Laying up your motor?

[Lancerlot]

Unless your using your Porsche for essential journeys during the lockdown period, it makes sense to lay it up until things become a little clearer.

Here are few suggestions on what to do:-

Vehicle Excise Duty: - It makes sense, if you're not using your car on the road to SORN it until such time as it can once again be used.

Insurance: - Some companies will consider "laid up" insurance during the down period, otherwise reduce cover to third party, fire and theft for a premium refund. My renewal is due next week and interestingly, in my case, it was cheaper to go for full comprehensive. TPF&T proved dearer due to there being no excess discount. But I did manged to knock a 100 quid off the premium by removing a named driver and adding £150 voluntary excess. (PCGB'S official insurance broker, Lockton quotation was more than double the premium I am paying.)

Cleaning: - It pays to give the car a good wash including power washing wheels and wheel arches. Dry everything off and avoid corrosion. A leaf blower on metal brake discs and under-floor components is beneficial. []


Condensation: - Fill the fuel tank and leave a couple of small bowls of dry rice inside the cabin to absorb any moisture. Keep a dehumidifier running if possible and WD40 bare metal components, locks etc.

Electrics: - Leave a smart charger connected to maintain battery level. (There's a section on CTek chargers in 991 Register forum - click here).

Tyres: - Pump these up to reduce the contact patch and occasionally roll the car back and forth over the forthcoming weeks.

Wipers: - Pull them off the windscreen to prevent sticking or wrap them in cling film.

Leakages: - Slide a drip tray under both ends and any leakage will become easily identifiable later.

Handbrake: - Leave this off and the car in "park”. Manual transmission leave in low gear with the wheels chocked.

Engine: - Check all fluid levels and intermittently fire the motor up until warm.

Paintwork: - Use a good quality dust sheet to prevent swirls and scratching.

This disruption won't last forever and hopefully we'll all be back to normal and enjoying our cars again very soon. []

Regards,


Clive

 

[mphillips]

Top tips Clive! Thanks ????

 

[kjhurley]

Thanks Clive - very useful.

 

[stevewilkinson]

Clive.

Thank you for this. I was particularly interested in your advice to run the engine up from time to time until warm.

i was unsure about this but I trust your advice.

Steve

 

[paulbarlow]

Thanks Clive - very helpful.
Stay safe.
Paul

 

[kjhurley]

Clearly not as authoritative as Clive’s post, but Harry Metcalfe has today posted this YouTube video around the same subject, which serves to reinforce pretty much everything that Clive has mentioned:

https://youtu.be/cImhs_uwrAU

May be useful, even if we all have not got Countach’s stored away somewhere..!

Keith

 

[spsutton4@hotmail.com]

I was lucky enough to pick up a new 992 Cabriolet at end of February (Jet Black, Burgundy roof, PDK, Sports Design, Chrono etc) as a swap for my 991.2 "T" and absolutely love it. However, I then was lucky enough to go to Mexico, straight back into Lockdown when back here (including two weeks voluntary self-isolation).
Apart from the drive from the OPC on way home after collection I've only done a further 75 miles in 2 months. I'm a bit worried about taking it out due to UK restrictions but am also fretting about not getting any miles under cars belt from new (I know in one way it's a good think and I'm obviously very fortunate to be safe and well in these terrible times but...) and if that's a good think for a new car to just sit in the garage?

I'm meant to be going on a driving tour through Spain and France in mid July in the 992 (who knows if that will happen) and am concerned about venturing on a 2,000 odd mile trip without a little "shakedown" of the car.

Any thoughts on what I could do to mitigate lack of use?

PS, I've lost count of times I've washed the car in the interim!

 

[stevewilkinson]

Hi Steve,

Its not ideal but I would not worry about not using it. I’ve had numerous classic cars over the years that have spent months in a garage covered up. I’ve always had them on a battery conditioner and they start up first time. That even includes a TVR I was bonkers to own once!

my 911 has only done a couple of hundred miles since it was serviced last November and since the beginning of 2020 it’s probably done less than fifty. I have got mine in the garage and get it warmed up and moved once a fortnight as per Clives advice.

you could of course arm yourself with a shopping list and do your once a week trip to Sainsbury’s of course!

Steve

 

[Lancerlot]

I'm meant to be going on a driving tour through Spain and France in mid July in the 992 (who knows if that will happen) and am concerned about venturing on a 2,000 odd mile trip without a little "shakedown" of the car. Any thoughts on what I could do to mitigate lack of use?

Assuming you'll be driving to catch a train or ferry, there will be a few extra miles on the clock before you leave UK anyway. Over the years I've done 3 new car factory collects from Stuttgart, each involving journeys of 2k miles or more and including some spirited laps of the Nürburgring Nordscheife on the way home. Apart from a rock thrown up and cracking the windscreen once - only a couple of miles from the factory gates too[] - I've never had a problem - it's a Porsche after all! []
Regards,

Clive