'02 4Runner SR5 4WD, about 90K miles, well maintained, has been sitting in my carport for the past 8 weeks. I had a new "TrueStart" battery installed at about 60K miles, about 3 years ago. Oil was last changed in April, about 3K miles ago. Fuel tank is about 3/4 full.

Several questions come to mind:

1. Assuming the truck will start, is the battery good to go, or should I get a new one at this point just to be sure it's reliable?

2. Will the oil likely be severely corrupted? I'm going to change it anyway, but is it okay to drive it about 25 miles to where I'm currently staying before I change it?

3. Will anything to do with the fuel system likely be corrupted, or is it okay to just drive it away and not worry about that?

4. Anything else I need to worry about?

The only possible issue I see is the battery. If it doesn't start it will hopefully just need a jump. Connecting a trickle charger would be a good idea since your drive might not be long enough to give it a good charge.

You should be perfectly fine. As mentioned, the only possibly issue will be a dead battery, but if it can be jumped, it should recharge, no problem.

I leave my jeep in the garage for months at a time without starting it and have not had an issue. Hell, the last time I changed the oil in it was 2008....

I only thing my truck did after sitting for 5 months was a dead battery. Then it sat for 3 months with the same problem, i have the same battery 4 months since it sat for those 8 months and the battery works perfectly. It just needed to be jumped.

1. On the battery, a lot depends on the state of charge of the battery when you go to fire it up the first time. If it has enough to crank and fire, it is probably good to go. If it is totally dead, not even dome light, you probably killed it. If it is barely too weak to start, but takes a charge, consider it suspect. It might be good for a year or two, or it might die in a week.

2. 8 weeks is nothing for engine oil. If it is really cold where you are, condensation may have occurred leading to moisture in the system--an early change might be wise. But that's it.

3. First part of #2 applies to gas tank as well. Always best to store with a full gas tank and a dose of Sta-Bil if you can. Running a dose of Techron at your next fill-up, and then changing your oil, would be a nice way to pamper your rig after ignoring it like that. I travel for 6-8 weeks from time to time, and that's what I do when I get back. Truck has always fired up.

How long do you think vehicles sit during shipping, trains, overflow lots after production, and many other circumstances? Some sit a long time especially if they are imported overseas. As others have stated, the battery is the only real concern. If you know you are going to not drive the vehicle for an extended period of time, simple things like fresh gas with stabilizer and a fully charged battery (or disconnect, or use a battery maintenance charger) is really all you need to do. Oh yeah, check your tire pressures! I send Zambonis all over the world, and we ship them with batteries connected, a little stabilizer in the gas ( if gasoline powered) and nothing else. Sometimes it takes a few months to reach their final destination. We never have any problems!!!

Most of my mechanical experience has been with boats (worked at a marina for years) and people neglect those for years at a time. I've seen lots of batteries sit for 2 years or more and hold a charge fine still. It takes years for oil to breakdown. Fuel stabilizer isn't a bad idea if it's going to sit for 6+ months, but 8 weeks is nothing. You're fine just driving it like it is.

Thanks for all the advice! The truck fired up as if I had driven it the day before. God I love that rig!

A few years ago I would have agreed with you. I still do except for fuel. Techs I respect have told me these new winter gas formulations go bad a lot faster and gas that sits for more than a month needs stabilizer to keep from leaving varnish deposits. No way I would leave a machine 5 months stopped without Sta-Bil anymore, and I used to.

As for batteries, to go 2 years you need a Tender or at least disconnect and store indoors and charge from time to time. Parasitic internal drain will discharge a battery eventually.

I agree stabilizer is a good idea for anything over 2 or 3 months. 6 months is about the most I've ever gone and been alright. I don't doubt winter gas varnishes faster, it sucks in every other way.

Also, stabilizer needs to get through the system so just putting it in the tank isn't enough, run it for 15 or 20 minutes (just an FYI for those of you who haven't ever used it).

In almost every case you're absolutely right, but I've seen a few healthy batteries with just the cables taken off survive more than 2 years and still go for another year or so. Rare, but I was just illustrating that 8 weeks isn't anything to worry about.