DavidZhu

So I'm going to china for about 40 days and will probably be leaving my 2013 c63 in the garage while I'm gone. Is it really bad for the car if its not turned on for around 40 days? Will there be any permanent damage? Also I live in San Francisco so it's around 32 to 50 degrees right now so kinda cold. Thanks

Faris63

IMO, there is no problem just add a gas stabilizer in the tank and remove the battery terminal

ecohen2

I would say that is exactly right...

In one of my cars I use a trickle charger instead of disconnecting the battery when I don't use it for a long time.

chrisridebike8

Also maybe pump the tires up a little more than usual to prevent flat spotting.

skaarlaj

I live in Wyoming 6500' elevation, I've left our C63 in our unheated garage for over 3 months without starting, or moving it, a lot of sub-zero nights. fired right up, w/no problems. If I were you, I'd maybe have someone check on it a few times a week, to make sure no-one steals it?

PkB2014

I'd make sure to fill up with ethanol free gasoline if you can find it before leaving. The corn gasoline separates if it sits for a long period of time.

jrcart

Trickle charger is all you need. Don't waste time with stabilizer. If you can get the car up on jack stands you won't flat spot your tires but that is not even a big deal, flat spots will go away as soon as tires get heat cycled.

Kriston

The man speaks the truth.

I garage my car for the winter, and never have any flat spots on the tires after winter storage (3-4 months). As far as the trickle charging, I actually do not do this either. I start the car every 2 weeks until it reaches operating temps. so a good 15-20 minutes of idling and shut her off.

Zeee_Q

Just drive it before you leave to make sure the battery's all charged up but otherwise you wont need anything really. My car's sat for over 2 months and started right up when I got back.

forcefed6.4ford

My suggestion is park it and forget it. consider this. Dealerships leave or have stock on the lots, outside for months at a time, and in some cases at temps approaching -40. What preventative action do they take you might ask? NONE! Its a car. Not a puppy.

MaroonC63

A car thats bought with hard earned money. Just because people take care of their possessions doesnt mean anything, a love for your car can be the same love you have for a puppy!

On topic, if someone can start it for you once a week or every other week thatll be good!

forcefed6.4ford

[QUOTE=MaroonC63;5871752] a love for your car can be the same love you have for a puppy!QUOTE]

I take it you don't have a dog...


OP. The only and I mean ONLY thing that you to do is have a good trip. All this preventative stuff for such a short absence is bogus. Now if it was for more than say, 3 months... Fuel stabilizer and trickle charger. Perhaps.

Critter

Battery maintainer, .75 amp or 1.5amp will do if you want to be sure of a quick start when you get back. 30 bucks is cheap insurance and can be used on other batteries where they sit for long periods. Here in Canada my cars are both on them, 12.8 volts -13C now at night they will be parked for 4-5 months total.

rediesel

NO NO NO NO. I can't beleive what I've read. The best way to maintain the car while you are outside the US is to find a MBWorld member to properly heat cycle your tires and give it an "italian tune up" on a weekley or twice weekley schedule. If I were closer to you I would offer some help. . .assuming you provided an Exxon card.

LOL JK

40 days shoudn't need any special treatment. Much longer and a battery charger might be a good idea.

jvanbrecht

Other than a battery tender, you should not need to do anything, and really, battery tenders are only needed in really cold weather. It is the nature of lead acid batteries, sealed or otherwise, they will be heavily affected by the cold, and may drop below a sufficient level that you won't be able to crank the engine over.

It is only a slight chance, but it is still there. I have had dead batteries (once in my 63) after getting back to the airport after only 10 days... Not sure why, I am very careful to turn the lights off, unplug any chargers/adapters and disable the dome lights.... winter can do wierd things

Critter

rediesel, that made me laugh, good one, so true but you can start breathing again, I think that would be a "No Way"
jvanbrecht, mine is leaving the CLK63 for 6 weeks in a garage in Alabama, in the summer no less, came back and the car was completely dead, had to use manual key to open, just replaced the dead battery did not even try a recharge as it was the original. Now just rely on maintainers.

rage2

It's 40 days. Some of the suggestions are overkill lol.

Park the car, turn it off, go on trip, come back, sit in car, start it up.

If you think you can flat spot a tire in 40 days, I suggest you jack up your car every night when you come home and park the car for the night.

roadtalontsi

40 days definately requires disconnecting the battery or a trickle charger. hell you'd be lucky to get 2 weeks with an s-class. 3wks tops with any benz your asking for a dead battery especially in the cold, unless it is one with the separate starter battery. flat spot talk is just silly. ofcourse ultimately it doesnt really matter if the cars under warranty. Roadside is free under warranty, and free if you spend like 150$ every 18months out. So you can just plan ahead to get it jumped off too.

blindfold

battery tender plus, buy it plug it in and clamp it on the proper connectors, have a safe trip

CarHopper

For 40 days you really don't need to do anything aside from when you get home, start it up, let it warm up, and give it hell.

sinape62

I come from experience having stored my car for 3 years while I was overseas. I would return every 12 months to drive her. I tried several things. Topped off the fuel tank and used stabil additive. I disconnected the battery each time I place her back in storage. One year I couldnt disconnect the battery because I had to catch a flight back overseas.I came back here later and the battery was dead. so every year after that I make sure I disconnected the battery. as far as flat spots I didn't have any nor did I Jack a car. 2005 C230k w/25000 original miles.

DavidZhu

the thing is im still in college and most of my friends are in college and i dont trust them with my keys for over a month...... havent been dating gf long enough to trust her with my keys either for that long so i guess im just going to disconnect the battery before i leave.

Z63amg

This is food for thought I have a 2011 C63 that I bought new in 2012 it still only has 3700 miles on it. It's kept in a climate controlled garage and honestly I do not drive it that often. I travel a lot for my job and when I am home I walk everywhere around Boston. When I do need a car I have 2 other cars to choose from and try to divide time between the 3 of them. Basically I never did anything then park it and it always fires right up. You will be fine !

Critter

One point no one mentioned is that a battery that is low on voltage actually can cause damage to the starter as the engagement is not crisp but lagging. Voltage is the carrier current does the work.

rage2

If your car can't sit for 40 days without the battery dying, well, it's time for a new battery. I park my car for 5 months during winter every year. Never needed a trickle charger.