Auto Storage Question

[Lazy Ace]

As you may or may not remember, my son enlisted in the navy recently. He entered boot camp on July 29th. He will be heading to Pensacola, Florida after boot, assuming he survives boot!

My question is this: he left his 2000 Corolla here and will be having it shipped to him in Pensacola around the first of the year. Is there anything I should do to the car to store it for the next four or five months?

The car won’t be driven at all during this time. Should the carb be treated like you would do to an outboard for winter storage? Should the gas tank be filled to prevent condensation? Should the engine be run periodically to prevent rust and shellac from forming? What’s the opinion of this forum?

[docav8r]

Congrats to your son on choice of services- All the Navy folks get to deal with this because of the lovely 6+ month "cruises". Since the car will be with you. I would just drive the car instead of yours to work once/twice a week and make sure you get a little highway time on it. I've had my wife, parents and friends do this for me at one point or another. After the time period, a tune up with oil change should have everything running great.

[Tundra_Jules]

I seriously doubt that it's carberated, more likely that it's fuel injected. Anyway, a car that is stored should have the oil changed every 6 months at least. Other than that I'm not sure. If driving it once a week is a possibility then that is what I would do.

[Lazy Ace]

Thanks guys. Good advice as always. Tundra Jules, you’re absolutely correct. Of coarse it’s not naturally aspirated. My brain is still back in the sixties!

docav8r, the reason Kevin (my son) will be heading down your way is that he tested and was accepted into “aircrew”. His actual goal is to fly P3s but he will be schooled on all the other aircrew stuff first. This is assuming he makes it through Great Lakes and then the 5 weeks of pt down in Pensacola.

He won’t have any problems with the mental; it’s the physical that concerns me. He’s 23 and will have to due remedial pt at Great Lakes just to prepare for Pensacola. I wish him well.

Myself, I went through Paris Island back in the late sixties. That was different though. It was a long time ago and it was me, not him. I guess I’ve become a little bit of a worrywart in my old age but I’m still damned proud of him.

[docav8r]

Lazy Ace,
Don't worry... Be Happy! Kevin will do just fine and A LOT of people do remedial PT. Aircrew is demanding and it will definitely challenge him. This is my third time in P-cola. I met my wife at P-cola in OIS. I was a flight surgeon on the USS Stennis and got picked up for pilot transition so now I am in Meridian, MS training in the T-45's (hence user name doc...av8r, but my avatar is me solo in a T-2C Buckeye). The reason I tell you this is that I see all aviation personnel come through my clinic all the time. They have the usual training where he will be told he is not good enough and is weak and will discover his own determination. As long as he is motivated and puts in the effort he will do great. I feel like I have the best job in the world and Naval Aviation is very rewarding and satisfying and I am sure Kevin will come to that same conclusion Remember all the physical stuff IS mental so just like the little choo choo train says " I think I can.........

[SulVento]

Doc is right

I spent over a decade as a Parachute Rigger in the Navy, and did my time instructing aircrew folks in P-Cola and Jacksonville.

The BIGGEST hurdle for any of those (gulp) "young" guys is the mental portion of it. I saw more folks fail cuz they were convinced they "couldnt do it" then I did cuz they actually COULDNT do it.....make sense?

He'll be fine.....keep positive, offer him encouragement...(and btw, remedial PT is common, not an exception)


oh! on the car thing! Don't just "dry store" it till January. You can store it sure, but do what has already been suggested....drive it once or twice a week, make sure you hit highway speeds with it, keep it lubed and gassed up, it'll be fine.

(<===he who did numerous deployments)

Best of luck!

[Frogeye]

I have to agree with running and driving it as much as you can. I have an antique sports car that I at least try to run as often as possible over the winter months. Letting a car just sit is the hardest you can be on it.

[Lazy Ace]

You guys are the greatest! I’ll pass along the info you have provided to my son. Oh yeah, thanks for the car tips too!