Mothballing diesel car

Hendrik · Dec 15, 2023

Dear Friends, I'd like to hear your wisdom and tips, please. Sorry, it's not tractor related although we do own two vintage tractors ;-)
My son wants to mothball his car for at least two years and we would like to take any measure to ensure it will run and drive again.
The car is a 2004 BMW 120D. The diesel engine is a four cylinder of approx. 120 cubic inch. Common rail injection, turbo, intercooler, automatic transmission, rear wheel drive.
The regular diesel fuel we have is B7, which contains 7% bio diesel.
Some aspects we are thinking of:
- adding fuel stabilizer or fuel conditioner
- oil and filter change
- starting and driving it, say, once a month
- keeping a battery maintainer on it
Thanks in advance!

Mike Groom · Dec 15, 2023

You're not really mothballing it with your description, in my opinion, lots of us collector car owners put our cars in storage over the winter months here in the rust belt, we put stabilizer in the tank and dryer sheets in the interior and wake it up in the spring. That's about six months of sitting doing nothing, it sounds like you plan on driving it about once a month, good idea to keep the seals lubricated and everything working properly. I would add putting a battery maintainer on during that period that you are not driving it, after 30+ years of doing this I have never had a problem.

Russ from MN · Dec 15, 2023

We leave a vehicle sit for about 5 months in the winter, all I do is take one battery cable off, the ground cable. I don't like to leave a charger connected unattended, and this had worked well for us, the last battery lasted over 10 years. When we do this, we reduce the insurance to storage, which saves quite a bit. If you're going to drive it once a month you can't do that. Hopefully you will be storing it inside where the temperature doesn't swing too much, I think that causes problems.

fastfarmall · Dec 15, 2023

I have 4x8 chipboard down on the concrete floor then put a few mothballs on the board and drive the car over not crushing the mothballs,put dryer sheets inside unhook the ground strap, and make sure the car doesn't have any ethanol fuel in the tank !In the case of a diesel car, add something to the fuel to absorb any water condensation!

JMOR · Dec 15, 2023

(quoted from post at 10:32:46 12/15/23) Dear Friends, I'd like to hear your wisdom and tips, please. Sorry, it's not tractor related although we do own two vintage tractors ;-)
My son wants to mothball his car for at least two years and we would like to take any measure to ensure it will run and drive again.
The car is a 2004 BMW 120D. The diesel engine is a four cylinder of approx. 120 cubic inch. Common rail injection, turbo, intercooler, automatic transmission, rear wheel drive.
The regular diesel fuel we have is B7, which contains 7% bio diesel.
Some aspects we are thinking of:
- adding fuel stabilizer or fuel conditioner
- oil and filter change
- starting and driving it, say, once a month
- keeping a battery maintainer on it
Thanks in advance!

have an old truck that I keep in an outbuilding, not driven even once a week and for a time, I had mice chewing on wiring, until I was told, "mice/rats like dark places to chew wires", and that when parked that I should leave hood up/open... I have been doing that for years now and it sure seems to be the right thing to do.

used red MN · Dec 15, 2023

I would suggest something like the fuel additive in the link something to add additional ..lubricity.. to the fuel especially with that biodiesel blend in there. If you have an option of some fuel without blended biodiesel I would suggest you run the fuel tank low and fill it with that. In my opinion driving it every two months in winter and every 3 moths in the summer would be good enough. Drive it at least a half hour so it get good and warmed up. However, if you live in an area that treats the roads with de-iceing agents the winter time driving may be more harmful than good.
Fuel treatment and lube

Blackhole49 · Dec 16, 2023

You don't say whether it will be indoors or not (indoors is best). My experience with battery maintainers (I have 10+ of these): If left plugged in 24/7/365 they can and will over charge a battery. I use mine on smart plugs and run them once a week for a day. Yes to fuel stabilizer. If starting and driving it once a month is an option, definitely. Put some kind of an effective (https://www.amazon.com/DYMPORTS-Bucket-Indoor-Outdoor-Compatible/dp/B0B25JT1GT/ref=sr_1_9?crid=2TC1TNV2LWQM3&keywords=5+gallon+mouse+trap+bucket+lid&qid=1702728675&sprefix=5+gallon+mo%2Caps%2C116&sr=8-9) 5 gallon mouse trap along side the car. I've had good luck with moth balls in a tray inside.
Untitled URL Link

MarkB_MI · Dec 16, 2023

I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to 'fog' the engine.

Driving it once a month is probably the best solution. Not only will exercise the engine, it will keep the brake rotors from rusting and the tires from getting flat spots.
Sta bil fogging oil

Mothballing diesel car

Hendrik

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Mike Groom

Well-known Member

Russ from MN

Well-known Member

fastfarmall

Well-known Member

JMOR

Well-known Member

used red MN

Well-known Member

Blackhole49

Well-known Member

MarkB_MI

Well-known Member

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