How Long Can A Car Sit

What Is The Minimum Time That I Should Drive My Vehicle

Youâll save unseen trouble by driving a few times each month for 10 miles or more at 50 mph or higher. A day of running errands or carpool duty should be enough to keep your car in decent shape. This lets your engine warm up to operating temperature and warms up brakes, heats transmission and radiator fluid and moves springs and shocks.

The Dangers Of Using A Car Infrequently Real World Example

When we first bought our BMW 840 here at The Car Investor, the previous owner had only been driving it sporadically.

Upon taking ownership we took it to a specialist to complete a service and change all the fluids and relevant parts, but the one thing we didnt change were the tires.

Not long into our ownership we had a rear tire blow out at 70mph. Despite there being plenty of tread left on the tires, we later found out that the rubber had deteriorated through lack of use by the previous owner.

Thankfully we were able to safely pull over to the side of the road and there was no damage to the car or anyone involved, but it was a potentially dangerous situation caused by the cars lack of use over the previous two years.

How Much Does It Cost To Fix A Flat Tire

A standard DIY tire repair kit with tools and plugs to fill the puncture can cost $5-$20, while a bigger DIY kit with a sealant and a pump or compressor to re-inflate the tire can cost between $20 and $50.

A DIY kit is usually meant to make a temporary fix on the exterior of the tire to get the car back on the road until the tire is properly fixed or replaced.

If the damage is too extensive or situated in a region of the tire that cant be properly fixed, a single new tire for a passenger car costs between $50 and $200 and $60-$350 for a regular tire on a pickup or SUV, and $110-$750 for an all-terrain tire on a pickup or SUV.

Matching tires are ideal for modern suspension systems if only one is changed, the replacement must be an identical match for the other three tires.

Tires are frequently replaced in pairs, but many experts advise replacing all four at the same time.

Recommended Reading: What Type Of Car Do I Have

Will The Car Be Parked Outside During Winter Months

Winter is the worst for cars. If sitting parked for days or weeks with no one to drive them, it starts taking its toll quickly! The first casualties to cold weather conditions typically are the tires and the batteryor batteries for you EV owners.

Consider this, the change between day and night winter temperatures may average about 20°F. When your vehicle sits outside during a cold night, you may see a decrease of 1-4 psi of air in your tires. Over a period of a few weeks you may lose enough air that the tires begin to look flat.

Leaving a car to sit on flat tires is not very kind to its sidewalls, and will likely weaken the overall structure of the tire. Tire experts recommend over filling your tires by just a few PSI before leaving the car to sit for long periods. This will ensure no matter how much the temperature fluctuates, the tires hold enough pressure to remain structurally sound.

How Long Can A Car Battery Sit

I’m going on a work trip and leaving my car behind. Since it’s for a month, I’m worried about my battery. How long can a car battery sit before it goes flat?

car battery can sit for as long as two weeks before itâll need to be charged againrun your vehicle for about 15 minutes every few days

You May Like: How Much Does A Car Weigh In Tons

Get A Battery Maintainer

Want to figure out how to keep a car battery charged when not in use without removing the car battery? In that case, you may want to opt for a battery maintainer. A battery maintainer provides enough charge to keep your battery going but will turn off when the battery is fully charged. Itll re-activate and charge again if battery levels drop to a certain point. When shopping for a battery maintainer, look for one that has the same voltage as your car battery.

Will The Gas In My Car Go Bad

If youre concerned about your cars gas going bad, we have some good news. The most common type of gasoline sold at a standard gas station can last up to three months. Gasoline does degrade over time, but not as much at first. Its true gas will naturally begin to degrade over time thanks to exposure to oxygen.

You can never be too careful with your car, especially in this economy. Thats why we recommend adding some extra insurance by using a fuel stabilizer. Fuel stabilizers are a great way to keep your gas safe from degradation. They slow down the rate at which it oxidizes, making for longer lasting fuel in your garage!

Recommended Reading: How To Wax A Car With A Buffer

Fluid Change And Top Off

It might sound illogical to change your fluid before storing it for a long period, but itll help your car avoid damage. Its common for used fluids to carry contaminants, which can prove to be troublesome in the long run.

While conventional wisdom may tell you to drain fluids before letting your car sit, theyre wrong. To avoid corrosion while your car is sitting, you should in fact top off any oils.

Before you take it out for its first drive after its been sitting though, flush these oils and other fluids completely, then top it up with some of the fresh stuff. Running your car with old fluids is just asking for trouble.

