Letting a car sit for a while?

[Sniper82]

I have a 2000 Grand Am with a 2.4 and 170k miles. Instead of selling it and getting next to nothing I am gonna let it set for a backup car. Curious though what should I do while keeping it stored? I know it needs a oil change now so should I go ahead and do that? Is there anything else I should do so that if I need it at some point it will remain running condition?

 

[spidey07]

Disconnect the battery. I'd just take it for a short drive once a month, enough to get the motor up to temp and oil moving.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Start it from time to time and let it run for several minutes to keep the fluids moving and keep the battery charged. Once a week would be ideal, though you could get away with every few weeks. If it's been sitting for a while (months), even if it has been started from time to time, make sure to test the brakes, check the serpentine belt for cracks, check the oil, and let it run for several minutes before going on a drive. You'd rather have something go wrong before you leave than once you get half way there.

 

[Thump553]

Have you figured in the cost of insurance, registration, etc. for this standby car? I was going to do this once but when I took a look at the math I decided I could cover quite a few emergency rentals with the savings from dumping the car.

 

[Eli]

Start and drive it at least every couple of weeks.

A 5 minute drive is not acceptable, you want it to reach operating temperature. It can take up to 15-20 minutes for the oil to reach operating temperature, especially in the winter.

 

[LTC8K6]

When you drive it, you need to drive it long enough to get the oil up to operating temp to burn off condensation. A warm up drive and then a 10 minute highway run would be good.

 

[EightySix Four]

Don't forget some fuel stabilizer.

 

[thomsbrain]

If this is going to be a car you want to count on, I'd just plan on driving it once every few weeks. Properly storing a car is a pretty involved process that you aren't going to want to deal with just because your main car is in the shop.