How much is "lack of use" not good for the car?
Discussion
It is generally well known that not using a car regularly is bad for it, but how long is a long time between using it? Say, providing each time it is used it gets a good 40mins minimum of driving to get a full heat cycle through the components, would using the car once every 2 weeks be enough? What about every 4 weeks? Car can be charged with a CTEK, but not left on trickle charge (i.e. can be charged for a few hours until fully charged every week, for example) to keep the battery in good condition. Car left outside.
Would be interested in hearing your thoughts
Would be interested in hearing your thoughts
I used to work offshore and would leave my car sitting the drive for at least 3 weeks at a time, the only ill effect was some corrosion on the brake discs that could be cleared by a couple of hard stops.
Never used a charger until I was running two cars to do a total of about 6k miles a year and even then it was only when one car was garaged over winter.
Never used a charger until I was running two cars to do a total of about 6k miles a year and even then it was only when one car was garaged over winter.
Saleen836 said:
Sometimes mine sits in the garage anywhere between 2-6 months without use, it is on a batery minder but that is it, I don't even start it up until I go to use it again and never had any problems
Our e46 has been sorned again (on trickle charge) for winter, never had a problemMy fun car lives outdoors and this time of year I often don't use it for 3 or 4 weeks and I've not had a problem for the 5 years I've had it. Yes the discs get surface rust, but if it's rainy that can happen in less than a week anyway!
But when I do use it it's always for a decent run so everything gets properly up to temperature, which is probably better than a short trip every few days IMHO.
But when I do use it it's always for a decent run so everything gets properly up to temperature, which is probably better than a short trip every few days IMHO.
My mum has a Mini that gets used about once a week for moderate journeys. She worries about the battery as often the stop/start function doesn't work and occasionally uses a CTEK battery charger to charge it up. It's an automatic and sometimes the brake pedal is stiff when she comes to start it.
She bought it pre-registered five years ago and the battery warning light was on when she test drove it, so the dealer fitted a new battery then. Then it got used less than it does now because of the Covid lockdown, so it's always had fairly minimal use. It's never actually failed to start though.
A Polo she had before needed a new starter motor which may have been an issue of lack of use.
She bought it pre-registered five years ago and the battery warning light was on when she test drove it, so the dealer fitted a new battery then. Then it got used less than it does now because of the Covid lockdown, so it's always had fairly minimal use. It's never actually failed to start though.
A Polo she had before needed a new starter motor which may have been an issue of lack of use.
Don't worry about it!
The stop/start nonsense works on all sorts of algorithms, but ambient temperature this time of year is probably why it doesn't operate when the heater, heated screen, etc, is working drawing current, and it can be reluctant in the summer when the A/C is working. Short journeys don't help because the priority is keeping the battery charged.
I'd recommend turning it off every time she uses it. The starter motor on my BMW 123d with stop/start died at around 70K miles and a replacement cost £600+ in 2014.
The stop/start nonsense works on all sorts of algorithms, but ambient temperature this time of year is probably why it doesn't operate when the heater, heated screen, etc, is working drawing current, and it can be reluctant in the summer when the A/C is working. Short journeys don't help because the priority is keeping the battery charged.
I'd recommend turning it off every time she uses it. The starter motor on my BMW 123d with stop/start died at around 70K miles and a replacement cost £600+ in 2014.
Saleen836 said:
Sometimes mine sits in the garage anywhere between 2-6 months without use, it is on a battery minder but that is it, I don't even start it up until I go to use it again and never had any problems
Exactly this for my C7 Corvette. SORN 6 months of the year on a C-tek charger, doesn’t get started in that time. Starts first time perfectly every March/April, no issues at all. Edited by Saleen836 on Sunday 12th January 22:27
UTH said:
Saleen836 said:
Sometimes mine sits in the garage anywhere between 2-6 months without use, it is on a battery minder but that is it, I don't even start it up until I go to use it again and never had any problems
Exactly this for my C7 Corvette. SORN 6 months of the year on a C-tek charger, doesn’t get started in that time. Starts first time perfectly every March/April, no issues at all. Edited by Saleen836 on Sunday 12th January 22:27
modern engines certainly don't need starting regularly, but I do wonder about all the other moving parts not moving for months on end. so I do at least roll the car half a metre, depress the pedals, operate the windows etc. And on a sunny winters day take it for a local run every 2 months. You might be storing up problems that only manifest themselves later if leave it stationary for 6 months.
Will depend on a lot of factors, like where its stored, what the car is etc.
But all that time its not being used it is deteriorating in small ways as its getting older. I think people fixate on mileage a bit too much, it is important but condition is the most important factor, then age and then mileage which is, if we are honest, often fictitious anyway.
Saw a video about a Merc that had been dry stored for seven years, looked fine but took lots of work to recommission, the gearbox had corroded internally and it lost all drive, suspect had it been used would be fine. A friend recommissioned a Fiat Coupe that hadn't been used for ten or more years, the car was immaculate but the recommissioning cost what the car was worth, maybe more.
Things like tyres age, all rubber components do, if you have old engine oil in the engine its likely got water in and combustion by-products and can be acidic.
The clock doesnt stop when you lay a car up, slows down a bit at best.
But all that time its not being used it is deteriorating in small ways as its getting older. I think people fixate on mileage a bit too much, it is important but condition is the most important factor, then age and then mileage which is, if we are honest, often fictitious anyway.
Saw a video about a Merc that had been dry stored for seven years, looked fine but took lots of work to recommission, the gearbox had corroded internally and it lost all drive, suspect had it been used would be fine. A friend recommissioned a Fiat Coupe that hadn't been used for ten or more years, the car was immaculate but the recommissioning cost what the car was worth, maybe more.
