How to store my 300tdi for a year?

[Plutei]

I'll need to store my defender from January to January, it'll be parked in my parents driveway and be unregistered.
Aside from the obvious things when mothballing, like a car cover, battery discharge, and preventing tyre deformation, I'm not sure what to do in term of storing dry vs wet.
If wet my parents could take it for a short drive every now and then (yes illegal, but we have a long driveway and on a cul-de-sac), but if it isn't bad for the car then I'm perfectly happy setting it up for total dry storage.
What things can go wrong in either situation? Which have you done? Anything that needs to be considered for Defenders is particular, internal corrosion perhaps?

[rovercare]

Pay the reg, have your parents drive it once a fortnight, far better for the vehicle than sitting outdoors idle

[Kayak1]

Pay the reg, have your parents drive it once a fortnight, far better for the vehicle than sitting outdoors idle

^^^^^^^^^^^ what he said

[spudfan]

Put it up on axle stands and it can be driven without going out on to the public highway. Put something like damp course between the axles and the axle stands. If it's to be stored outside open all of the days regularly to air it out and kill any dampness (might not be applicable to Australia). Wash it regularly to keep the crud and bird droppings from building up. A polishing now and then will protect the paint.

[rovercare]

It's the moisture that ruins a sitting car, driving it, on the road, allows airflow and generated heat to remove the moisture, which is very damaging

Sitting cars deteriorate so much quicker than driven cars, unless stored in a dry shed....and by dry, not just undercover, lots of sheds have large amounts of moisture

Car cover on a car stored outside is possibly the wort thing you could do

[isuzurover]

I parked my 110 for 3 years on my uncle's farm (QLD) with no ill effects. Changed the oils before and after storage.

My uncle offered to run it once every few weeks around the farm but it probably wouldn't have gotten hot enough to boil off the moisture from the engine, so I instead opted to leave it sit. Repeated cold starts are tough on engines and soot up / acidify the engine oil.

If your parents can give it a proper run on the highway to get everything up to full operating temps that probably would be the best option though.

[DeanoH]

For a nominal fee, I'll let you store it at my place as long as the rego is paid and there is sufficient fuel provided to take it out on weekends (purely in the interest of keeping things ticking over OK :D).

I know, I know, generous to a tee that's me. :D;)

Deano :)

[Plutei]

Repeated cold starts are tough on engines

This is my major concern. My parents don't drive much at all as it is, only have the one car between them that sits idle except for short runs during the week or holiday trips.

[Plutei]

It's the moisture that ruins a sitting car ...
Car cover on a car stored outside is possibly the wort thing you could do

Never considered that, thanks

[isuzurover]

Never considered that, thanks

I have seen several cars for sale with roofs with rust or buggered paint because they were stored outdoors with tarps on them.

Use a breathable cloth cover if you use one at all.

Also worth looking into the price of a storage shed rather than keep it out in the open.

[EastFreo]

Keep it registered. May end up costing more having to put it back over the pits and rectify some minor ailments you aren't even aware of.

[DiscoMick]

We stored our D1 for 3 years. Kept it registered and the BIL drove it weekly. Problems to watch include condensation and rats and mice etc making a home in it. Parts left unused for long periods can dry out and sieze or crack. If its unregistered you will have to pay for an inspection to re-register. I would go nuts with lanolin to discourage rust.

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[isuzurover]

Keep it registered. May end up costing more having to put it back over the pits and rectify some minor ailments you aren't even aware of.

The OP is in NSW. Which requires an annual roadworthy. Your argument is therefore moot.

[Plutei]

Keep it registered. May end up costing more having to put it back over the pits and rectify some minor ailments you aren't even aware of.


If its unregistered you will have to pay for an inspection to re-register. I would go nuts with lanolin to discourage rust.


Blue slip (inspection for unregistered vehicles or interstate transfers) is only $25 more than a pink slip (yearly inspection slip), so not a consideration.

Lanolin is a good idea, was tossing up rust prevention options.