# Pickup in Storage **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** ford\ **Created:** [June 2, 2013, 4:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pickup-in-storage/79687 "2013-06-02T04:02:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DanTuch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8e8cbc/32.png) [@DanTuch](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DanTuch)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 4:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pickup-in-storage/79687/1 "2013-06-02T04:02:43Z")
An Army friend is being shipped to Djibouti for a year and will be storing his one year old pickup in a clean, rodent free unit. In addition to adding Stay-Bil to the gas tank, what other measures should he take? Any problem with disconnecting the battery during this period? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pickup-in-storage/79687/2 "2013-06-02T04:07:12Z")
Make sure to charge the battery before starting it When you’re ready to start, prime the fuel system before giving it a go . . . cycle the key off and on a few times to build up fuel pressure You may want to do a synthetic oil and filter change before storing it. Synthetic oil doesn’t break down as quickly If the seats are leather, clean and apply leather conditioner now Leather doesn’t like heat ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 4:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pickup-in-storage/79687/3 "2013-06-02T04:10:47Z")
Disconnecting the negative of the battery is a good idea, so phantom loads don’t completely drain it. Clean off the battery too, esp the top, with a weak sol’n of baking soda and water, then rinse well with plain water, as a current path can develop along the surface of the battery if there is any acidic residue there. Optionally, so the piston rings don’t become stuck, well, I probably wouldn’t bother, but one could remove the spark plugs and put a little oil into the cyclinders and turn the engine a couple of revs by hand, then replace the spark plugs. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 4:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pickup-in-storage/79687/4 "2013-06-02T04:41:44Z")
Aside from putting a fuel stabilizer in the gas tank, I wouldn’t disconnect the battery from the vehicle. On newer vehicles disconecting the battery can cause all sorts of problems. You can read about it here. [http://www.aa1car.com/library/battery\_disconnect\_problems.htm](http://www.aa1car.com/library/battery_disconnect_problems.htm) There are what are called computer smart battery chargers. These chargers will keep the battery charged for any period of time. Here’s an example of such a charger. [http://www.mechanicstoolswarehouse.com/15-amp-Fully-Automatic-Battery-ChargerMaintainer-with-Permanent-Mounting-Bracket-Kit-P132800.aspx](http://www.mechanicstoolswarehouse.com/15-amp-Fully-Automatic-Battery-ChargerMaintainer-with-Permanent-Mounting-Bracket-Kit-P132800.aspx) Tester ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 5:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pickup-in-storage/79687/5 "2013-06-02T05:17:45Z")
The question is if the storage unit has a wall outlet . . . While I respect and use chargers all the time (including professional chargers and trickle chargers), I’m not sure I’d trust one for an entire year . . . ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 5:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pickup-in-storage/79687/6 "2013-06-02T05:48:31Z")
Disconnecting the battery would seem to be the best option. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 5:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pickup-in-storage/79687/7 "2013-06-02T05:55:10Z")
I have a car that sits for months at a time, without being started. Perhaps the truck will start after a year without charging the battery ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 6:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pickup-in-storage/79687/8 "2013-06-02T06:07:19Z")
Those battery tenders are designed for this type of application. That’s what I’d do. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 9:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pickup-in-storage/79687/9 "2013-06-02T09:51:21Z")
The battery should be removed or disconnected and charged every 90 days one way or another…Lead-acid automotive batteries will self-discharge and after a year, many will have become useless if left unattended… ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pickup-in-storage/79687/10 "2013-06-02T19:21:58Z")
There might be an overhead light in the storage unit. You could screw in a lamp older with an outlet like this: > **[Leviton 2-Outlet White Socket with Pull Chain-R52-01406-00W - The Home Depot](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-2-Outlet-White-Socket-with-Pull-Chain-R52-01406-00W/100200635?N=c66j)** > > The Leviton 2-Outlet Socket with Pull Chain converts a single socket into a socket plus 2 outlets. It features a convenient pull chain and a white finish. It comes with a plastic construction and a white finish. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pickup-in-storage/79687/11 "2013-06-02T20:04:03Z")
@Caddyman I agree that a battery discharges itself over a one year period and can become useless. I had a new battery left over when my car was totalled from the rear, and kept it in the basement. One year later the battery was not only dead, but would not take a charge. For a one year period, I definitely suggest taking out the battery and putting it somewhere safe on a battery minder. Or give it away and buy a new one later. I have 2 lead acid lawnmower batteries which I keep in the basement for the winter, and “charge up” once a month. After 4 years, so far, so good. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 9:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pickup-in-storage/79687/12 "2013-06-02T21:00:01Z")
I have noticed that a NEW battery has a much slower self-discharge rate than an older one. Keeping a battery cool or cold greatly slows down the process…Float charging or low-rate continuous charging can cause the positive plates to swell or expand…This can be noticed in batteries with the ends bulged out…