I am leaving this summer for school in another country. I'l be gone at the MOST 6 months most likely less. If I cover my car up in the garage, and leave it, will I have problems when I get back? I'm just worried after hearing the stories that rotarys don't like sitting and tend to break.

Thanks!

 

gas stabilizer and leave it full so rust doesn't take over. i would atf the engine before you fire it up again. no harm done there. pull it up on blocks as to not flat spot your tires. tell it you it love it and you will be back.

 

Just do what I plan to do for the first year I'm at college (before I can bring it back to school with me) and have someone you trust (i.e.- parent or VERY responsible driver friend) fire it up and drive it for a couple hours once every two weeks/ month.

 

Yeap, gas stablizer with full tank of gas to prevent moisture from rusting the tank and pour some oil down the carb and crank it by hand a few times and add some more(not like a whole quart, just like 1/4 of a quart of oil. Change oil before you do this, remove battery and keep it on a bench inside the house, cover the terminals with electrical tape, DO NOT keep it on a cement floor. You should get new spark plugs when you go to start it, they seem to have a shelf life when they sit for a long time wet with oil or gas or ATF. ...also take and scratch up the battery terminals and the connectors that connect to the terminals when you go to start it. It will smoke when you try to start it and will clear up after a bit.

 

i agree with 1bad85rex. Best thing to do, especially since you will only be gone a few months is to have a friend start it up and drive it in a safe area every two weeks or so. Then, it becomes a non-issue that you won't have to deal with when you come home. Who wants to spend a vacation thinking about how to get the car to run again the way it did when we left?

 

6 months is no big deal; that's what happens to my 7 every winter here in good ol Canada... just follow the usual storage advice and you'll be fine

 

Along with all of the above good advice, you should do something for the engine. Pull the spark plugs and pour 1/2 cup or so of ATF into each rotor via the carb or the lower spark plug holes and spin the engine over a few times, then put the spark plugs back in. Sometimes the engines lose compression when stored because the housings rust a little, which does it no good at all.

Better yet would bo to use something called "fogging oil". If you can find the stuff (it comes in a spray can like penetrating oil) use it instead of ATF. It is specifically designed for storing engines long-term. Just follow the directions on the can.

Also, miata.net has some good info on storing cars over-winter.