). A simple 1A trickle charger is all you need for the batteries. Be careful of smart chargers -- after a power failure they may or may not start charging the way you'd like.

 

[JFought]

my 2 way pager alarm i can program it to start/run how long and how often to operate. fyi

 

[rbattelle]

This is a very interesting question. I checked around on the Cummins site (which I think is awful) and couldn't find any recommendations.

I think you should email the Cummins Powermaster and ask him. I've found him exceptionally responsive.

Ryan

 

[MMeier]

Heck !!

Just bring it down here to Vegas... nice dry desert climate... and I'll drive it around once every week or so to keep everything charged and lubed up ! People here know me !!

 

[JFought]

uh... yea... bring to fort worth, somewhat dry (not this week) and "i'll take care of it. " sound a little fishy. lol



Lots of work for the truck in MEXICO!! where we can dis-assamble and clean it for you!

no charge!!



lol

 

[HBarlow]

Back to the original poster's question . . . I wonder if you wouldn't be better off to sell the truck before you leave for the new job?

Yes, you'll probably take a loss to sell it but you'll take a loss on depreciation and possibly deterioration if it sits i storage for two years while your working in the Caribbean.

 

[jgillott]

I think the biggest key is keeping the truck stored somewhere clean and dry. I have several antique/collector vehicles that we have in a climate controlled garage. Some of them sit several years at a time before we pull them out again and they fire up and run like they were on the road yesterday.



At least in our area, if left unchecked, the the swings in temp and humidity leads to corrosion very quickly on things like brake components, spring packs, suspension parts etc.