Things like tyres age, all rubber components do, if you have old engine oil in the engine its likely got water in and combustion by-products and can be acidic.
The clock doesnt stop when you lay a car up, slows down a bit at best.
cerb4.5lee said:
UTH said:
Saleen836 said:
Sometimes mine sits in the garage anywhere between 2-6 months without use, it is on a battery minder but that is it, I don't even start it up until I go to use it again and never had any problems
Exactly this for my C7 Corvette. SORN 6 months of the year on a C-tek charger, doesn’t get started in that time. Starts first time perfectly every March/April, no issues at all. Edited by Saleen836 on Sunday 12th January 22:27
My neighbours V60 has done 2,267 miles since March 22 and only 26,879 miles in total (19 plate). He's in bad health and on oxygen 24/7 now.
I start it up occasionally for him. He's been offered £15.5k for it, as he won't be driving it but wants over £16k for it, so no doubt it will sit there for a while longer. Last time i took it for a little run, it handled dreadfully. Tyres that have been sat for years, cracked etc.
Can't be doing it any good at all.
I start it up occasionally for him. He's been offered £15.5k for it, as he won't be driving it but wants over £16k for it, so no doubt it will sit there for a while longer. Last time i took it for a little run, it handled dreadfully. Tyres that have been sat for years, cracked etc.
Can't be doing it any good at all.
J4CKO said:
Will depend on a lot of factors, like where its stored, what the car is etc.
But all that time its not being used it is deteriorating in small ways as its getting older. I think people fixate on mileage a bit too much, it is important but condition is the most important factor, then age and then mileage which is, if we are honest, often fictitious anyway.
Saw a video about a Merc that had been dry stored for seven years, looked fine but took lots of work to recommission, the gearbox had corroded internally and it lost all drive, suspect had it been used would be fine. A friend recommissioned a Fiat Coupe that hadn't been used for ten or more years, the car was immaculate but the recommissioning cost what the car was worth, maybe more.
Things like tyres age, all rubber components do, if you have old engine oil in the engine its likely got water in and combustion by-products and can be acidic.
The clock doesnt stop when you lay a car up, slows down a bit at best.
Would be stored outside. I'm just curious about SORNing one of my cars for a month or so as it's used mainly for high days and holidays, but likewise don't want things to go wrong. I could charge the battery up every week so that's not an issue. But I could use it Jan 31st, for example, then SORN it, and use it 1st March to save me £65 in tax, too. But all that time its not being used it is deteriorating in small ways as its getting older. I think people fixate on mileage a bit too much, it is important but condition is the most important factor, then age and then mileage which is, if we are honest, often fictitious anyway.
Saw a video about a Merc that had been dry stored for seven years, looked fine but took lots of work to recommission, the gearbox had corroded internally and it lost all drive, suspect had it been used would be fine. A friend recommissioned a Fiat Coupe that hadn't been used for ten or more years, the car was immaculate but the recommissioning cost what the car was worth, maybe more.
Things like tyres age, all rubber components do, if you have old engine oil in the engine its likely got water in and combustion by-products and can be acidic.
The clock doesnt stop when you lay a car up, slows down a bit at best.
E90_M3Ross said:
J4CKO said:
Will depend on a lot of factors, like where its stored, what the car is etc.
But all that time its not being used it is deteriorating in small ways as its getting older. I think people fixate on mileage a bit too much, it is important but condition is the most important factor, then age and then mileage which is, if we are honest, often fictitious anyway.
Saw a video about a Merc that had been dry stored for seven years, looked fine but took lots of work to recommission, the gearbox had corroded internally and it lost all drive, suspect had it been used would be fine. A friend recommissioned a Fiat Coupe that hadn't been used for ten or more years, the car was immaculate but the recommissioning cost what the car was worth, maybe more.
Things like tyres age, all rubber components do, if you have old engine oil in the engine its likely got water in and combustion by-products and can be acidic.
The clock doesnt stop when you lay a car up, slows down a bit at best.
Would be stored outside. I'm just curious about SORNing one of my cars for a month or so as it's used mainly for high days and holidays, but likewise don't want things to go wrong. I could charge the battery up every week so that's not an issue. But I could use it Jan 31st, for example, then SORN it, and use it 1st March to save me £65 in tax, too. But all that time its not being used it is deteriorating in small ways as its getting older. I think people fixate on mileage a bit too much, it is important but condition is the most important factor, then age and then mileage which is, if we are honest, often fictitious anyway.
Saw a video about a Merc that had been dry stored for seven years, looked fine but took lots of work to recommission, the gearbox had corroded internally and it lost all drive, suspect had it been used would be fine. A friend recommissioned a Fiat Coupe that hadn't been used for ten or more years, the car was immaculate but the recommissioning cost what the car was worth, maybe more.
Things like tyres age, all rubber components do, if you have old engine oil in the engine its likely got water in and combustion by-products and can be acidic.
The clock doesnt stop when you lay a car up, slows down a bit at best.
cerb4.5lee said:
UTH said:
Saleen836 said:
Sometimes mine sits in the garage anywhere between 2-6 months without use, it is on a battery minder but that is it, I don't even start it up until I go to use it again and never had any problems
Exactly this for my C7 Corvette. SORN 6 months of the year on a C-tek charger, doesn’t get started in that time. Starts first time perfectly every March/April, no issues at all. Edited by Saleen836 on Sunday 12th January 22:27
A couple of things I find if left for more than 9 months:
1) It starts to weep small amounts of oil out. If I then use a couple of times and put some heat cycles through it then stops totally. The rear mains seal must go hard then supple again once warmed through a couple of times
2) The clutch judders a bit for first mile or so, assume that the flywheel must get something corrosion wise lightly over it.
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