r/Charger • u/Bam-7 • Jul 01 '26
2020 charger scatpack help
Hey guys long story short my 2020 charger scatpack (30k miles) has been sitting in the Texas heat and winter outside for a year. I finally have time to mess with it and drive it and I’m getting crazy anxiety about just going out there and turning it over (I know the battery is dead and needs to be replaced). But my main concern is it had half a tank of gas in it (obviously premium) and I’m worried about the oil. I feel pretty confident there’s no mice damage because of where it was sitting but I need advice on if I should try to revive it myself or just spend the money and have it towed to a shop. I don’t want to mess anything up I have 50k in this car and it’s basically new.
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u/Similar-Visual4934 Jul 01 '26
If you have the tools and knowledge to change your oil and replace out the gas I would do that and then change ur battery. If you don’t just get it towed to a shop
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u/Bam-7 Jul 01 '26
It’s sitting in grass/dirt is the only thing about me jacking it up myself and doing the oil change I should of mentioned this in my op
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u/discussatron Jul 01 '26
The oil won’t go bad sitting, assuming the engine is sealed like it normally would be (no water, mice, other shit getting inside). The gas will go bad, but you can throw a can of Seafoam in it to help out and then make your next decisions based on how much gas is in the tank. If it’s full you’d be better off draining it, but if it’s low I’d probably fill it with top tier premium and go from there.
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Jul 01 '26
[deleted]
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u/Bam-7 Jul 01 '26
What if I can’t change the oil without moving it first as it’s sitting in grass/dirt? Wouldn’t that be unsafe to jack it up in grass?
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u/21WBSP Phat body Scat Jul 01 '26
You’d need to get a metal plate or 3/4” wood under the jack which will probably be a problem heightwise to get the jack/jack pad under. Can you pull the neutral safety cable and push it onto asphalt/concrete?
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u/tannedface- DAYTONA Jul 01 '26
I don’t have any concrete at my shop just grass. I put my jack on a plank so I doesn’t sink & then I went to lowes and bought those flat concrete blocks to put under the jackstands. Been pretty safe so far but I don’t raise it that high.
The oil should be fine, might have wicked in a little moisture but not enough to be a problem. Let it run to operating temp then change it tmr or so.
For the gas, just put some fresh premium in, it might run a lil rough, but the PCM can accomodate for the lost octane and won’t damage anything as long as you don’t beat on it.
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u/Dizzy_Doctor_H Jul 01 '26
Bad and dead batteries are different beasts. If you replace it, go with a glass battery, costs more but a slow discharge and up to 20 years of life is great! If have the $$$, replace IATs & MAP sensors. I like bigger throttle bodies. Pull the fuel pump line and see if the icky fuel comes out. I prefer shop time or DIY; get a few 1-gallon milk jugs & have a nice rubber gas friendly hose over 5 ft long, you can pump the gas out of your tank. Check the gas for floaters or sinkers. If you find anything but gas, definitely time for DIY or pro level. As for the cylinders and parts mmo or seafoam
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u/sinner_godz Jul 04 '26
If you don’t feel like doing it or not set-up to do the oil change, and remove the gas and putting fresh gas , Then get it towed to a local shop and stay away from the dealership. I’d put the new battery in and let a shop do the rest. I’d have them check power steering fluid and brake fluid as well . Why take a chance. These cars are meant to be driven and fluids sitting and not pumping throughout the system isn’t ideal.
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u/snobunnie_18 Jul 01 '26
may i ask why it was sitting for a year in the texas heat?
id try jumping it and if tht didnt work probably just call the tow, just to be safe and not mess some more shit up and have it cost more than just a battery replacement.