How often should a sedan be started if left unused for a long time?

[LouisAnn]

If a sedan is left unused for an extended period, it should be started once a week to ensure the proper functioning of various fluids within the engine and the car battery. If the car is not started for a long time, the engine oil will stop circulating, which can affect the engine's normal operation upon restart and may also lead to battery drain. If the car is to be left unused for a long time, it is essential to take protective measures to prevent difficulties in starting the vehicle when it is next used. An engine is a machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy. It can refer to either a power-generating device or the entire machine, including the power unit. Types of engines include internal combustion engines, external combustion engines, electric motors, etc.

[JohnnyAnn]

As an auto repair shop technician, I've seen way too many cars towed in due to dead batteries. Here's the deal: if your car sits unused for over 15 days, you must start it up. The key isn't just turning the ignition—you need to properly warm up the vehicle: after cold start, maintain around 1500 RPM for 5 minutes to let the alternator charge the battery. Ideally, take it for a 10-minute drive to remove rust from brake discs, prevent tire flat spots, and circulate all fluids. Last time, a customer left their car parked for three months—the battery was completely dead, costing an extra 700 yuan for replacement. If driving isn't possible, the bare minimum is starting it every two weeks, but even that won't last beyond three months.

[RowanFitz]

My car suffered a lot after being parked for two months during the pandemic. Now I start it every ten days, letting the engine run for about seven or eight minutes, and I also turn the air conditioning to maximum to ventilate the ducts. The battery is most afraid of being drained—my friend's Tesla had its auxiliary battery die after just a month of parking. If it's winter or if the car has an aftermarket alarm system, it's better to shorten the interval to once a week. Oh, and remember to turn off the parking monitor of the dashcam before leaving—that thing really drains the battery. Once before going back to my hometown for the New Year, I specifically pulled the dashcam's fuse, and the car still started when I returned.

[AlessandraFitz]

The battery self-discharges approximately 1% per day at 20°C. Based on a vehicle standby current of 0.05A, a 60Ah battery won't last more than 60 days. Considering modern cars have numerous electronic modules—for instance, BMW's electronic parking brake module is particularly power-hungry—it's recommended not to exceed 30 days of stationary parking. The most scientific approach is to keep a charger with voltage display handy; when the battery voltage drops to 12.4V, it must be charged immediately. Our lab tests have shown that when the voltage falls below 11.8V, the battery plates will sulfate, and three deep discharges will essentially render the battery unusable.