Have to leave rx8 for a month...help with possible problems

02-26-2010 | 07:53 PM

#1

M3D1C

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From: Sacramento, CA

Have to leave rx8 for a month...help with possible problems

Hi, I am in the military and soon to be going to training for a month, now I have no one where I am currently that can take care of my car while I am gone, so it will HAVE to sit for a month until I get back.

Now with that said, what can I do to prevent problems while I am gone? I know I had a flooding problem when I left it sitting for 10 days... would draining the oil before I leave prevent this, or is that a big no no?

I am still new to cars and such, and I don't want anything bad to happen to my pride and joy... any help is appreciated...

Thank you all (feel free to flame if you feel the need to)

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02-26-2010 | 08:19 PM

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Mazurfer

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From: Indialantic, Florida

Draining oil won't do anything in my opinion.
I would put the battery on a trickle charger if you can. You can pick one of those up at any auto parts store.
When you say you flooded it before when you let it sit..............was this because it wouldn't turn over and you had to charge your battery or get a new one?

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02-26-2010 | 08:23 PM

#3

M3D1C

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From: Sacramento, CA

Well, it needed to get deflooded, and I was told the battery was weak, so I got a new one.. also with the trickle thing I just read this

Quote:

A trickle charger, on the other hand, will charge no matter whether the battery is fully charged or not, so it needs to be connected and disconnected periodically. If left in place too long, it will eventually boil the electrolyte out of the cells or damage the plates. Trickle chargers will work to keep the battery charged, if used once a month or so for a day or two, but the float chargers can be left connected indefinitely without potential harm to the battery.

if its left for a month isnt that bad?

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02-26-2010 | 08:29 PM

#4

Mazurfer

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From: Indialantic, Florida

Yeah, it flooded last time due to weak battery, so that's all you really have to do is make sure your battery is good to go when you get back. I honestly haven't heard of what you just found and posted, and I may have used the wrong term "Trickle".
I know there are some that won't over-charge so just ask the guys at the auto parts store, Sears, or where ever you go.

Not sure, but I would just jump it when you get back for that very first time, and maybe disconnect it while gone. If you decide to just do this, then after you do start it, take it for a nice drive of at least 15 miles or so after starting it.

Last edited by Mazurfer; 02-27-2010 at 12:50 PM.

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02-26-2010 | 08:45 PM

#5

M3D1C

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Thanks, that's all I needed to know, im hoping a jump will make it good to go, battery is probably a month old in itself

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02-26-2010 | 09:14 PM

#6

dannobre

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From: Smallville

Best to disconnect the battery......won't have trickle charger problems..or any problems with parasitic draws that kill it...

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02-26-2010 | 09:32 PM

#7

Wurmfist

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From: noneyabusiness

My 8 doesn't leave the garage from about November to April, earlier if they get the salt off the road sooner. And I've never had a problem. I keep the battery tender on it, which turns itself off when the battery doesn't actually need it. I start her up a couple of times to let her get real nice and warm and I've never had a problem with long term storage.

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