Cars that sit…

[Tapio Kuosma]

Hi!

I’m thinking of buying a 1990 Mitsubishi Montero (named Pajero here in Finland) for trailing my boat around. I’m going to use this car only for that, since the gasoline consumption for a 3 liter V6 gasoline automatic is what it is.  How long could a car sit before problems start to arise? If I use this car only like maybe once a month or once every two months, would that be enough time to do it any harm? Or would it be a good idea to just take it around the block like once a week? If so, how would you define “around the block”? How many miles (we use the metric system) or for how long?

Thanks in advance!

-Tapio

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[grimsubaru]

Not an expert here, but I have some advice to start with.

1) Don’t park it in grass. Grass evaporates, and leads to underbody corrosion.
2) Don’t park it next to trees (without some cover). The pollen and sap get to it.
3) Don’t park it next to an ant-hill, or a wood pile.
4) Get a rain cover.

My rotors rusted to the brakes. My brake caliper hydraulics seized. I left my car in thunderstorm/sunny weather for 2 months. Other people are going to talk about how your automatic transmission fluid likes to eat water, and since you engine isn’t getting hot you will probably need to change this more frequent (or else rust on the insides of transmission). In fact, since you aren’t driving your automotive (frequency), you’ll be needing to change all fluids more often. Perhaps you should minimally take it for a daily commute once a month. Cause the waist in gas is probably less than the cost of fluids. Vehicles use fluids to protect them-self. Heat prevents water buildup.

When water gets into fluids, the fluids turn more acidic. Acidic fluids eat away at metal and rubber.

I don’t think around the block is enough. You need to get the engine as well as other components to full temp.

[Tapio Kuosma]

Thanks! I will definitely follow these instructions – they make sense to me. B)

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