Starting engine in storage

[Eddieb]

Have our van in storage with major European trip planned in March. We check the inside and outside about every two weeks and so far so good. Have been given conflicting advice about starting up and running the engine for 15 minutes and moving back or forward to eliminate tyre flat spots. Any advice guys?

 

[Speve]

There will be those that say you will damage the engine but if you get it to running temperature in 15 minutes I can’t see a problem
I’ll put my tin hat on now

 

[ontheroadagain]

Can you not take it out for a drive?

 

[Speve]

deleted

 

[Ingwe]

I think the not-universal consensus is that running the engine for 15 minutes or so will do more harm than good as it will not reach operating temperature. The preferred suggestion, from what I understand, is it is better to go for a shortish run out maybe 20 miles or so and back. That also deals with tyre spots too.
But I predict experts will be along soon. Good luck on your planned tour.

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[Sapper520]

Ours isn’t in storage, but parked outside our house. If I haven’t used it for a couple of weeks (unusual), then I take it for a 20 to 30 miles run.

 

[Lenny HB]

When not in use I take ours for a 15 - 20 mile run every few weeks.
Modern diesels never get up to operating temperature running on tickover from starting, they should be driven off immediately after starting.
Running stationary on tickover you get condensation within the engine and risk of bores glazing, and the DPF & CAT clog up it can end up costing a fortune to sort, not worth the risk.

 

[Steadycam]

The fiat book says to set off immediately once started. If you run it cold it clogs the dpf more rapidly. When we had the previous van (2017 euro 6) we had an issue and had to briefly run the engine a few times. After that kept getting the triangle warning which came on at start up for a few short journeys. All sorted when we went on a journey and it got a blast and really hot. So we found driving out on a journey of some miles not starting it to tick over has kept this issue away.

 

[DT]

Good advice from Lenny diesels are best used hard and often.

 

[PP Bear]

What’s the year and what’s the engine.

Just start it up and run it, I do mine once a week when I can’t get out and have done for many many years.

Just do what you feel is right, but me, I’d broom broom broom and I put something on the pedal to run around 1100-1200rpm.

Makes you wonder how new ice cream vans run all day long, as well as many other vehicles.

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[Geoff185]

Biggest issue is the cold start, over fuelling and incomplete combustion leads to bore wash, oil contamination from fuel and high soot, hence the catalyst and dpf blocking. Better to start and drive it, once up to temp idling not so much of an issue as combustion control is better when hot.

 

[robnchris]

Starting up and running on tick over will just polish the cylinder bores, how long do you think an engine is left not running after it has been manufactured, keep the fuel tank topped up, batteries on a trickle charge, remove all soft furnishing from tab area, open all doors and cupboards, fridge etc, toilet seat up and remove all food.
You motorhome will be ready for you after the winter months.

 

[VXman]

There will be those that say you will damage the engine but if you get it to running temperature in 15 minutes I can’t see a problem
I’ll put my tin hat on now

Depends on the age of the engine, Older engine probably fine (although most engine wear will happen in the first few minutes of running while oil/parts warm up so too much of this kind of activity shorten the life span of the engine)

Modern diesel engines will clog up/damage the DPF if run from cold too often (Diesel particular filter) and these are expensive to replace.

 

[VXman]

Makes you wonder how new ice cream vans run all day long, as well as many other vehicles.

Its more the starting running from cold that is the issue. If you run it for 15 mins its hardly getting to temp and then you are switching it off. Once up to temperature it's not as much of an issue.

 

[VXman]

running the engine for 15 minutes and moving back or forward to eliminate tyre flat spots. Any advice guys?

Over inflate the tyres whilst stored.

I left my 2 cars for 3 years without being moved when I worked abroad. Just disconnected the batteries. They were fine when I got back and been fine since. One battery is now 13 years old!

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[Conal]

My problem was the battery going flat. I hope that I have solved this by buying a second battery and will swop them every two weeks. After four days of below freezing I stopped them the first time. I will also keep a record (from now on) of the batteries voltage levels when I take them out.

 

[PP Bear]

Its more the starting running from cold that is the issue. If you run it for 15 mins its hardly getting to temp and then you are switching it off. Once up to temperature it's not as much of an issue.

Always run mine for an hour, gets nice and warm (but not up to optimum running temp, it needs to be driven and under load for that), charges batteries, especially when the suns so low in the sky, those pesky trees get in the way and the solar panels are nearly always mucky and puffs around some warmer air.

My vans like my man cave and the more time I spend in there, the happier I am

 

[tonyidle]

I left mine for 9 months during Covid restrictions. It was connected to EHU otherwise untouched. After that time it started as if it had been parked for a day. The tyres were still round. Unless the engine can be run whilst the van is on a decent run (25 miles+) I prefer to leave well alone.

 

[Steve N Tracy]

We always said it takes about 20 mins running to put back into the battery what starting takes out.