L BASIC CHECKS

It’s all very well considering the condition of paintwork, but there are essential checks you need to observe frequently, regardless of how often (or not) your Porsche is being used. For example, the brakes might be prone to sticking if left for a long time. Regular outings can, of course, help on this front and will make your car much safer on the road. The last thing you want is to head out and find key equipment not working due to avoidable lack of operation.

SWEATING HORSEPOWER

Get on all fours and take a good look under the car. Any signs of fluid leaks? Dip a finger or paper towel into any gathered liquid to determine whether you’re looking at oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid or, in the case of those of you in possession of a water-cooled Porsche, coolant. When you’ve determined what you’re looking at, check fittings around relevant hoses, inspect fluid reservoir tanks for leaks and/or look at oil and fuel transfer pipework (and the fuel tank itself) for signs of corrosion. You might be looking at nothing more than a previously unobserved slow oil drip, which might be nothing to worry about, but the position of the suspect fluid on the ground (relative to where the car sits), plus what’s likely to be a clear path from fault to floor (before you fire up the engine), is likely to indicate where the problem lies. If in doubt, speak to members of an owners group or a respected marque specialist for advice. If you consider the amount of leaking fluid to be excessive, don’t drive the car until the complaint is dealt with.

RODENTS

We all know people who have delved into the engine bay of their car after it has been laid-up for a while, only to find wiring, hoses, sound deadening material and other crucial components chewed by mice or rats. This will be of particular concern to those of you living in rural areas and keeping your cars outdoors or in barns. In some instances, when cars are left unattended for long periods, rodents will happily make their home in engine bays. If you’re really unlucky, they’ll have made their way into the cabin. Prevention is better than cure, which is why our advice is to ensure you check on your car regularly. Even occasional interaction will ensure any would-be squatters stay away for fear of being disturbed.

TYRES

If the car has been sitting for longer than usual, check its tyre pressures and overall tyre condition before setting off on a drive. A tyre with low pressure may appear fine at first glance, but could be dangerous when out on the road. Tyre sidewall strength and overall quality of construction can vary wildly when it comes to budget and mid-price rubber, which is why we also recommend you climb under the car and check for any bulges in sidewalls and, when dealing with older tyres, cracking in tread. To check the age of your Porsche’s tyre, look for a four-digit identifier on the sidewall (e.g. 1921) indicating time of manufacture, where the first two digits represent the week and the last two digits represent the year. If you’re expecting to leave your car for long periods between journeys, it’s also a good idea to invest in a tyre trainer, a useful tool designed to prevent flat spots on car tyre’s when not driven regularly. Visit

morethanpolish.com for further information.

OIL LEVEL

This may be the most basic check of all. It’s certainly one which will ensure a long and happy service life for your Porsche’s engine, and yet checking the oil level is the single most ignored aspect of routine maintenance. When inspecting the dipstick, you’re also checking for condition of oil, but don’t be alarmed if you’ve left the car for a long time and now discover a mayonnaise-like substance on the inside of the filler cap. An engine left motionless may well attract condensation in the crankcase, resulting in the creamy mess you’ve found, which may have extended down the filler neck. While it’s tempting to scream in panic, simply wipe the cap clean. Providing you’ve been servicing the engine in accordance with manufacturer instruction and have been using good quality oil at regular intervals, there should be no need to worry. When checking oil levels, check the transmission and differential oil levels are correct, too.

LIGHTS

Another overlooked check when drivers get back on the road is the operating condition of all lights, including indicators. Have a friend stand in front and behind your Porsche to confirm all lights are working as they should. You don’t want to discover side repeaters are faulty when you’re looking to turn at a busy junction! A duff bulb might be at play, or you might be experiencing the effect of a bulb not grounding properly. While the car is laid-up, you may wish to upgrade your Porsche’s standard candles-for-headlights before any future night driving. Air-cooled Porsche parts and accessories specialist, Carbone, has developed BI-LED headlights to make classic 911s safer, significantly improving the driver’s field of view with a bright and sharp beam pattern.

