Since uncle Sam will not let me take my car over to the desert (yes, I did ask and they said no on both the Suburban and Bonnie ), so I will have to store both while I am gone.

I do plan on changing the oil about 2 weeks before I go, on both vehicles.

So what else? I wanted to hear ALL recmondations for storage prep

Ship them to Rochester, ny. I'll take good care of them while you are gone...

Take all the spark plugs out, and put about a tablespoon of oil in each one, and put the plugs back in.

Definately fuel stabilizer if you don't plan to drain the tank. Disconnect the battery or get a battery tender (though make sure it is a float charger or it can possibly boil off the battery, and if left connected to the electrical system it can kill the voltage regulator in the alternator). Depending on how long you will be gone, you may want to raise your vehicles off the ground on jackstands to keep the tires from possibly flat spotting (radials do it less than bias ply, however they can develop stress cracks in the sidewall just the same - I know from experience). Others will chime in with ideas.

One thing you may also want to do is arrange for someone to start and run your vehicles for a few minutes each month simply to maintain them.

Tom

See if they'll let you take a door with you. That way, when it gets hot you can roll the window down....

Serioulsy, though, I don't know if draining the tank is recommended on our cars (I've heard bad things about FI engines and no gas in the system) so at least look into the stabilizer. Or someone to start them for you every once in a while

If you can swing it financially, get them stored in a garage, preferrable with no windows, and then cover them both with quality car covers.

There are solar powered battery tenders available, if you decide to go that route.

Don't drain the fuel. Store the FULL. There is less room for moisture condensation that way. Fuel stabilizer may help also, but I've personally had no issues with non-driving vehicles through Oregon winters here (nearly 6 months, two years in a row).

I will pick up some fuel stabilizer tomorrow; enough for all three vehicles

I filled up the Burb today - $56. I gues it could be worse

I had someone say to put trans fluid in the oil. It'* suppose to help keep the valvs from becoming sticky. Any thoughts?

Yeah, store the tank full with stabilizer, prevents inner tank corrosion, maybe put it on jackstands or blocks but that isn't really important, just good for the tires. Be sure to clean the interior and exterior really well. Exterior so that nothing has a chance to just sit and rot or ruin the paint and the interior because trash is never fun to come back to and also if it gets hot in the car during storage, stuff can rot, melt, etc. also be sure you have no standing water under the carpet or in the trunk or anything. oil change and you should be golden!

Encase them in carbonite. They should be quite well-preserved.