The Ducati Monster thread got me thinking...

I recently found out that my sister owns a car. It has been sitting there at least since last Xmas when she had her brains meltdown.

Methinks it's a Ford Fiesta. We drive stick down these parts. I stopped driving like 10 years ago when the horses attached to the front of my car got scared and ran away

Any advise on things to do or avoid doing are welcomed.

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If the gas tank was full I would just charge the battery and see if the car will start. If it does start, I ‘d drive it around and burn the old gas. A gas tank that’s partially empty will condense moisture from the air and contaminate the gasoline with water.

I bet your gas doesn’t have ethanol in it, so it should have a better chance of still being good after sitting for 6 months.

Agreed, nothing extreme after only 6 months other than concerns for moisture in fuel and a dead battery. I'd add some Gas-Dri or similar product just to be safe and top off with premium ASAP.

Given you don't know the history, I would certainly check all fluids and tires.

Run some SeaFoam gas treatment in it. That will help clean things up.

Make sure there on no critters living in the air cleaner before starting.

I regularly leave 2 of my cars parked in our garage for the 6 months of Montana winter. I fill them up with non-ethanol gas and disconnect the negative terminal on the battery. I’ve never had a problem doing this.
Mike

quote:

Originally posted by mcrimm:
I regularly leave 2 of my cars parked in our garage for the 6 months of Montana winter. I fill them up with non-ethanol gas and disconnect the negative terminal on the battery. I’ve never had a problem doing this.
Mike

I do the same with my S2000 here in South Dakota.

Check fluid levels.

Start it and drive it.

I use to have a company pickup.

Would only drive my older Yukon at Christmas and summer vacation. Never had problems.

Since I've never actually even sat on the car and my licence has expired, if I dare, I'll try to drive it around the block if at all. The area has become pedestrian friendly and the city has significantly reduced traffic, only limiting it to residents. Its the old Town area.

What trouble should I expect, so I don't panic, to occur while taking it for a very short spin. Rather avoid being caught with an expired license, a dead car and no ideas of what is going on...

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quote:

Originally posted by mcrimm:
I regularly leave 2 of my cars parked in our garage for the 6 months of Montana winter. I fill them up with non-ethanol gas and disconnect the negative terminal on the battery. I’ve never had a problem doing this.
Mike

Agreed. It's interesting to watch guys from the more temperate regions on fishing/boating forums worry about leaving a boat unused for a couple of months. Six plus months of storage is the reality for every boat and "fun car" in the Northern Plains every year. They do fine.

It might run a little rough.

Earlier this summer I started my 67 GTO after sitting with a quarter tank of gas from 8 years ago. Started and ran fine. I ran the quarter tank out, then put 5 gallons in it, then drove it some more.

Only 1 way to find out, start it up!

quote:

Originally posted by bald1:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by mcrimm:
I regularly leave 2 of my cars parked in our garage for the 6 months of Montana winter. I fill them up with non-ethanol gas and disconnect the negative terminal on the battery. I’ve never had a problem doing this.
Mike[/QUOTE

I do the same with my S2000 here in South Dakota.

Interesting - One of my three is a 2006 S2000 in New Formula Red. 40,000 miles and a fresh oil change yesterday.

Mike