How Do You Tell If Tire Is Flat Or Just Needs Air

A flat tire will form almost instantaneously and is usually the result of damage from contact with sharp objects that rip into the rubber.

A characteristic pop sound is often heard when this contact is made, and it helps in determining the presence of a flat tire.

A deflated tire, on the other hand, is one that loses air pressure gradually through the air valve or casing thread.

Unlike a flat tire, it occurs even when the vehicle is stationary and takes a longer time to notice.

Also Check: How To Charge My Car Battery

Preparing Your Car For Storage

One of your first considerations will always need to be where you decide to store the car. For example, some countries and areas have strict laws when it comes to storing your vehicle in a public place.

If you intend to leave it parked on the street, you could well wake up one morning to find your car is no longer there, so depending on your location, it could be worth mentioning your intentions to your neighbors to ensure they dont assume its left abandoned.

Another thing youll need to consider is the location. Leaving your car out in an open space will not only make it a potential temptation for thieves but excessive daylight exposure, particularly in hot areas, can cause paintwork issues.

Not to mention the issues that can arise if a disgruntled bird decides to offload onto your car, which can cause serious paintwork issues when left for a prolonged time.

Its always best to store a car in a clean, dry, shaded environment, preferably off the road, and in a safe, enclosed space wherever possible.

Store The Battery In A Cool Room

Car batteries react significantly to extreme temperatures. When exposed to a high temperature, it becomes susceptible to sulfation and corrosion. Sulfation occurs when crystalline deposits develop on the batterys negative plates. This prevents electrical currents from full penetration, reducing the batterys ability to receive, store and release energy.

If you will not be using your battery for about three months and above, store it in a room with a temperature of 15°C. You also have to look out for corrosion, which affects battery terminals.

Recommended Reading: How To Remove Stickers From Car Windows

Starting A Car For The First Time After Storage

There are several things youll want to be sure of before you get around to starting your car after its hibernation.

Firstly, make sure you check the car for any leaks. Although a gigantic oil spill on the floor is noticeable, other leakages might be quite so easy to detect, so its best to check all your hoses for damage.

Next, check all of your fluid levels to ensure theyre still nicely topped up. Depending on the length of time youve left the car, it may be an ideal time to carry out a change of all the fluids to be on the safe side.

While youre changing the fluids, its always worth carrying out a filter and plug change, along with anything your engine consumes regularly.

If your cars only standing for a few days, weeks, or months, we would expect the fuel to be okay, especially if you followed our advice and filled it with a full tank beforehand.

However, if its been a couple of years without additives, it may be worth thoroughly flushing the fuel system to ensure that no ugly problems surface.

Check that no rodents have buried themselves in your car, or even worse, chewed through your wiring.

If youve disconnected your battery, now is the time to reconnect it. If youve parked the car in gear, this is also the time to ensure that youve got your clutch down after leaving it in gear.

After youve checked all these, were happy to say that youre ready to start her up!

What Are Other Negative Implications

There are additional risks to leaving your vehicle parked for a long time with a flat. For one, you might get a ticket if you are not parked on private property with permission. This means you will not only have to pay for the tire to be fixed but also you will need to pay the city.

Furthermore, you run a higher risk of theft or vandalism. People looking to do no good are more likely to target your vehicle with a flat than a vehicle with fully inflated tires. The reason is simple, the vehicle seems to be abandoned, which means it is a safer target for vagrants.

If you do need to leave your vehicle with a flat tire, I suggest leaving a note entailing that you will be back so that you dont get a ticket or get towed. This way you show that you have not abandoned the vehicle.

Don’t Miss: Can I Install Apple Carplay In My Car

Heres What Can Happen If You Let Your Car Sit Too Long

A cars intricate parts and accessories can deteriorate, particularly when exposed to the elements for an extended amount of time. But even in a garage, your vehicle isn’t meant to sit stagnant for too long. If you plan on taking a break from driving for a bit, check out these four issues to watch out for when youre ready to get back on the road.

Belts And Hoses Aging

The aging of rubber is a natural process, mainly due to oxidation and heat, in addition to several other factors such as exposure to reactive gasses and stress. When the car is parked, your hoses and belts might not be exposed to heat, but it will certainly feel the impact of oxidation. Theres no way you can avoid this since oxygen is everywhere in the air around us. Signs of damaged hoses and belts include color fading, cracking, and embrittlement. Even if the vehicle wasnt in storage, youre advised to change these components after every three years.

