m1r4g3

iTrader: (1)

so long story short, im deployed to afghanistan and my 8 was placed in storage incorrectly. i just want to know the extent of the damage that possibly will ensue. the things that are bad are: not placed on blocks, front passenger tire was deflated, battery still plugged in, half a tank of gas without fuel stabilizer. i go on leave in a couple months, but not to where my car is at(approx 9 hrs away). is it worth it to go back and store it right?

Mazurfer

Tough question based on not sure how long leave is and hours away, but I would.
Seems like you have a good idea of potential issues(problem areas) that may lie ahead, so at least you won't be fumbling about at first and have a good list to start with and hopefully end with!

Hey.....and by the way...........thanks for your service!
I know it sucks over there, but many, many of us do appreciate what you are doing and don't get the chance to say "Thank You" very often.

Razz1

Yes, or get a reliable friend to do it.

However... you need to drive it a little to get the stabilizer mixed in the gas.

You best bet is to have someone disconnect the charger and start it once a month and let it run for 10 to 15 minutes.

DocBeech

iTrader: (1)

you dont need that just get the oil relocation kit and you will be fine. If your really worried summit makes two magnets one is 75lbs of pull the other is 150lbs of pull and they will capture anything the filter misses.

m1r4g3

iTrader: (1)

i plan on an oil change as soon as i get back(not r/r). i dont know what the relocation kit would do for me. as for driving it around, how big of a chance is it that the rim is bent or the tire wont hold the seal anymore.

mazurfer-thanks, it truely is lame over here.

DocBeech

iTrader: (1)

actually that post was meant for another thread and somehow ended up here. not really sure how. sorry about that lol.

yes store it properly to prevent any more damage! plan on new tires, and a new battery. Have someone drain the tank and put in new fuel with stabilizer. it will run crappy but maybe he can get the old out.

where is the car?

m1r4g3

iTrader: (1)

i have heard that fuel will solidify over time, has anyone heard somehting like this? the car is at ft hood

Mazurfer

How long has it been?
Might not have been long enough to really mess it up too terribly bad.
Start with some good octane and give it a go! I do see starting and running issues ahead in your future. It may take some work to get it going, but think you'll be okay. Make sure you take a good battery with you!

Rim............wouldn't worry about it too much. Will you be able to fill it with air? Well, that remains to be seen.


BTW......manual or auto? If manual, you can try and pull start it once you get air in the tire and some good gas in it!

DocBeech

iTrader: (1)

make sure you seafoam it to clean the injectors

Razz1

Don'y woory I have let cars sit for 6 months. No problem with fuel turning into a rock.

Have you been watching too much Harry Potter lately?

m1r4g3

iTrader: (1)

its about six months, leave is a ways away. i loath harry potter. i have to read up on seafoam cuz i was definitley gonna clean the injectors.



and btw, men dont drive automatics...PERIOD!

ASH8

Only 6 mths...you should be FINE, if it was say 2 years perhaps you may have issues..

What to do..

Recharge Battery first (disconnect all terminals), let it charge up slowly, make sure fluid levels in battery are OK..recharge- provided you have a separate battery charger??, I would not Jump Start car.

Check your engine oil level...top if necessary.

Your flat tire may just need air, so do that also while battery is charging and see if the tire stays inflated overnight, check ALL tires for correct pressures...The tire rim should be fine, as long as NO one has moved or driven the car with a flat...Both tire and rim should be OK....Oh, you could make sure that inner tire valve valve is not loose.

Gas, I would not worry, just top it off with fresh.

Apart from that make sure ALL fluid levels are "normal"..like coolant.

Once battery is charged and re-connected..Ground Cable first, start engine and warm up, move steering wheel full lock to left and right to re-set Power Steering and DCS...you MUST do this.

Go for a slow drive to warm up ALL oils, once hot, turn engine off and key to off, and re-start, this will remove the "Car Skid" yellow warning light on dash...again...all normal.

Good luck...and ALL the Best..I admire ALL 'service' personnel.

DocBeech

iTrader: (1)

automatic trucks...

DocBeech

iTrader: (1)

Actually he should replace the tires since they are probably bald spotted. They will never be right again after being smashed through a warm summer...

VashGS

Yea the tire could be screwed the gas will be fine just burn it off.

m1r4g3

iTrader: (1)

i was planing on new tires anyways(geforce kdw's = lame)

JessiahC

iTrader: (5)

Best of luck to you in Afghanistan. I'm leaving there in just a little while. Just want to send a little advice your way.

Regardless of whether he's a great mechanic or not, and will install all the parts you want without charging labor in trade for driving it, do not let your friend watch your RX-8. DON'T DO IT. He will eventually wreck your car, and then when it's time for you to come home, it'll still be in the shop because they don't make Mazdaspeed bumpers anymore, so you have to order something else that takes forever to ship. In addition while your car's in the shop, and he's the only point of contact you have, he'll get a divorce right in the middle of it, and then while dealing with that he'll be impossible to get a hold of, and you won't be able to get any where.

Just a thought.

ASH8

/\..Could not agree more with JessiahC, I would not let Anyone and I mean ANYONE take possession of my car, for whatever reason and for whatever you may think., long or short term.

I have been burned Twice, until I finally realised I will NEVER do it again.

First when I was 20 something, I loaned my personal (owned) 1 yo Mazda B2000 Ute to a work friend with the same name as me. He got drunk one night and totaled it, luckily before Insurance Companies stopped covering DUI here.

Final time was another 20 odd years later, a "mate" took my 1971 Ford Falcon in mint original condition and rolled it on a dirt road embankment (he was leaving his parents place) while "Reaching" for his smokes!!, broke the back of the big Ford.

In both cases No one was hurt, BUT NEVER again, NO one will drive any of my cars without me in it...simple...and this includes anyone from Mazda.

Sorry, JUST DO NOT DO IT...It is not worth ANY of the grief...

JessiahC

iTrader: (5)

Next time that I head out to Afghanistan as a contractor, I'm going to get a storage space, back my car into it, and that's where it'll stay. Air Conditioned and Climate Controlled.

My friend does feel absolutely terrible about it, as well he should. I'm praying my car is fixed before I hit boots on ground in the US. If it's not, there's going to be hell to pay. This was my -second- mistake.

The first mistake I made was letting my girlfriend drive it. She kept begging, "Please! Just around the parking lot?" Then she gave me the puppy eyes that said, "If you don't let me, you're not getting any." So I let her drive it around the parking lot of my apartment, when she pulled into the parking spot, she came in too far, ran into the curb and split my bumper in half and dropped the skid plate.

Sorry to jack your thread. All of the above is true. Especially on what Ash said earlier in his posts. QFT

EDIT: I will never, ever, let anyone drive my car ever again.

DocBeech

iTrader: (1)

Well I wouldn't say not to everyone. My dad worked for hendricks motorsports I think it would be ok to leave it with him.

on a second not get on your regional forums and FIND a rotary owner. Goto the RX7 forums and classics if you have to. I'm sure someone that owns a rotary can look after a rotary for you. The important thing is that someone needs to take it out every two weeks and put some rpms on the engine...