Cars been sat for 2 months, will it be OK?

[ejaymclane]

My Camry has been sat outside for 2 months waiting until it could be repaired.

Will it be OK? I havent been able to start it now and thesince its parked at someone elses house for the time being.

[J708]

I kept mine for 5 weeks once and luckily I was able to turn it on. I think you have a very low chance of starting it up. Then again, I don't know solid information. Just talking out of personal experience.

[geoff5093]

Im sure the car is fine, but it would probably need a jump start, but possible some new gas.

[ejaymclane]

Thanks. Ive got a battery charger, i didnt mean to leave it this long but at least it isnt the winter.

[Mike Gerber]

Originally Posted by geoff5093

Im sure the car is fine, but it would probably need a jump start, but possible some new gas.

If the gas in the car was from a recent fillup before it was parked for a couple of months, it should be just fine.

Mike

[-SCWEET1-]

HA, try 10 months now.......

[Venom_5]

which reminds me, how long could i leave my camry sitting?

[geoff5093]

2 months is probably fine for gas, but I know with seasonal engines that are in either a lawnmower or snowblower, they usually require new gas to be used when starting it up after a season.

[Heat]

When you start it, let it run for a couple minutes before moving it. Get on the highway / interstate and keep the rpms relatively low (don't gun it), drive for 15 miles or so to let the engine get hot.

[TheKevin]

I've had cars sit for over 6 months. Just start it up every once in a while.

[mr.pringles]

i had mine parked in a friends garage for 2months,came back and went to his house at night; car battery ran out due to not starting it up once in a while so we left the battery charge all night long, took it out on the highway for a drive next day to get it charging some more and it was fine afterwards

[BAGGEDCAMRY01]

the car shopuld be find i know mine sat for6 months for paint and yea the battery was dead it sucked because my doors are shaved. and i have a wall inside my trunck. thanks for slim jims

[94CoupeV6]

That shouldn't be a problem. Usually with cars that have sat for a long time, you want to replace a list of things.

[marc780]

I have a second car, a 1988 Nissan pickup that mostly sits - it doesn't get 500 miles in a year.
I'm a big believer in the trite old "ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" saying, at least for my cars. I start the engine at least once every two weeks; and i usually charge the battery too. The only way to keep a battery up is to keep it as close to full charge as possible.

I also usually drive it - even if only around the block - to get the rust off the brake drums and rotors and keep these parts, and the clutch, from rusting or seizing up. Sometimes before i start it, i will remove the top of the air filter cover, hold the throttle open and spray some marvel mystery oil down into the throttle body. This lubricates the upper pistons rings a little, at least compared to a dry start. (And when i do this it is a much smoother start.)

If i had to leave it sit with no one running it, probably the main thing i would do is remove the spark plugs and squirt a bunch of oil in there- or at least spray in some marvel mystery oil through the throttle body and turn over the engine. If the rings or bearings corrode, (which is a possibility after spending several months idle with no oil thrown on them), your engine wont last long after you restart it - that is if you can start it again at all.

which reminds me, how long could i leave my camry sitting?

I think it depends on how well you prepare it for storage. If you had to leave the car for a long time - say more than 6 months - the very best and easiest solution is to leave it in the care of a trusted friend and have them drive it at least once a week.

If you had to mothball it though, for a really REALLY long time - i've heard people say to fill the engine up with several gallons of oil to the point where it wont hold any more, so all the parts are bathed in it! And to remove the spark plugs and fill the cylinders too. A radical method, to be sure, but at least your engine wouldnt rust! The only drawback with this solution would be if somebody else tried to start the engine not knowing it was full of oil - you would want to avoid that situation at all costs i should think - it might damage the engine if you tried to start it before draining out the excessive oil.

[AJRK]

My Camry sits for 3 months every summer. Before I leave it, I disconnect the negative battery terminal and add fuel stabilizer to a full gas tank. Never had a problem with it.