Recommended Reading: Will Costco Install Car Battery

Will A Car Start After Sitting For A Year

Attempting to jump-start an automobile that has been sitting for a year is the simplest first step. A battery will lose its charge after a lengthy period of inactivity, leaving you with no power to operate the vehicle. When trying your resurrection, start here. Oil, coolant, and transmission fluid should all be replaced.

Preparing Your Bodywork For Storage

Before your car goes into storage, make sure that it has a thorough wash, and preferably a paintwork correction and wax, too.

Doing so will undoubtedly be worth your time when it comes to ensuring the paint gets kept in prime condition.

Its also an excellent opportunity to consider removing the wheels and having a thorough clean in the arches/wheel wells to ensure theres no dirt, salt, or other contaminants that could potentially cause rust issues.

If youre preserving a classic car or particularly a Japanese import, it may be worth looking at getting the car professionally undersealed so that you can ensure it stands its best chances against the elements long-term.

Once youve given the car a thorough clean and allowed it to completely dry, we recommend purchasing yourself a decent car cover, particularly if you dont have a garage or a similar sheltered storage location.

Alternatively, you can get some long-term storage solutions such as a Carcoon. These not only keep the car sheltered and dry, but they also maintain the battery and provide constant air circulation, which is extremely important for our next section.

Read Also: What Is Comprehensive Car Insurance

Tires May Deflate Or Flatten

As the months go by, flat tires may be the most obvious sign that your car needs care. Even though weâve made massive technological advances with tires, they still deteriorate in storage within five or six years because of natural elements. The worst is theyâll develop flat spots from being in one position too long. If you plan to keep your car garaged for months, put the car up on jack stands.

Battery Maintenance During Storage

If your car is likely to be in long-term storage, and you wont be needing the alarm, one of the best measures is to disconnect the battery from the car to ensure it doesnt get drained.

When your car gets frequently driven, the battery charge gets maintained by the alternator, which is why the battery in a daily driven vehicle rarely goes flat.

Once your cars in storage, the battery youve trusted for years could die in a matter of weeks or maybe even days, particularly in cold weather, due to lack of charge.

If youre looking to maintain your alarm functions, the best alternative is a battery trickle charger/maintainer.

These are extremely common among enthusiasts who store their cars long-term, and assuming you have an electricity source nearby a trickle charger provides the perfect solution to keeping your battery topped up for long periods.

The difference between a trickle charger and a generic car battery charger is that the trickle charger sends the minimal amount of constant electricity supply to maintain the perfect battery life.

Weve covered the best products on the market in our Best Car Battery Maintainer guide.

Our Drifted Choice was the CTEK Car Battery Charger.

However, if you have a little extra cash to spare, the Schumacher SC1309 is a fantastic choice. The SC1309 not only charges the battery, but is also capable of jump-starting the car, and features advanced diagnostic testing. Its an extremely convenient all-in-one tool to have around.

You May Like: How Much Does It Cost To Get My Car Wrapped

Car Tires Go Flat When Not Used

Many of us experience this but no one knows the actual phenomena behind it. Tires are made up of rubber and it is porous material. It doesnt matter whether your car is sitting in the driveway or in the garage or on road. Whether your car sits in one position for a long time or not, the tire will deflate after a long period of time.

Car park in the same position for a long time also loosen the valve stem. So, this is also the reason of tire deflating, when car not in use for long time

Different Environments May Cause Additional Problems

Extreme heat or cold is detrimental to a car. Your vehicle is affected by temperature even when parked in a garage for long periods of time. Temperature swings can cause moisture to condense in or on the motor, causing rust and contamination of oil, gas and other vital fluids. Because the car isnât driven, water will not evaporate through the tailpipe.

You May Like: How To Repair Weather Stripping On Car Door

When To Change Your Car Battery

How long does a car battery last without driving? is a common question. As noted above, youre probably safe for four weeks to two months however, it can depend.

But what if you come back from a month-long getaway or havent moved your car for weeks and your car wont start? It could be a dead battery or alternator. In some cases, it can be due to old age, and your battery may need to be replaced. According to AutoZone, your car battery typically needs to be replaced every four to six years.

Check All Exterior Lights

Check that your headlights, fog lights, high-beam lights, brake lights, reverse lights, and indicators are all working before you head out on the road. The easiest way to do this is to grab a friend or family member, so one person can activate the various lights and the other can check if theyre working.

Recommended Reading: How Much To Fix Ac Compressor In Car