My Z will be stored in my garage for a year while I am away defending this great country of ours. My wife is going to start it once a month but not drive it due to me lowering the insurance to theft/fire.

I don't want her driving it around the block due to insurance reasons, getting the car dirty, and putting the car cover on and off. So this is my suggestion, please post in the poll.

Here is what I plan on doing right before I leave.

1. Fill up with 93 octane and Lucas Fuel conditioner.
2. Change the oil/filter with Mobil-1 and Lucas oil synthetic stabalizer.
3. Remove the battery.
4. Cover the engine with blankets, and close both exhaust tips.
5. Thick carpet will be under all (4) OEM tires.

BTW, I have 3200 miles on my ZR!

I just think it will be better to leave the car as stated above and not start it at all. I will be back at the 6 month mark, so I will at least drive it in 6 months and then store it back again for another 5 months.

Please use the poll, thanks,

 

first off thank you!

dont fuel it up.
oil change when you get back.
disconnet battery.
definitely block all entrances into the engine (exhaust,intake)
replace belts/fluids too, rubber tends to hate prolonged heat and cold winters.(when you return)
clean it/wax it then store it.

 

I have heard to fill it up, you don't want condensation building up!

I do have a battery conditioner. not sure if I should leave the battery connected to it or remove the batetry completely.

 

youd be better off emptying it out and blocking it up too. isnt the lucas gas treatment supposed to help prevent the denaturing.

if the gas breaksdown, and you have less of it, then you can add a large amt of fresh premium to run it out. either way you could just drain the tank on your return and refuel.

one last thing, put a post it note on the steering whell telling yourself what you did with the intake/exhaust, dont want to let it slip your mind and attempt to cranck it over

 

Anyone else?

 

I vote fill the tank, block off everything, and put it on jackstands allowing the suspension to hang freely. This will save your wheels and tires, as well as your suspension.
As for the note, don't put a post it on the steering wheel, as it might leave a residue. Simply leave a piece of paper on the seat reminding you what you did.
I'd have the wife start it every two weeks for about 3-5 minutes each shot, but let her know what you did so that she can undo it and then redo it when she's finished.

 

Where exactly do all 4 jackstands go?

 

I would roll the car 10-12 inches every couple of weeks to prevent flat spots. Also inflate the tires to their maximum allowed pressure. By that, I don't mean the Nissan spec in the center console but the max spec written on the sidewall. Probably near 45psi. Just remove air when you take it out of storage. I have read several times that it's not good to have the suspension just hanging with no weight applied to the wheels.

I would also either remove the wiper blades or place a block under the arm to remove the pressure on the rubber element. If not, they will permanently set.

I would change the oil before storing to prevent gunk to gum up the bottom of the pan. Don't need to use synthetic for this. Once you take it out of storage, change the oil again and this time the filter also.

As far as the gas tank, I would not want to play with disconnecting the hoses, so I prefer filling it up to prevent condensation and adding a fuel stabilizer.

 

You can also do a search and find information from last fall 2004 or 2003. This comes up every year.

 

At the jacking points at each corner. You can jack the car up at other points than the jack points in the manual, but the vehiclewould be supported very well with stands at these points. You can take a 2X4 and cut a groove down the middle to make a cradle to sit on top of the jack stands, to hold onto the body seam around the jack points.

 

I got a Q for you all...why would you want to cover the exhaust and intake?

 

To prevent squirrels and the like to go in and make a nest.

 

I have 3 cars that aren't driven much.
Fill with gas.
Change oil, this is very imporant!
Unhook the battery
The rest doesn't matter much if your only going to be gone 6 months.
Starting the engine once a month only causes water to condense inside the engine. I would not start it at all.
You might put out some mouse food (poison) around your garage or under the car. Mice love the inside of cars and under the hood too.

 

Thanks, thats what I am going to do, I won't start it, plug the exhaust tips and air intake up, and put mouse poison around my car. I should be okay, since its only 6 months, then I can drive it for a month, then back to hybernation for another 6 months.

 

You should charge the battery a few times.

 

I will disconnect the battery and leave it connected to a trickle charger.