popotla
Active Member
- Posts
- 198
- Location
- Berlin, Germany
In late March 2012, last year, I parked my Defender Td5 CSW. Other than starting the engine every couple of weeks and letting it run for five minutes or so, I didnt use it until mid-November last year. Had I had it insured, I would have driven it further. Then, in mid-November, I drove it about 30 km during the course of one day, returning it to its parking place.
Subsequently, I started it less frequently, once about every three weeks. In mid-January, during a spell of pretty cold weather which had frozen one door lock, I went to start it but there wasnt enough battery power to properly turn it over. The next time, a couple of weeks later, there was no power. It is still in that state. I havent done anything yet because I saw no point in getting things working properly then leaving the vehicle standing again, through more cold weather.
The vehicle has two batteries, both Land Rover originals; the second one runs the fridge etc. and I have a cut-off switch between the two. In May 2011, perhaps 20,000 km ago, both batteries were replaced with new ones. Between that point and March last year, the vehicle was used in a normal sort of way: sometimes every day for two or three weeks; sometimes it stood for three or four days, and stood up to maximum of three weeks at a time (not driven). From the time I fitted new batteries (May 2011) until mid-January this year, the engine started perfectly, first time, every time.
I had thought that during those months (March 2012 til January this year), letting the engine run for a few minutes was a good thing, and was also enough to replace whatever power I was taking out of the battery by starting it. Also, I thought that a 30 km. run would leave the batteries in good shape.
My first question: is it likely that the batteries need replacing or is it likely to be just a matter of getting them fully charged, and then they will be OK? (When I get this sorted out Im going to insure the vehicle and use it for at least a day or two, every couple of weeks.)
A second question also arises. I have recently been told that if fuel (diesel, in my case) is in the tank for a long time, it deteriorates (can deteriorate?) through oxidation and may become unusable. (Can it also cause damage?????) The fuel thats in the vehicle system at present has been there since March last year.
Subsequently, I started it less frequently, once about every three weeks. In mid-January, during a spell of pretty cold weather which had frozen one door lock, I went to start it but there wasnt enough battery power to properly turn it over. The next time, a couple of weeks later, there was no power. It is still in that state. I havent done anything yet because I saw no point in getting things working properly then leaving the vehicle standing again, through more cold weather.
The vehicle has two batteries, both Land Rover originals; the second one runs the fridge etc. and I have a cut-off switch between the two. In May 2011, perhaps 20,000 km ago, both batteries were replaced with new ones. Between that point and March last year, the vehicle was used in a normal sort of way: sometimes every day for two or three weeks; sometimes it stood for three or four days, and stood up to maximum of three weeks at a time (not driven). From the time I fitted new batteries (May 2011) until mid-January this year, the engine started perfectly, first time, every time.
I had thought that during those months (March 2012 til January this year), letting the engine run for a few minutes was a good thing, and was also enough to replace whatever power I was taking out of the battery by starting it. Also, I thought that a 30 km. run would leave the batteries in good shape.
My first question: is it likely that the batteries need replacing or is it likely to be just a matter of getting them fully charged, and then they will be OK? (When I get this sorted out Im going to insure the vehicle and use it for at least a day or two, every couple of weeks.)
A second question also arises. I have recently been told that if fuel (diesel, in my case) is in the tank for a long time, it deteriorates (can deteriorate?) through oxidation and may become unusable. (Can it also cause damage?????) The fuel thats in the vehicle system at present has been there since March last year.