Using a car once a month - how to lay it up?

[sebhaque]

I've noticed that I'm using one of my cars only once a month (worst "I have multiple cars" ever post etc etc) and was just wondering what the most mechanically sympathetic way is to leave it parked up for a month at a time. It's a 2009 car that's well-maintained so it's not in any danger of dud batteries or leaky seals etc - but I want to make sure I'm looking after it even though it's laid up most of the time.

My main questions are - what are the general preservation steps to perform? I leave it with the handbrake off but in reverse gear (it's parked on a slight forward incline), I start it up once every fortnight for 10 minutes or so while I check the tyres, lights and fluids. Every month it does at least a 20 mile trip with a run or two to the redline when warm to keep it all working well.

Do I have anything to be worried about? It's obviously a bit sad to see my pride and joy sat in the corner looking unloved, but I do love that car and can't bring myself to sell it. Man maths dictate that it pays for itself on the one drive a month it gets when the sun is out, the roads are empty and I can have a blast exploring the power.

Sorry if I'm not the most coherent tonight, I've just finished my 3rd ale and I've only just noticed they're 6.5%!

[rallycross]

Do nothing except take it for a drive once a month - as long as the immobiliser is not making the battery go flat then you don't need to do anything

[Conscript]

rallycross said:

Do nothing except take it for a drive once a month - as long as the immobiliser is not making the battery go flat then you don't need to do anything

This. I reckon starting it up for 10 minutes every fortnight probably isn't great for it either, as the car will be barely warmed up and then you shut it down again.

[Oilchange]

Might bre worth plugging it into a conditioner charger to look after the battery in case of parasitic drains or a cold snap

[DonkeyApple]

I tend to agree. I don't think there is anything you should be doing. It's a modern car and a month is a very short period of time. As said, if the battery is holding up then nothing is needed.

[sebhaque]

Thanks for the responses guys. I normally let the car idle for 30 seconds and then rev it to 2500rpm for a few seconds, let go, repeat a few times until the coolant's at temperature. The oil isn't near running temperature but I thought it was better than nothing. Happy to leave it alone for the month, I only ran it every fortnight because I didn't want the oil to drain from the top of the engine.

I can't plug a trickle charger in as the nearest plug point has to go through the front door (it's very sealed) or the garage plug point needs a good 10m of extension and I'd rather not leave a charger exposed to the elements outside the car.

[Krikkit]

2 weeks or 4 weeks the top end will dry out, hell it should dry out overnight!

Just start it whenever it's needed. If you have a convenient slope just move it a foot backwards every 2 weeks to help then tyres avoid flat spots.

[Condi]

Mine sat for over 6 months; just needed a jump start to kiss some life into and off we went.

[conkerman]

Trickle charger if feeling paranoid.

If you start it, use it properly to her everything hot.

Other than that, check tyre pressures periodically.

[bobbo89]

If your that concerned why not just up your usage to twice a month so its getting driven every two weeks? Make sure each run out is a good one that'll give the battery a good charge and you'll be fine!

[E65Ross]

sebhaque said:

Thanks for the responses guys. I normally let the car idle for 30 seconds and then rev it to 2500rpm for a few seconds, let go, repeat a few times until the coolant's at temperature. The oil isn't near running temperature but I thought it was better than nothing. Happy to leave it alone for the month, I only ran it every fortnight because I didn't want the oil to drain from the top of the engine.

I can't plug a trickle charger in as the nearest plug point has to go through the front door (it's very sealed) or the garage plug point needs a good 10m of extension and I'd rather not leave a charger exposed to the elements outside the car.

Ctek mxs 5.0 trickle charger with a few extension cables..... Job done. Their extension cables are waterproof

[furrywoolyhatuk]

If you cant get a ctek on it, a solar trickle charger is the next best option. Get the best wattage that you can afford. It won't necessarily stop your battery dying but it will certainly slow it down.

[007 VXR]

Leave the handbrake off ?

[red_slr]

If it were me I would put the charger on trickle / condition and just leave it. Might make sure the TPs are a bit higher than normal too.

If it was an expensive engine in a classic I may consider cranking it with no spark just to get some oil upto the top end for 10 seconds.

[mph1977]

battery condtioner, wheel chocks ( so you can leave the handbrake off) and leave it between actual runs

starting it and letting it idle for short periods isn't really helping

[456mgt]

Definitely leave the handbrake off; I once left a Corolla parked up for a month with the handbrake on and it must have warped the discs because it was like I was cadence braking everywhere after that. Drove me nuts.

The only things I do are: trickle charger, leave the car in neutral with a chock behind one of the wheels. I've left cars like this for months. I don't buy this flatspotting the tyres crap either- I've never had this and suspect it may be when you have ancient rubber that's gone hard, in which case you should replace them anyway. Also, I don't start up an engine unless I'm going to drive it.

[Khaki Suit]

I bought an outdoor extension lead for mine so I could run the cable from the garage to the car. The plug end is a sealed unit which has rubber seals to keep out moisture etc. I leave that end under the bonnet anyway but it makes me feel better.

Similar to this one:
http://www.diy.com/departments/masterplug-13a-exte...

You could always put a breaker on it too. I run a ctek 5.0 which is a compact unit and easily fits under a packed engine bay too.

[Riley Blue]

There's no power to the lock up where my Riley spends the winter. I simply drive it in around the end of October and around about the end of February check the oil, water and tyres then start it up and away. It doesn't seem to suffer through lack of pampering.

[fel71]

Slightly off topic, but with respect to battery, which booster pack would anyone recommend, i recently used a Snap-on starter booster and was very impressed, but the price of one is a bit steep for occasional use (once every 3 months or so).

[Claudia Skies]

1. Estimate the car's annual depreciation- typically 15% to 20% of what you paid for it.
2. Add the tax/insurance/MOT/etc
3. Divide the total by 12, the number of times the car is used each year.
4. Be astounded by the cost of each trip.
5. Sell the car.
6. Enjoy the additional space you now have, both on the drive and in your life!