3 month car storage how-to?

I'm about to take a 3-month sabbatical from working. Going to do some traveling and volunteering.

The '90 Acura will be in the garage. Windows down so it doesn't get funky.

Not really concerned about the tires. They're aged out anyhow, so they will be replaced upon my return.

Battery will go on a float charge. Should I disconnect it from the car, or is there no reason to?

Fuel? Full tank, I suppose. 3 months might be too short a time to worry about a fuel stabilizer, but temperatures will probably reach 120F in the garage and I'm not sure how that affects varnishing.

Any other advice?

My truck sits outside for months at a time without budging. I sometimes even forget to lock the damn thing.

3 months isn't long enough to worry about it.

In reply to EvanR:

I'm regularly gone for 3 to 6 months at a time for work. I don't unhook my battery I just stick it on the batterytender and let it do it's thing. I wouldn't worry about the gas or tires flat spotting either as I haven't had any issues with either.

Otherwise I throw in a couple of those Arm and Hammer munchkin diaper pail plastic disks things in it to absorb funky smells while it sits in the garage. Then cover it.

Windows open invites all kinds of dust and crap in around me and I'm too lazy to detail it when I get back.

3 months in spring/summer? Unhook one battery terminal and forget about it.

Windows up to keep the mice out.

Your new car may have sat for more than 3 months before sold.
Too short a time to worry.

Agree with all of the above. In years past I've forgotten to winterize (approx 4-6mo) motorcycles and lawn equipment. At most required a jumpstart.

To put a spin on this what is the minimum amount if time where someone should consider taking storage precautions? (Example: battery out, drained fluids, fogged cylinders, up on blocks and wheels off)

E36 M3 ive had cars sit for a year, hop in, start, and drive. Make sure you leave the keys with someone so they can move them if it burns.

I have a 1988 Ford van that I store outside since I bought it in 2002. It doesn't get driven from late Oct. to late April most years. I don't do anything to it other then add Stabil and a couple of other fuel additives to the fuel. No fogging oil, no battery disconnect. I have a small solar battery maintainer on the dash and that's it.

Sat. I got in it and cranked it. It started right up after sitting since last Oct.

3 months, just turn the key off.

Want to get fancy, but fancy-lite? Air up the tires to max sideway psi, fill tank with high octane gas and drive it a little to circulate it through the injectors, disconnect the battery. The car will likely be fine for a year or two that way.

Now that that's settled, let's hear more about the sabbatical.

My Dad parks his Z3 Oct-April. All he does is park in on wood ramps and puts the cover on it.

JohnRW1621 wrote: Now that that's settled, let's hear more about the sabbatical.

Since you asked...

I moved from Michigan to Vegas 9 years ago. I got a job working on a show that is a spectacle for tourists to enjoy. It paid me a lot of money but didn't satisfy my desire to make good things.

So I'm going back to Michigan for the summer to do Shakespeare and Chekov and cleanse my soul. In the Fall, I will come back to Vegas and make more crap until I'm ready to retire in a few years.

Jackson or Traverse?
Michigan in the summer is pretty awesome.

JohnRW1621 wrote: Jackson or Traverse? Michigan in the summer is pretty awesome.

Neither. Grand Rapids. And yes it is.

In reply to EvanR:

My 99 Civic Si sits from Sept to June every year.

In garage

Covered

Tires inflated to 40 psi

battery tender hooked up every couple of months to keep it topped off

Fresh oil change

Stabil

Windows left cracked open

When I revive it each summer, I start it and let it idle up to temp. Business as usual after that because Honda.

EvanR wrote:

JohnRW1621 wrote: Jackson or Traverse? Michigan in the summer is pretty awesome.

Neither. Grand Rapids. And yes it is.

I'm headed to the U.P. in a couple of weeks for the summer. I pull a terminal on the 911 because the battery will die if I don't. Healthy batteries don't die in three months without a drain so I don't bother with a charger. On cars that don't have a known electrical drain I don't do anything. Modern gas tanks don't really let gas evaporate off the light stuff so a full tank will be fresh when you get back.

In reply to mazdeuce:

For my Civic, the blinking alarm LED and blinking radio LED are enough to drain it about halfway in 3 months.

EvanR wrote:

JohnRW1621 wrote: Jackson or Traverse? Michigan in the summer is pretty awesome.

Neither. Grand Rapids. And yes it is.

Well, Welcome to my little city.

I put my TR6 up for the winter (3-4 months) by adding some fuel stabilizer to a full tank. I also make the last drive at least 20 miles and shut it down immediately after pulling into the garage without idling to keep the cylinders dry. Windows up most of the way. If you're close to needing an oil change, it wouldn't hurt to do it now.

Grtechguy wrote:

EvanR wrote:

JohnRW1621 wrote: Jackson or Traverse? Michigan in the summer is pretty awesome.

Neither. Grand Rapids. And yes it is.

Well, Welcome to my little city.

You should say "Welcome back!"

Fair enough!

3 month storage?

Step 1: Turn off key
Step 2: Leave

jimbbski wrote: I have a 1988 Ford van that I store outside since I bought it in 2002. It doesn't get driven from late Oct. to late April most years. I don't do anything to it other then add Stabil and a couple of other fuel additives to the fuel. No fogging oil, no battery disconnect. I have a small solar battery maintainer on the dash and that's it. Sat. I got in it and cranked it. It started right up after sitting since last Oct.

Same for my 1987 ford van. Sits for months at a time, sometimes half a year or more sometimes. Get in, turn key, and drive off like nothing.