Storage of mechanical devices is a tricky business. The first question is, for how long? Storing a vehicle over the winter is completely
different from putting it to bed for a year or two or more. The oft repeated mistake is having a temporary parking-up turn into decades long neglect. Have a clear plan on what you will do if the temporary turns into longterm.
The second mistake is repeatedly starting engines and running them for a "short" time. Combustion gases and water vapour go by the piston rings and mix with the oil. Over time acids develop which may attack bearings and machined surfaces. For this reason, it is important to start with fresh oil prior to storage so the oil has maximum levels of acid inhibitors in place. Repeated running will supply more acids for the oil to deal with. Over a winter this is not a huge deal but, longer, and the inhibitors will be depleted and the acids will start their work. Pulled down an engine that had been stored with old oil and run every now and then. All the crank bearings were smooth and unmarked but right down to the copper, not a single bit of plating remained.
There are other issues such as the crap fuel we have these days, brake fluid being hygroscopic, condensation, etc and what steps are best depends a great deal on local climate. Research your area and vehicle and go from there.
Here's what I do with my dry climate and heated storage area (no large temperature swings): fuel drained and run out from tanks, carbs, lines and pump, fresh oil, plugs out and oil squirted in, ignition disabled, spun over to get oil pressure and spread oil in combustion chamber. Over winter? Plugs back in. Longer? Plugs left loose and engine spun over every few months until the oil pressure is shown on the gauge. Even longer and an expensive, complicated engine? Fill the engine completely with fresh engine oil, right to the very top of the oil fill -- Bugatti owners do this as the engines have roller bearing cranks and gear trains and are hideously expensive to overhaul.
