LAYING UP 1998

By now many Austin's are "laid-up" for the next three months or so. Perhaps I can make a few observations to make the "re-awakening" less painless.

Can I assume the car has been washed and covered up? Good.

The battery should have clean terminals and starter lead clamps which should be covered in grease. I suggest you disconnect the battery. If your terminals are showing signs of corrosion clean them by dipping them in boiling water before greasing.

I recommend you do not drain your radiator. Fill it with water and I litre of best antifreeze - (dry radiators deteriorate).

Blow up your tyres to, say 30 p.s.i. so they can be reduced to 22 p.s.i. when you recommission the car.

Clean your contact points either before laying up or before you re-start the car.

Finally, the biggest consideration is the petrol.

In my experience and that of many Austin owners, it is evident that modern fuel has a shelf life of six - eight weeks, losing its volatility, so the car won’t start. It is much better to underwrite this possibility.

Just leave enough petrol in the tank to keep the bottom covered - half a gallon? Ideally, just before starting, draw this off and put in a gallon of best. Clean out the float chamber and

replenish with new. The car should then give you no trouble starting.

OK I hear you say "I just got in the car after the winter and it went second pull!" Yes, I know this is the exception but for every one that goes, seven don’t!

By all means try it but if it doesn’t go then what you will almost certainly have to do is change the fuel.

Finally, to run or not to run the engine stationary.

A run round the block every month is ideal.

Running the engine for ten minutes in the garage has some merit. At least it gets the oil warm and thoroughly oils the bores.

The myth that cranking the engine a few times every week or so "gets the oil round" is just that. At best, if you wind the engine like a dervish for two minutes you will get the oil into the galleries and a dribble from the jets. (I know this from bench running.)

Turning the engine a few times at best ensures the valves don’t stick. At worst runs dry pistons up and down the bore (not too good an idea).

To get any benefit from periodic turning, remove plugs, add a couple of teaspoonful of Redex or two-stroke oil in each plug and put the plug in a couple of turns (finger-tight) and crank it. Then this will line the bores with oil (a much better idea).

However, don’t feel too bad if you just put it away and get it out six months later - it still goes in the end....

Mac