Laying Up

[JohnWilliams6437]

Don't think I am going to get a run this year so laying the car up till better times.
I do the usual (?) things - jack up,prop the clutch,charge battery etc.
There is quite a lot of fuel in the tank- has anyone experience of using 'Fuel Stabiliser' to preserve the tank contents?
I use it in my generator but thats' a small quantity.
JW

[John Murch]

I have used it in the past, but only had the car out of action for about two months. It must be a good idea, anything that (hopefully) reduces corrosion can’t be a bad thing.
These days my car stays in action all winter, if the roads are wet and salty I try and hose off when i get home, I know it won’t get rid of all the salt, but I have to get to the supermarket somehow!

[Iain Warner]

Regarding fuel left standing in the tank, I have found that after winter my 3 litre will quite happily run on the stuff once I have cleaned out the carbs and filled the float chambers with fresh petrol to get the car started. On my first run out I then top up the tank with fresh to dilute the old.
I guess the age of your car / sophistication of the engine design will have a bearing on how well it can cope with stale fuel,

[DavidThompson]

I just try and remember to take it out of the garage every couple of weeks, just to start it up, free the clutch and engage the gears.
My only worry is the coolant. It is very diluted now through regular topping up, but I can't find a drain anywhere.
Should there be one somewhere? The engine is a 4.5.

[John Murch]

There should be a drain plug at the base of the radiator.
I wonder where your coolant is going? I don’t have to top up at all. Are you overfilling with the result that a fair amount is being pushed out of the overflow? Sometimes that is caused by the water foaming, a dose of water wetter can be most effective.

[Iain Warner]

David,
My 3 litre rad has a drain tap protruding down from the nearside of the bottom tank. I am sure this is original and would be surprised if 4 1/2 litre radiators were not provided with similar. Is there a patch on your bottom tank where there used to be a tap?
Iain

[DavidThompson]

There is a bit of a weep from the water pump, and occasionally , the overflow squirts water out if it gets a bit hot especially if I’ve filled it up.
I’ll have another search under the radiator tomorrow to see if I can find the elusive tap. Presumably it should be obvious if it’s there.

[Iain Warner]

David,
To what level are you topping the radiator up? I tend to keep mine at least a couple of inches below the overflow pipe, otherwise when it warms up and expands it just goes out through the overflow.
Have you had a look at the level when the engine is hot? Assuming you have an open overflow and runs at atmospheric pressure this should be ok to carry out, just need gloves to open the rad cap.
Iain

[DavidThompson]

Have found the drain lurking just to the nearside of where the starting handle goes in. Pretty much obscured by it, and I had been looking for a tap rather than just a bolt. I take it this will drain the entire system, and I don’t need search for any other drain points?
Pre war “bangers” I had in my teens generally had taps at various places and I suppose I was expecting the same thing.
The overflow comes up to almost the top of the radiator neck, and I top it up to about two inches below. Good idea to check when hot, and also like the idea of JM’s water wetter.
Just screwed down the water pump gland, which went down easily suggesting more grease is required , and may well be the reason for the weep.

[John Robins]

Beware of air locks!

[John Murch]

David, I found that rather more that 2” was needed, the water pumps can be very enthusiastic!