Improper Winterization fixes

[hmrsrules]

My bike's fine, but we've had a car sitting in our driveway since March and I'm now getting around to figuring out what's wrong.  I replaced the battery (the original problem), but the engine doesn't sound right.  I figured a car sitting and a bike sitting for four months would require similar maintenance and maybe one of you could give me some tips.  I'm planning on replacing the oil, but should I drain and change all the other fluids as well (transmission, coolant, gasoline...)?  Is there anything else I should look at?

Thanks,
Stones

[tt_four]

hmm... it didn't have any problems before you parked it? I can't picture a car sitting for only 4 months caused any real problems aside from the battery.

[VSG]

I'd leave trans fluid and coolant in for now.  Neither would really contribute to a sound that you

I'd replace the gas, it could be starting to gum up.  Maybe the fuel filter too.  Was the gas treated before you left the car sitting?

Four months shouldn't be too bad, but I guess that would depend on what shape the car was in initially.

[Chuck]

A car that's been sitting around might get a dry lifter sound.  (Clackity-clack-clack.)  Basically, the car's been sitting so long that all the oil that normally clings around in the cam area has drained back down into the crank case.  After a short time (a couple of minutes max) the oil should get back up there and quiet things down.

I don't know if that's your problem, since you didn't describe it at all.

If that's not it, can you at least describe why you think there's a problem?

[BaltimoreGS]

+1 to Chuck.

How long did you let it run for?   A lot of the Toyotas get terrible valve noise when they sit around the shop for a week or 2 waiting on parts.  It usually goes away in a few minutes once the oil works its way back into the lifters. 

The only other concerns I would have is condensation in the oil and trans fluid if it experienced varying temperatures and the condition of the gas.  Does the gas still smell like gas?  If not, it is probably stale.  Not a big deal if the car is fuel injected, just top it off with fresh gas.  And like the oil, there may be water in it. Through in a bottle of dry gas.

My 2 cents...

-Jessie

[bill14224]

+2 for Chuck!  Not much info here, but 4 months sitting should only require perhaps a battery charge or a jump.  Always check oil level and condition.. always check oil, always check oil... keep vehicles alive.. always check oil and coolant!    Check the tranny fluid too, but nothing will happen to it in 4 months.

[DoD#i]

Crappy gas or a pre-existing condition. Change fuel filter, add a can of dry gas, top up fuel tank, check all fluid levels, and drive it a few hundred miles. Then fill up the tank again. Should be fine, or the battery was not its only problem.

Crap gas is a definite concern at 4 months, whether bike or car. Not usually such a concern that you need to create a hazardous waste and monetary waste problem by tossing it, but definitely enough to warrant adding some fresh gas.

[KasbeKZ]

this ethonol shiz is loosing its octane after only 3 months now. that, and depending on your car's age, it will cause injectors to stick after a few weeks. it is killing my Z. i've got a stuck injector every time it sits more than a day. it clears right up though.

if it sounds weird though, always do a balance test and find out if it's a miss. because that's easy to fix. so just pull each plug wire or injector plug while it's running and see which one doesn't make a difference. if they all make a difference, you'll have to be more specific in your description

[Chuck]

Crap gas is a definite concern at 4 months, whether bike or car. Not usually such a concern that you need to create a hazardous waste and monetary waste problem by tossing it, but definitely enough to warrant adding some fresh gas.

Good point.  I like to leave about a gallon in the tank when I store my bike.  Even with stabil, it gets pretty krunky after 4-5 months, so the first thing I do in the spring is sputter to the nearest gas station and fill it to the top.  Diluting the old gas is enough to make it run well, although the second full tank definitely runs better than the first.

Alternatively, I drain the gas and put it in my minivan.  With a 26 gallon tank and fuel injection, I don't think it even notices 1 gallon of old gas.