jaconst

dont want to get into why but my truck has been sitting for the last 15 months OUTSIDE and in that time never started never moved never changed fluids or anything just sitting outside. I cant recall how much fuel, last time the oil was changed before sitting or anything like that. from what I seen tires are not flat but I havent looked close. It is a 1998 3500 5 speed 12 valve if I remember right I have close to 300,000 on it. Not a lot of opportunity to work on it where it is sitting. Im wondering if someone can help me out with what I should bring if I were to drive it away from there? Or should I pay the $180+ to have it towed to my home? what I should do before starting? I do plan on of course an oil change, fuel filter ect. think it would be alright to start and drive to get oil changed? should I drain fuel or adding like a sea foam or stabilizer be adequate and also fill with fresh fuel but like I said I cant recall how much fuel is in the tank. ANY and all help suggestions are very much appreciated. Thank you

joem

15 months is nothing at all, check the fluids and drive away! My friend is in the navy and his (now mine) 1995 12v sat for over 6 years as he traveled the world, when he arrived back home we put a fresh battery in it, sucked the mouse nests out with a shop vac- checked the fluids and it drove like new, even the fuel filter worked great with no water

patdaly

Yep, fire her up and drive her home.

Hodge

I agree, but before firing it up, at least pull the air cleaner cover and look for rodents or nests. Don't want to go sucking anything into the turbo.

whiskers

Ditto on the rodent check. Vacuum lines are there favorite food if nesting under there too. But otherwise fire it up !

joem

yeah, that is true about the nests and all in the airbox. back in 1999 I fired up my toyota after it sat under the open part of our shop for a few months and it ran terrable, mis fireing and trying to lock up- it sounded like a big cam harley- I figured it was water in the fuel so i floored it and drove it hard and it started running normal pretty quick. A few days after I found that squrrills had ate the air filter and put hazel nuts into my intake. Luckly no long term damage other than what was left of the nuts clogging the cat.
One advantage to a non-interferance engine I suppose

Robert Rausch

I stored my Mom's '84 Monte Carlo in my barn shed for some years, while she was in the nursing home, and every year before I'd fire it up for a yearly run-around, I'd pull the air cleaner and every year I'd find walnut shells from some damm squirrel who would crawl through the air snout and into the air cleaner to have his dinner. Some critters are just crazy.