Dave & Nannette
Burley Idaho
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Joined: 03/25/2005
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Now that I am single again and have a small 4cyl car and a Diesel Truck. I use the small car almost always. The Deisel I will use when camping or whenever a truck is needed. Well without really thinking about, I had not need or use the truck for almost 2 months now. So.. Is it okay to let the truck sit for this long, or should there be a period of time I should use it for whatever reason?
Oh by the way, its a '03 FORD SUPER DUTY TURBO POWER STROCK DIESEL 90,000 MILES ON IT...
Thanks
U.S. NAVY RETIRED (active duty '72-'93)
'03 FORD F250 POWER STROKE SUPER DUTY TURBO 6.0
'04 KEYSTONE SPRINTER 27' (One Slide out)
1 DOG - SHIH TZU (MOLLY)
Widower; My wife (Nannette) recently passed away, but I'll keep the name "Dave & Nannette"
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AUWing
Slinger, WI
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Joined: 04/10/2006
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That's just abuse pure and simple !
Just guessing here but your first concern should be fuel. I'd make sure the fuel is treated with a good biocide to keep nasty stuff from growing in the tank.
Mechanically there shouldn’t be much trouble. Fresh airflow thru the cab would keep it from getting musty. When you do start it, drive it to full operating temp before shutting it down. Nothing worse than half way warm then shutdown as that will only serve to build-up condensation in all systems
* This post was
edited 03/13/08 06:09pm by AUWing *
From someplace in SE Wisconsin
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Ivylog
Blairsville, Ga. USA
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Joined: 06/30/2004
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Other than filling the tank up, let it sit and do not worry about it. My PSD sits for three months each year with only a battery minder added. For those that say oh no, what about all those farm diesels that sit all winter??
04 Monaco Dynasty 42' quad slide
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ArcticDodge
Sammamish, WA
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Joined: 05/02/2005
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My Dodge is our third vehicle and sits for two to three months at a time during the winter months. So far, no problems. It does seem to take a few seconds for the tranny fluid to get back into all the right places after shifting into reverse.
And like the TT, I put a dri z air in the truck to collect moisture.
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dougger222
Maplewood MN
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Joined: 01/26/2004
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Sitting is only hard the batteries. For some reason diesels drain batteries fast. Even siting for a few weeks can take away enough charge to not allow it to start.
I drove the F250 only a few times this Winter and each time it was hard to start. Then again it's a 99 with 253K miles, it's been driven!
Does your 2003 have the 6.0 or 7.3 PSD?
2000 Excursion limited 4x4 PSD
1999 F350 lariat crew cab 4x4 DRW PSD
1999 F250 xlt 4x4 x-cab PSD
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benb21601
Resident Expert
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Mine has seen much more garage time lately too. I have accepted the fact that the great majority of driving is to be done in my 30mpg buick, rather than the diesel. it sits for weeks at a time, just begging to go out and get some road time. i dont do anything special to it-just make sure i dont run into it in the garage. only solace is that it will be hooked up in a week-$4 fuel or not.
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Pumpkin Sue
Sloughhouse CA
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Joined: 08/14/2007
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Our F250-05 gets used very little. My husband would rather ride his new Harley. My car is a 03 G35 Infiniti. We only use the truck to go camping, haul stuff and pull the tractor out of the mud.
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pronstar
The LBC
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Joined: 11/20/2007
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I wouldn't worry about it. Lots of folks have diesel pushers, and they often sit for extended periods of time without issue.
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SugarHillCTD
Sugar Hill, NH, USA
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Joined: 11/29/2003
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Ours will sit for some periods. Next winter it will become an extra vehicle and I'll use a "smart" battery charger/maintainer.
My only other concern- rodents that like to make any vehicle into their RV. They seem to really like hood insulation and a semi-warm, dry place to live. They made a mess in the engine compartment of Cathy's previous VW.
John
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 QC/LB 4x4 Cummins/6 speed- GONE
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SolidAxleDurango
OK, USA
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Joined: 01/02/2003
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ArcticDodge wrote:.... It does seem to take a few seconds for the tranny fluid to get back into all the right places after shifting into reverse.....
This is because over time, the fluid drains from the torque converter. Whenever an auto sits for a while, I shift the tranny directly from park to neutral for 30 seconds or so before driving. Allows the pump to refill the torque converter.
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