Head Gasket/Storing

[Ser3 J]

Well wouldnt you know it....

2 mins after renewing my road tax online - I am full of Xmas cheer...  Top up the landy with oil I think....

  Lots of mayo under oil cap and lost a few pints of water from rad...

I guess = cyl head gasket...

[!Expletive Deleted!].

Im off to a sunny place for 6 months at the end of Feb so the landy will now probably come off the road (On to driveway).  Any top tips on making sure she doesnt dissolve while I am away?  She is a 2.25 Ser3 CSW.  :?:

Whilst I am away a mate will be looking out for a 200Tdi to transfer on my return.

Still - Merry Christmas to you all.

[Range Rover Blues]

Wash it thoroughly.

Remove the battery
Jack it up carefully, axles are best, stress and corrosion make strange allies
Cover or remove the tyres (sunlight)
Gentle draught is better than still, damp air.  Let the air get underneath it but don't park it on grass or other wet surfaces.

Is it going inside or out?

Remove the rocker shaft if possible to leave all the valves closed and dump some redex into the bores
if it's indors leave the doors (car doors) ajar to save the rubbers
take the rad cap off but leave it full off antifreeze
leave the brakes off, wind the shoes back if you can so the brake surfaces rust evenly

service and MOT before you go if possible, then you can tax and drive it when you get back rather than having to fix it and get the brakes working again

[Ser3 J]

RRB,

Thanks!  I will take wheels off and deflate the tyres (and store in garage).  The car will be on the driveway so air should circulate...  I shall back the brakes off etc.

By the way - were you pleased with the sidebars?

John

[Ser3 J]

Ok  :) ,

The truck is on 4 x axle stands.  Tyres are in the garage - but not enough room in there for the truck so it is in the garden.  I have greased the hubs and wrapped them in plastic.  I will waxoil the chassis before I leave.

Next Ques - can anyone recommend a car cover/type of tarpaulin?  I live near the coast (salty air) and think it may be better to cover the landie to cut down on the water/wind exposure and sun damage (?).

Thoughts  :?:

[ed209]

I did see someone build a greenhouse round theirs while going away and left some glass out the bottom to allow a draught and keep down condensation, also the glass was painted white on the inside for obvious reasons.
It was quite effective but was covered under the glass too

[Ser3 J]

:D A greenhouse? :D

A bit excessive for me.  Then again....  

[ed209]

This was a glass one however some curved tubing and thick plastic. . .

[ian_s]

I will take wheels off and deflate the tyres (and store in garage).  

that'll also make it bit harder to steal!

[Ser3 J]

Yep  :P

I even took the fence down to get it in the garden...

So no-one has ever used a cover?!

[ian_s]

i left mine sat under an apple tree, on grass, on its wheels for nigh on 3 years.
went back to it, it was covered in apples and bird droppings, put a fresh battery in it and drove it out.

the only problems i had were the clutch and the brakes. the clutch had seized, and so had all the brake slave cylinders.
there isnt much you can do about the clutch, but covering the hubs in plastic should help stop the brakes from going.

its only 6 months anyway!

[Ser3 J]

Ian,

Ur right of course  :P

Just being over-protective!!  

[ian_s]

i wish i had been more protective
cant be too careful

[Devon-Rover]

Before i got mine going 2 years ago it was belived that the engine hadn't been run for 6 years.  :shock:  Still fresh petrol and battery and away she went.
My mate was regualry away to uni for months at a tme and he just left his in the garage.

I'm sure for 6months it'll be fine.