Long Term 3 Year Storage

[DaveVancouver]

When I parked my 2018 Cali Diesel in Portugal in Oct. 2019, I never expected Covid would prevent me from returning from Canada until now. Almost 3 years later, I'm afraid of damaging the mechanics by driving it 30 km to the VW dealer. Should I just have it towed?

 

[kurienp]

When I parked my 2018 Cali Diesel in Portugal in Oct. 2019, I never expected Covid would prevent me from returning from Canada until now. Almost 3 years later, I'm afraid of damaging the mechanics by driving it 30 km to the VW dealer. Should I just have it towed?

Hello Dave, I was about to write that it will be fine, but come to think of it, the diesel may have gone stale and that can possibly cause damage to the injectors. Are you planning to get them to drop the tank to clean out the fuel during the service? , Then yes, I would suspect that you should tow the van to the service centre

My question though would be - has the van not been started at at all? Also, what instructions do you plan to give to the garage on service needs?

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[pluc99]

I would play it safe and have it towed.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Diesel goes off after about 6-12 months, the warmer the ambient temp the quicker it degrades.

You need to get the tank drained and refilled with new fuel. Don’t drive it or you risk damaging the fuel injection system which could be an expensive fix.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

There is always going to be an amount of old fuel in your tank unless you run it until it’s very nearly empty, then refill it. I do and always have kept my tank topped up. A proportion of the fuel in my tank may be 3 years old although it’s mixed with new fuel. What happens in this situation?

 

[WelshGas]

When I parked my 2018 Cali Diesel in Portugal in Oct. 2019, I never expected Covid would prevent me from returning from Canada until now. Almost 3 years later, I'm afraid of damaging the mechanics by driving it 30 km to the VW dealer. Should I just have it towed?

Not towed. Low loader. ALL fluids/filters changed. AirCon recharged. Gearbox and Haldex oil change if 4 motion. Fuel drained and replaced.
Unless it has been on Hookup all 3 batteries will need replacing and tyres may need replacing if the wheels have not been turned regularly or the vehicle not on axle stands.
Brakes examined with wheels off.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

It gets further diluted/mixed everytime you fill up. So your 'old' fuel becomes 'new' fuel.

Not quite. All depends how much “New fuel” is put in. It’s an 80 litre tank and topping up with 10 ltrs isn’t going to make it new again. Now filling up with 70 ltrs, yes.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

How many miles do you cover in a year?

24000 in 7 years

 

[Ozzy Pete]

24000 in 7 years

But don’t really see what my annual mileage has got to do with the fuel in my tank. When we travel to Southern Spain the fuel gets added regularly. When we potter locally in full Covid almost 2 years and very few miles like everyone else. Unless you weren’t following the rules.

 

[WelshGas]

But don’t really see what my annual mileage has got to do with the fuel in my tank. When we travel to Southern Spain the fuel gets added regularly. When we potter locally in full Covid almost 2 years and very few miles like everyone else. Unless you weren’t following the rules.

24000 in 7 yrs about 3,500 miles/ Yr so about 560L of fuel /Yr ( assuming about 500 miles / 80L.

Whereas I've done 108,500 miles in 7 yrs, 15,500 miles /Yr hence 2,480 L / Yr.

So the dilutional effect of new fuel is greater in my tank than yours.

As long as a substantial volume of new fuel is added a maximum of every 6 months there should be no problem with diesel degradation.

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

No chance of diluting my diesel today. None in my village BP station.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

No chance of diluting my diesel today. None in my village BP station.

Asda are now selling it at 3p off. Yippee.......

 

[DaveVancouver]

Not towed. Low loader. ALL fluids/filters changed. AirCon recharged. Gearbox and Haldex oil change if 4 motion. Fuel drained and replaced.
Unless it has been on Hookup all 3 batteries will need replacing and tyres may need replacing if the wheels have not been turned regularly or the vehicle not on axle stands.
Brakes examined with wheels off.

Hello WelshGas ... Thanks for some great tips ... yes I'll definitely dump the diesel ... and us a low loader to the Dealer. Sounds like my 3 Year Covid hiatus is going to cost me some serious money. Cheers Dave

 

[WelshGas]

Hello WelshGas ... Thanks for some great tips ... yes I'll definitely dump the diesel ... and us a low loader to the Dealer. Sounds like my 3 Year Covid hiatus is going to cost me some serious money. Cheers Dave

I’m afraid so. But look on the bright side some of the items would have had to be done over the last 3 yrs or so during the missed services.

 

[DaveVancouver]

Thanks everyone for some great tips. Looking forward to some great camping on my upcoming 3 Month visit in August. Cheers

 

[Ozzy Pete]

24000 in 7 yrs about 3,500 miles/ Yr so about 560L of fuel /Yr ( assuming about 500 miles / 80L.

Whereas I've done 108,500 miles in 7 yrs, 15,500 miles /Yr hence 2,480 L / Yr.

So the dilutional effect of new fuel is greater in my tank than yours.

As long as a substantial volume of new fuel is added a maximum of every 6 months there should be no problem with diesel degradation.

So you freely admit you have been doing 15500 miles per year when Everyone was told not to travel because of the spread of Covid.
Or maybe you didn’t travel over the past 2 years like most people in the UK. Being retired it must have been difficult to do 300 miles per week.

 

[WelshGas]

So you freely admit you have been doing 15500 miles per year when Everyone was told not to travel because of the spread of Covid.
Or maybe you didn’t travel over the past 2 years like most people in the UK. Being retired it must have been difficult to do 300 miles per week.

Averaged 10,000+-/yr 2020/21 delivering medicines and food parcels to those in Isolation + travel when we were allowed. Remember, the California can be used everyday, not just for holidays.
What did you do?

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Averaged 10,000/yr 2020/21 delivering medicines and food parcels to those in Isolation + travel when we were allowed. Remember, the California can be used everyday, not just for holidays.
What did you do?

Looks like I hit a nerve.... 108 k miles 115 k miles. 7 years old 8 years old. What’s your reg number?

 

[WelshGas]

Looks like I hit a nerve.... 108 k miles 115 k miles. 7 years old 8 years old. What’s your reg number?

Registered 1st December 2014. 8 yrs old in 4 months. Now on 115,426 miles as of today.

Looks like I hit a nerve.... 108 k miles 115 k miles. 7 years old 8 years old. What’s your reg number?

Not at all.
Why would you want my Reg Number? Checking up on my milage via DVLA?
I‘ll save you the bother.
Please note MOTs carried out in early November.

 

[Amarillo]

So you freely admit you have been doing 15500 miles per year when Everyone was told not to travel because of the spread of Covid.
Or maybe you didn’t travel over the past 2 years like most people in the UK. Being retired it must have been difficult to do 300 miles per week.

I don’t remember being told not to travel. I do remember being told to stay at home unless a “reasonable excuse” to be away from home.

 

[scottk]

I don’t remember being told not to travel. I do remember being told to stay at home unless a “reasonable excuse” to be away from home.

We were allowed to travel within our council area. For me that was all the way to Braemar about 80 miles each way. Very lucky to live in Aberdeenshire. I was also going to work as we were classed as key workers (not a term I would use for what I do).

 

[Velma's Dad]

I don’t remember being told not to travel. I do remember being told to stay at home unless a “reasonable excuse” to be away from home.

How are the chickens, by the way?

 

[Amarillo]

How are the chickens, by the way?

The whole flock were slaughtered by a fox and deposited on our neighbour’s lawns both up and down the road.

We now have a new flock and extra security measures, but the latest problem is an infestation of rats. I have absolutely no idea how large rats can fit through wire mesh 2cm wide, but I’ve seen it done!