To Run or Not ?

Euromobil

Euromobil

Free Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2009
Posts
237
Likes collected
793
Location
hampshire
Funster No
7,223
MH
Adria Coral
Exp
Since 2010
Normally I like to take the van out once a month over the winter just to give it a run. With new regulations that's not going to happen " just felt like going for a drive officer"

So what is best? just leave it standing in the same spot? or move it slightly on the drive ? I seem to remember if you start an engine, unless you warm it up you do more harm than good, also it's not good to just let it tick-over.

So if poss thoughts from those with knowledge of modern (2012) diesels appreciated.
 
Modern oils and engines don’t suffer like the earlier days. I run mine up regularly and wait for it to reach normal operating temperature on the temp gauge. It’ll help circulate the oil.

I’d do it once a week if left outside.

As to the brakes, it’ll be these that can suffer the worse, especially as they’re bare metal and exposed to all the elements. Luckily we’re heading into the summer, so less likely to have been parked up with damp salty water from grit spreading.

I’d take it out to get your normal shopping, as that’ll do it the world of good. It’ll also shift the oil around in the gearbox.
 
Jim said:
Most modern vans will survive a 3-month layup without blinking . Keep your tyres pumped up and your battery topped up, (y)
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Agree, consider how long the running gear of the base unit will be sat around after leaving Ford or wherever before the converter decides to start work on it.
 
Jim said:
When out during the lockdown, what if you breakdown or have an accident?

Most modern vans will survive a 3-month layup without blinking . Keep your tyres pumped up and your battery topped up, (y)
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Thanks, that's what I will do, only live 100 yds from Waitrose so be hard to justify using the van
 
Jim said:
When out during the lockdown, what if you breakdown or have an accident?

Most modern vans will survive a 3-month layup without blinking . Keep your tyres pumped up and your battery topped up, (y)
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You could do that on your shopping run in the car,,BUSBY.
 
Euromobil said:
Thanks, that's what I will do, only live 100 yds from Waitrose so be hard to justify using the van
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Waitrose....Posh or what..Our nearest is Aldi and Lidl..BUSBY :LOL: :LOL:

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Maybe stick some injector cleaner jollop in the fuel when you run it up ?
 
Our van sits for months without being started, the solar keeps the batteries full, and I put wheel covers on, it stops the disc from rusting, I think keep starting it without giving it a good run does more harm than good. ? Bob.
 
Got an email from the storage yard today they are closing form Sunday night so not going to be an option for us.
 
mickyc said:
Why not take it on your next grocery run instead of the car?
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That is certainly our idea.

Just in case we are stopped by police, believing that we are holidaying, we have emptied the water, wardrobe and food cupboards. Our “fixed” bed is left unmade.
 
Also a good idea not to have the handbrake on to stop them binding to the discs over time.

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maison said:
That is certainly our idea.

Just in case we are stopped by police, believing that we are holidaying, we have emptied the water, wardrobe and food cupboards. Our “fixed” bed is left unmade.
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I dont reckon any sensible police will be looking too closely at the contents of your motorhome. ?
 
If you have room on your driveway,I would run it back and forth a few times just to get the clutch and brakes used.
IMO once a month is adequate.
 
MichaelT said:
Got an email from the storage yard today they are closing form Sunday night so not going to be an option for us.
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Brought our MH home last week in anticipation of something like this. No solar and no EHU in storage, so better hooked up on our drive for the duration. Plan to use one shopping trip a month to give it a run.
 
Vic. Parsons. said:
I dont reckon any sensible police will be looking too closely at the contents of your motorhome. ?
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Emphasis on the word “sensible”.

In case of the awkward one it should suffice. It is already stripped out in view of the fact that we will not be going away. So no extra work was required.
 
How many months are vans sat at dealers before being sold ? They don’t run them up

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Good point denisejoe,
but then they don't really care of any future problems resulting from this, only that you will be back to them to have said problems fixed at your expense as they will deny any responsibility.
 
Mine's in the storage compound, slightly off the ground on the E & P hydraulics levellers. I suppose it's taking the pressure off the tyres and I can leave the handbrake off, but I do worry about the engine battery. Left it for 5 weeks over Christmas and needed a jump start. The leisure batteries seem to be topped up by the solar panel ok. The compound is still accessible at the moment so, during these extreme times, would it really be that bad if I popped in (assuming I can) and run the engine for 15 mins? Would driving it slowly round the compound in first or second gear be better? Thoughts and advice appreciated.
 
Smi66y said:
Mine's in the storage compound, slightly off the ground on the E & P hydraulics levellers. I suppose it's taking the pressure off the tyres and I can leave the handbrake off, but I do worry about the engine battery. Left it for 5 weeks over Christmas and needed a jump start. The leisure batteries seem to be topped up by the solar panel ok. The compound is still accessible at the moment so, during these extreme times, would it really be that bad if I popped in (assuming I can) and run the engine for 15 mins? Would driving it slowly round the compound in first or second gear be better? Thoughts and advice appreciated.
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Yes,and Yes!
Shame the solar panel doesn’t put some juice into the vehicle battery. Is that because it is small,not enough sun,or wired up just for leisure?
 
Jim said:
When out during the lockdown, what if you breakdown or have an accident?

Most modern vans will survive a 3-month layup without blinking . Keep your tyres pumped up and your battery topped up, (y)
Click to expand...
The trouble is that we werent given any warning of this, so for various reasons this year mine already hasnt had a decent run for well over 3 months and could do with it.

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As you can tell I'm not that technical. It's a 100 ah solar panel but I'm assuming it's just wired to the leisure batteries. Would there be a good reason to do that and not to the vehicle battery as well?
 
Podney said:
Yes,and Yes!
Shame the solar panel doesn’t put some juice into the vehicle battery. Is that because it is small,not enough sun,or wired up just for leisure?
Click to expand...
As you can tell I'm not that technical. It's a 100 ah solar panel but I'm assuming it's just wired to the leisure batteries. Would there be a good reason to do that and not to the vehicle battery as well?

Sorry Podney, should have quoted your kind response, just getting used to the etiquette of the forums.
 
I'm kinda lucky here, our old motorhome has an old fashioned diesel & the only modern thing about it is the turbo.
I've had the old girl started today & will move the car back tomorrow so that I can turn the motorhome wheels a bit, the tyres are a year old today so I'm determined not to damage them.

Just to reiterate, leave your handbrake off or it'll be guaranteed to seize & depress your clutch a few times if you have your van running, clutches have been known to seize too.
 
ambulancekidd said:
I'm kinda lucky here, our old motorhome has an old fashioned diesel & the only modern thing about it is the turbo.
I've had the old girl started today & will move the car back tomorrow so that I can turn the motorhome wheels a bit, the tyres are a year old today so I'm determined not to damage them.

Just to reiterate, leave your handbrake off or it'll be guaranteed to seize & depress your clutch a few times if you have your van running, clutches have been known to seize too.
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Thanks for the advice. I think i will try to run it slowly round the compound some time in the next 2 weeks. If others have the same idea it could be fun with numerous mohos doing the 200m circuit of the compound!
 
Ours didn’t have a good run last year as Denise was going in to hospital every week, but the solar keeps both sets of batteries topped u.

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