The main advantages of BI-LED modules are quick start without illumination, as well as eyefriendly intense white light, ensuring night turns to day without dazzling drivers of oncoming vehicles. Featuring high-quality E-marked Hella lenses and packing the latest LED technology into unprecedented compact dimensions, each headlight unit is a direct plug-and-play fitment into standard H4 sockets, meaning no modifications are necessary. The headlights are levelled traditionally, using screws on the outer ring of the map, the same way F-series and G-series 911 lighting is adjusted, though it should be noted Carbone’s offering

doesn’t work with the 964’s electric levelling system. Until now, LED low and high beam lights were implemented using two different projectors, but these BI-LED units make use of one projector, a single diode and a moveable diaphragm, as per bi-xenon lights. Supplied as a set of two, Carbone BI-LED headlights can be ordered from the company’s online store with immediate effect. Price: €1,650 (0% VAT for non-eu customers) car-bone.pl or call +48 429 422 115

SCREENWASH

This is another obvious-sounding consideration, but one we feel worth mentioning due to how few drivers actually check the fluid level or operating condition of their Porsche’s windscreen washers before setting off after leaving their car in a state of suspended animation. Few car care products are capable of multi-tasking, but that’s exactly what Chipex’s aquaphobic screen wash manages to achieve. Of course, you’d expect glass cleaner to ably rid your car’s windscreen of dirt when wipers are called into action, but Chipex’s offering goes a step further by employing biodegradable water repelling technology, essentially preventing the buildup of rainwater and dirt from occurring and helping to keep washer jet pipes free of detritus. Bird droppings are also less likely to stick to your car’s glass, which Chipex assists by way of improved visibility through deep cleaning, wiper blade conditioning (resulting in the absence of smearing and squeaking) and a fluid anti-freeze rating of -2°C. We tested the product at varying speeds and noticed how rain immediately beaded on impact before rolling off glass without leaving nasty water marks. Pleasingly, this low-cost screen wash’s superconcentrated formula enables you to fill your fluid reservoir several times over by diluting just one single-litre bottle of product. Price: £13.95 chipex.co.uk or call 01295 258308

FUEL SYSTEM

In recent times, much has been written about the damage old fuel can cause fluid transfer hoses, lines and engine components if left to absorb moisture, primarily due to modern petrol’s high ethanol content. Though this article chiefly concerns cars left stationary for weeks, not months, it’s worth knowing phase separation can be determined using a water probe tool designed specifically for the job. If excess water is detected, you can re-emulsify the ethanol/petrol mixture, or you can drain the fuel and fill up with fresh petrol.

If you didn’t drain the tank before leaving the car in storage for a long period of time, this check is an excellent idea. Either way, if filling up with fresh fuel, pause several times during the process to make sure petrol isn’t leaking as quick as you’re putting it in. Ordinarily, a split hose or corroded clamp are the chief suspects when it comes to fault finding. Both are quick and easy fixes.

TURN THE KEY

Having carried out all the checks outlined here, turn the ignition and let oil pressure build before starting the engine. Remember, exhaust smoke may bellow on start-up, so consider pushing the car outdoors before firing the engine. Make sure the transmission is in neutral (many owners like to keep their cars in P or R to prevent rollaway caused by a weak handbrake). Adjust the choke (if applicable), engage the ignition and turn the key all the way to ‘start’. Let the engine warm up without forcing high revs and have another look under the car. Pumps and other ancillaries will be operating, allowing you to see if pressurised fluid transfer systems have sprung an otherwise undetected leak.

BRAKES AND CLUTCH

Before setting off on the open road, perform a brake test. You’ll want to be sure the pedal maintains firmness (old rubber hoses can collapse, causing excessive pedal travel) and that the brakes clamp and release without error. If you discover problems, you need to address them before any further action.

Also, with your Porsche in neutral, check the effectiveness of the handbrake. Can you move the car, even though the handbrake has been activated? While you’re at it, check the clutch pedal is operating correctly and that you’re able to shift between gears without resistance from what might be a sticky linkage.

Remember, a car left standing for long periods may develop a seized clutch, which is another reason you should ensure your treasured sports car is kept in good operating condition, even during periods of absence from the road.