I will be deploying soon and I will have to leave my DMAX behind. What do I need to do to get here ready for the 7 months that I will be gone. I know I will have to disconnect the battery. I will also have a Noah truck cover on her to keep the sun and dust off her. Is there anything else I should done?

I would put some fuel saver in your tank. I can not remember what the stuff is called off hand, but it keeps your fuel fresh for a long period of time.


I would also change the oil before storing and when you go to start it up I would change it out with new to coat the upper parts.


Put some sort of anti moisture salt bags in the cab to keep any mildew from forming. Keep all the windows closed.


You could also put your truck on stands to relax the suspension and the tires.

Good advice in the previous post. The other thing I would do is make sure your fuel tank is full, and it probably would not hurt to put a shot of biocide in the tank along with a double dose of Standyne. Put the addatives in before your last fill up just be storing it to get the treated fuel throughout the system. Top the tank when you store it.

Jim

Road Boss


I don't now if you have rodent problems such as mice, rats If so moth balls work good laying on top of the engine and maybe stuff a rag into the exaust. Rats for some reason love to chew on wires. When you return be sure to look under the air cleaner as they will build a nest in there. Also bags of mothballs hanging under the truck will keep all the insects out from under your cover. It happened to me but not since I started the moth balls. Good luck over there and return safely.


Genohttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Hug.gif

Everyone has great idea's but here is my two cents and nothing more.First of all take care of yourself overseas.Do your job and don't be a hero,you already are.Second upon your return I would disable truck so it will crank and not start.Just to get some oil flowing thru the engine without the burden of running.On class 8 trucks I remove the ecm fuse and crank engine and stop,wait awhile and repeat a few times,until I am comfortable.


Tomslick24

Other then what is stated above, make sure the cover is on nice and tight. Loose covers......


.... blow in the wind - causing scratches to paint


.... allow moisture to puddle, which can cause to mold in the cover


Also, you may want to leave a key with someone you trust, in case something happens to the truck while you are gone, or if it needs to be moved. Also, contact your insurance and let them know you are out of town and not operating the vehicle, you may get a rate reducation for that period of time.


Also, depending on what climate you are storing the truck, you may want make preparations on the interior for very warm or very cold weather. If you are storing in San Diego County, that probably won't matter. If not, let me know and I can provide some suggestions on what to do.


Placing a maintenance charger of some sort on the batteries may help them while in storage as well.

Thanks for all the replies! I just got my car cover a week early! California Car Cover came through for me! I will take you'lls advice and prepare my truck. My wife will be here with my truck. My wife does not like to drive it cause it is a dually. So I will just bed it down.

Well...I don't know if I can get any Standyne anytime soon. Is there anything else that I can use?

Well...I don't know if I can get any Standyne anytime soon. Is there anything else that I can use?


Sure you can, there are some diesle truck service centers on Miramar Road that you can check with.

Lightning, where at around mirmar road? I'm not too familiar with that area.

Has anyone use STA-BIL?

Yes I have used Sta-Bil. That was the name I was looking for to use for keeping your fuel fresh. You can also get Standyne at any NAPA store. I am sure there is one in your area.


Like stated erlier put in the Standyne before fueling up and run it for about 10 - 15 miles and then fill up again and put in the Sta-Bil when you park it.

Lightning, where at around mirmar road? I'm not too familiar with that area.





Here is all the San Diego County Diesel Places



<TABLE border=1>
<T>
<TR>
<TD width=225>Dealer Name</TD>
<TD width=168>Address</TD>
<TD width=76>City</TD>
<TD width=46>Zip</TD>
<TD width=78>Phone</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD width=225>Cummins Cal Pacific, Inc.</TD>
<TD width=168>310 N. Johnson Ave.</TD>
<TD width=76>El Cajon</TD>
<TD width=46>92020</TD>
<TD width=78>619-593-3093</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD width=225>Dion International Trucks, Inc</TD>
<TD width=168>397 E. Evan Hewes Highway</TD>
<TD width=76>El Centro</TD>
<TD width=46>92243</TD>
<TD width=78>760-353-0114</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD width=225>Imperial Valley Freightliner</TD>
<TD width=168>397 E. Highway 80</TD>
<TD width=76>El Centro</TD>
<TD width=46>92243</TD>
<TD width=78>760-353-0114</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD width=225>Jordan Implement</TD>
<TD width=168>950 South Dogwood Rd.</TD>
<TD width=76>El Centro</TD>
<TD width=46>92243</TD>
<TD width=78>619-352-3215</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD width=225>Rush Truck (IB)</TD>
<TD width=168>Dogwood &amp; I-8</TD>
<TD width=76>El Centro</TD>
<TD width=46>92244</TD>
<TD width=78>760-353-1820</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD width=225>Rush Truck of California</TD>
<TD width=168>1620 W. Mission Road</TD>
<TD width=76>Escondido</TD>
<TD width=46>92029</TD>
<TD width=78>760-796-4090</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD width=225>Empire Machinery</TD>
<TD width=168>3393 US Hwy 86</TD>
<TD width=76>Imperial</TD>
<TD width=46>92251</TD>
<TD width=78>800-423-9802</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD width=225>Dion International</TD>
<TD width=168>5255 Federal Blvd.</TD>
<TD width=76>San Diego</TD>
<TD width=46>92105</TD>
<TD width=78>619-263-2251</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD width=225>E.W. Truck and Equipment Co., Inc</TD>
<TD width=168>6336 Federal Blvd</TD>
<TD width=76>San Diego</TD>
<TD width=46>92114</TD>
<TD width=78>619-263-2111</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD width=225>Hawthorne Power Systems</TD>
<TD width=168>8050 Othello Ave</TD>
<TD width=76>San Diego</TD>
<TD width=46>92111</TD>
<TD width=78>800-872-4228</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD width=225>Kearny Mesa Truck Center</TD>
<TD width=168>5624 Kea

I may be wrong, but the last time I messed with Sta-bil, I seem to remember that it had a strong alcohol smell. Might be worth checking out before using in a D-Max. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif

I am not sure what the ingrediants are in Sta-Bil, but with the amount that you have to add to a full tank it is pretty much diluted and I don't think it will be a problem.


Maybe someone else has more knowledge with it in the Duramax.

Ok, I found a Stanadyne dealer in San Diego (Propulsion Controls Engineering). About a 44 miles one way for this product. They recommend the ALL SEASON Performance Formula. They hooked me up with a bottle since I'm in the military and they do a lot of work on the Seal's, DET 1 and other special forces type units around the area. Anyway...as soon as I used it I could see results in better mpg and throttle response. I think I could put in another dose on a full tank.

Do you have a friend you can trust that will go out and fire it up every week and just take it around the block then park it again? If so I'd have them let it idle, warm up then run it around the block to lube everything then park it again. Just my .02 but what's said is what I'd do if I didn't have someone to run it.





cmc

CMG-GMC, My wife does not like to drive the truck and I know she could not park it without hitting something. If I know anyone else that I trust with my truck I would do that. Last time I was gone for 6 months my wife let the battery go dead.

I am not sure if you remove the battery for a long period of time that the tranny and the engine may loose its learning mode. So when you go to drive it when you get back it may not act the same as when you left it.