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- What are the damages that can occur if I don’t use my car regularly.”
- How can I properly store my car if I don’t want to use it for months?
How often should I drive/ride my car in other to prevent damage?
Firstly, it is scientifically established that leaving your car sitting without using it for an extended period(like One month or more) can result in a long time damage to the car. Similarly, if you don’t use your car for even two weeks without settings some actions in motion, you may meet a car that will refuse to start(due to a flat battery).
To now address the question, you need to use your vehicle at least once per two weeks to keep it in top form. For anything outside this, you must take some special storage measures to prevent damage to your car. Note: if your battery is wrong, you must use your car at least every 3 days or change your battery. Another exception is for those living in a freezing climate. Summarily, don’t allow your car to sit idle for more than three weeks, come what may.
List of damages that can occur as a result of you not using your car regularly
Unused vehicles and their negative effects On The Vehicle’s Battery
This is the first victim. It depends on the health of the battery. if your battery is already near its end, not using your vehicle for two days can make it go dead. Also, even if you disconnect the battery, it cannot retain all the juice inside forever and will eventually drain. This will reduce its life. But you need a battery maintainer to charge the battery if you won’t drive for more than two weeks. Charge the battery once a week with maintenance. Car batteries are very delicate in that they suffer significant damage even if drained only a few times in their lifespan. So never let them drain!
Abandoned Vehicles and How it Affects the tires/tires
Secondly, your tires tend to suffer if your vehicle sits idle for a long period. This happens as the tires develop flat spots. The longer it sits, the worse they get. The vast majority of tires on passenger vehicles have steel-belted radials: while the steel belts offer a high degree of strength, they do bend straight over time.
Although, if you drive every other week the flat spots will round out no problem with enough driving to heat the engine up to standard. If the car sits for too long, it can become permanent. While the tire will still work, there will be an annoying sound from them when you drive and they will be out of balance as well.
Unused vehicles and your paint finish
The 3rd in the line of mishaps that can occur on unused vehicles is damage to the paint finish. If you ride your car regularly, you will take your time to dush or was it before taking it out for a ride. Unfortunately, if you abandoned your car, dust, moisture and animal droppings(esp birds) will settle on it and do significant damage to it.
If you have parked or unused vehicles, be ready to accommodate pests in the cabin or engine in the compartment
Furthermore, it is a bad idea to leave your vehicle idle and unattended for too long especially if you don’t want rodents(especially rats/mice) to take control of the car. Rats have very sharp teeth that can easily cut through the wires and cause “shortcircuit”. In addition, they can eat your vehicle’s seat and nest in them. Their activities can pose a danger to you (unprotected wires can cause a spark) and also result in expensive repairs. I will come out to prevent this in the next section. Your various belts and wires can get corroded if not used over a long period; the serpentine belt can get corroded, and some animals can chew up the wire or do damage when it’s resting.
When your vehicle is not used as often as it should, the engine and its components may suffer
A vehicle’s engine is its life. Careless habits such as not using your vehicle regularly can result in some engine damage. Some of these are listed below:
- Dry rot of the cambelt/timing belt and the tires could be an issue.
- When left for too long, there can also be potential rust on the exhaust parts
- When your vehicle is not used regularly, or you just run the vehicle for a short period, moisture tends to form inside the engine crankcase. This moisture can cause pitting and corrosion on internal engine parts.
- The biggest thing to worry about here is dried-out seals. When a seal (like an engine rear main seal and differential seals) is left unused for long periods, they dry out. When this happens, and you use the vehicle, it has a tendency to rip/tear the seals and can cause massive oil leaks. These seals are usually in bad spots where you cannot quickly get to them, which means they cost to get replaced.
- Similarly, your hoses can become stiff/rigid and leak when you run your engine next.
- Your various belts and wires can get corroded if not used over a long period; the serpentine belt can get corroded, and some animals can chew up the wire or do damage when it’s resting.
Unused vehicles and electrical problems
Some fuses may fail depending on the climate. In addition, Sometimes the interior electricals tend to develop a fault such as the power windows getting jammed, or electric seats.
