[Mini] Storing a Mini

[Andy Hayward]

Hi Jeff,
             Here are some suggestions I have used to good effect:

  - Best to drain the petrol, it does not keep well anyway if there is 
any in the tank over winter it will cause humidity to collect on the 
surfaces above the level of liquid which will cause rust on the inside 
of the tank, which will get sucked into the carb and gum up the ports 
etc. The tank will deteriorate as well and if this happens regularly it 
will cause pinhole petrol leaks.
  - I'd put axle stands under each wheel and lift the tyres of the 
ground, thus protecting the tyres from having flat surfaces and 
vibrations, and also quickening tyre ageing due to stretching of the 
sidewalls for long periods.
  - Lower tyre pressures (including spare) to keep them in good nick and 
slow ageing.
  - Might be worth removing fuses to avoid any tarnishing between 
contacts and electrical oddities just when you don't want it!
  - Allow air to flow through the car to stop any humidity spoiling all 
materials and leaving markings all over glass that can be hard to remove.
  - Leave plugs screwed loosely into the head cylinder, stops dust and 
grit etc. falling in, and keeps threads clean.
  - Give the screen seals a rubber protection treatment to stop them 
going hard and cracking/splitting etc.
  - Lightly grease wheel nut threads.
  - If using mechanical distributor points; open the points and insert 
clean thin card or plastic between the surfaces then let them close 
against it, keeps them good for the restart when needed (don't forget to 
remove it again when putting Mini back into service!)

Before using the Mini again, remove rear brake drums to check the the 
brake slave cylinders have not started leaking.

Enough to keep you busy for a while.

Bye...Andy in Norwich





On 03/08/2020 18:28, Jeff Fenwick wrote:
> Hope everyone is managing as well as possible in these pandemic times.
> Have really enjoyed the flurry of activity on this list recently!
> I have decided I won’t be running my “daily driver” Mini this year.
> I am fortunate to be able to work from home a lot of the time, and to 
> be honest sometimes a week goes by that I don’t drive at all, and I 
> have to remember to take my Nissan out to knock the rust off the discs 
> after it rains.
> When I put the car away for the winter (dry garage), I changed the 
> oil, washed and waxed, put it on stands for a nut-and-bolt check, 
> greased, put 2 teaspoons of oil in each cylinder and cranked over, and 
> disconnected the battery.
> Here’s what I thought to do once a month:
> - turn the engine and wheels by hand a few revolutions
> - steering lock to lock
> - operate throttle, brakes, clutch, gearshift and handbrake
> - operate all switches
> - make brmm, brmm noises while doing this
> - trickle charge the battery for a day
> What about the petrol? Tank is full and I put in stabilizer but a year 
> from now, I suppose it will not be so good?
> Cheers, Jeff
>
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