Contrary to what most people may think or like to imagine, I for one believe that a Car is quite like a human baby, having not only 'a body' but also a 'heart' as well as 'a soul'.

The 'heart' can, perhaps, be equated to its Engine but the 'soul' - well it's somewhat like those of the humans - again difficult to define or fathom.

I am, therefore, convinced that one's Cars have to be almost sung the proverbial 'Lull-a-Byes' - particularly if put to 'Hibernation' and 'Retrieval' there from !!

In the following verbiage, I have tried to put Science behind it all - particularly when more and more people are shutting down their Cars for extended periods - for various reasons

Mothballing a Carb/mpfi Car
(I) Short Term – one to two months.

(II) Long Term > two months

Procedure essentially as above, but with following major ADDITIONS

With the Engine Cold, before first start, take out ~ 0.5 to 0.75 lrs of Coolant/mixture from the Overflow bottle/radiator and replace with equal amount of fresh/pure coolant. This to increase its concentration to ~ 50% during long-term storage to prevent rust formation in the Cooling System.

i) Upon return to the Secure Parking area, after sw off the engine as above, remove all the Spark plugs, squirt at least two tbs pure engine oil into each cylinder and crank the starter a few revs. Put back the SPs normally/finger tight. This is to prevent rust formation within the cylinders.

ii) Hoist all the four road wheels one by one and put a sturdy metal ‘ghodi’ under each wheel at a suitable place, to raise them at least 1” above ground. These cost ~ Rs: 150/- each and are a good investment for all times to come. This will save the tyres from permanent damage at their road contact area.

(III) Re-Start after Storage

i) Check the Coolant/Engine Oil/Brake fluid levels and Tyre pressures. Restore all, as required. Get the 4- Wheels on ground one by one, if jacked for long term.

ii) Look underneath to check whether it's dropped any fluids noticeably. If so, then after topping up/starting, take it to your Garage if 'road worthy'.

iii) Install a fully charged Battery/check Battery Terminals for any Sulphation. If noticed, clean them first with hot water/fine emery paper and reconnect properly.

iv) Shift to neutral, engage Parking Brake fully and turn the key to 'Ingn on' position BUT don't crank the Starter.

v) Upon doing so, in an Mpfi some earlier Carb Cars, you should be able to hear the Elect Fuel Pump come on for a few secs and then go off with a 'click'. Soon after this, give it a 'longish' crank. If your Battery is healthy and the fuel lines aren't clogged, the Car should fire w/o any problem.

vi) For a Carb Car, follow the ‘Cold Start’ instns given in your Owners Handbook.

vii) Once it fires in first/second attempt, let it run on it's own atleast for a couple on minutes to let it stabilise and above all, ensure that sufficient engine oil has reached all the nooks and corners in the engine.

viii) Hereafter, you can drive off gently for the first couple of Kms, depending on your Tyre pressures etc as above.

ix) In case your Battery has flattened out - DON'T attempt to push start any Mpfi Car as it won't start that way and in the process, you can damage its Catcon. Call your Garage to come with a healthy Battery and 'jump-start' Cables to do the needful.

x) Depending upon the extent of 'sulphation' your Battery internals have suffered while it was idle, if it doesn’t get revived even by a ~ 20 kms long road drive during the day, I am afraid then a professional ‘Bench Charge’ is the last resort.

Content generated by S. K. Gupta. - December ’02.