Your air conditioning gas/refrigerant can leak when your vehicle sits idle for too long
AC Gas leak: Cars not used over a long time might cause ineffective cooling from the Air Conditioner and need to be recharged.
Brake problems are also associated with unused vehicles
The brake rotor’s friction surfaces may become slightly rusted over a long period. This should not be anything to worry about. It is surface rust that will be worn off during your first run with the vehicle. You will not want to use your parking brake, as brakes can become rusted to the disk/drum and won’t want to release. Also, the brakes may lose their grip over time. The above things can go wrong. Additionally, your wheels can get jammed if not used for months, and if you are near a coastal area, you can be prone to faster corrosion.
Unused vehicles are prone to dampness from relative humidity
The car gets damp or takes in water. If this pools in the car it can cause corrosion; it can also cause mold on seat fabric, seat belts, and trim. A car used every day is unlikely to suffer from dampness in the same way because you would typically use the fans, AC, heater, or even open a window. Hence, there was airflow and the car was at a comfortable temperature. This prevents the inside of the car from becoming damp.
Fluids lose their protective integrity when the car is not driven regularly
Most of the fluids, like engine oil/brake fluid, break down, they lose their ability to lubricate eventually though this takes much much longer like half a year or so; but still, you will need to replace them.
How can I properly store my vehicle when not in use?
Interestingly, we have come to this article’s second and final section. What can I do to prevent damage to my vehicle from not using it regularly?
Prevention is better than cure, try as much as possible not to allow your vehicle to sit idle. You can get someone to drive around every once in a while. Minimum of one per two weeks if your car is still very sound. However, if your car is not in top shape, ride it at least once weekly. If you don’t have where to go, you can warm it up for 15 minutes every two days and set a time to ride it for 10 miles/ 16 km every fortnight.
Now, if you would unavoidably not be using your car regularly, you can take the following storage measures. This largely depends on the length of time.
How to store your car if you won’t be using it for a week or a month
- Disconnect the battery. You can also give it to a battery maintainer or someone who will install and use it in his vehicle. Charge the battery once a week with maintenance. Car batteries are very delicate. They suffer significant damage even if drained only a few times in their lifespan. So never let them drain! Car and it should be used at least once per two weeks. Is it true?
How to store your car safely if you won’t be using it for more than a month
Apart from the battery maintenance mentioned above, there are a couple more things you need to do. Proper preparation helps prevents deterioration of the engine, body, and parts of your vehicle.
- Fill the fuel tank to the brim. You can add fuel stabilizers or injector cleaner for further protection.
- Change the engine oil and the oil filter before storage
- Wash and dry the exterior thoroughly and completely
- Clean up the interior as well
- If pests are a concern to you, please get a pesticide or fumigate the area where you want to park the car
- Don’t engage the parking brake/handbrake
- Jack up the car and let it rest on a jack stand so the tires could be off the ground. This will prevent flat spots.
- wind down the windows slightly
- Raise the front and rare wiper and support them with a rag. This will prevent them from touching the windshield
- To prevent sticking, Apply silicone spray lube to all doors and hatch seals.
- Cover the entire car with a breathable, eco-friendly multiple layers car cover. This must be made from cotton as a non-cotton car cover can damage the paint.
- Store the vehicle in your garage if you have one. I strongly advise you against storing it in direct sunlight, though.
- If possible, employ someone to run the engine for you for at least 15 minutes monthly.
How to prepare your car for usage after storing it for long
If you want to use your car again after storing it for a long period. Try and perform the followings:
- Connect the battery cautiously and correctly.
- Secondly, jack down the vehicle and remove the stands
- Also, don’t forget to remove the blocks behind your wheels
- Clean any dust you might see on all the brake rotors.
- In addition, if you have stored the car for up to a year, change the oil and the filter.
- Furthermore, insert your key and switch it on just enough to power only your accessories.
- If all goes well with your accessories, ignite the car, and don’t press the gas pedal.
- You should also monitor your dashboard to see if your check engine light is not on. If it is, of the ignition and scans the car or call your mechanic.
- Let it idle for like 15 to 20 minutes.
- Congratulations, you have safely prepared your car for use after storing it for a long.
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