Unless you are expecting the "situation" to last years...fire it once
every few weeks just for kicks. The oil quality will not degrade for a
LONG time, like a year or so. The oil turns acidic an will start to eat
on the shiney internal parts after while, but again that takes a long
time.

The battery will lose charge so you might want to put a trickle charger
on it. The big thing now days is fuel quality. It will go sour in a few
months. It will still run on the sour stuff, but you can tell a
difference.

piperspost@webtv.net wrote in news:13805-4407C7E3-26@storefull-
3337.bay.webtv.net:

Here's what you do:

Park it in an area away from rain and snow if at all possible.

Before parking the vehicle for the very last time,
1) change the engine oil;
2) take the car for an hour's drive;
3) on the way back, fill up the gas tank completely;
4) let it idle for 15 seconds, all accessories off;
5) turn off ignition;
6) leave parking brake **OFF**, tranny in gear (if a manual).
7) Now leave it alone. Do NOT start it up once in a while!

The car will be just fine for a couple of months this way, although the
battery may run down if you have unusual parasitic loads.

Starting the car once in a while is the stupidest thing you can do, unless
you intend to drive it for at least an hour before leaving it again.
Starting it once in a while will wash oil from the bores, put fuel, water
and acids in the oil. Dumb. Don't do it.

If you're leaving the car for a long time, expect the battery to be flat
when you get back. Be prepared to remove the battery and put it on a
charger before the car will start. If it's flat, DO NOT jump-start the car
and let the alternator charge it up.

Expect things to seize. Suspensions will creak, rubber seals may stick,
shift linkages may get stiff. Brake rotors will corrode *amazingly* fast
unless the car is out of the weather. Tires will go flat. If there's any
doubt as to the air-tightness of the tires, put the car on stands, with the
stands under the SUSPENSION, to keep it compressed, but the tires off the
ground.

Now if you want to store it for a couple of *years*, that's a whole
different ballgame...

Unless you are going to drive it up to temp, Don't Start it!

G-Man