Is driving once a week considered long-term inactivity?
2 Answers
Driving once a week is not considered long-term inactivity. You can start the vehicle for 5-10 minutes every one or two weeks to recharge the battery. The effects of long-term inactivity are as follows: 1. During long-term parking: Continuous battery discharge can easily lead to battery depletion, which may mildly affect the next vehicle start or, in severe cases, directly cause battery damage. Each instance of excessive discharge causes irreversible harm to the battery. 2. Rubber components in the car: Such as tires and door/window seals, are prone to premature aging due to sunlight and humidity changes, leading to degraded performance and shortened lifespan. The aging of rubber components is mainly because rubber is an unsaturated hydrocarbon polymer that easily absorbs oxygen from the air and oxidizes. Additionally, vulcanized rubber has some permeability, allowing oxygen to enter and cause oxidation. 3. Tires: Tires are prone to localized deformation due to prolonged parking.
I drive my car once a week, which I don't consider as long-term inactivity. True long-term inactivity refers to leaving the car parked without moving for over a month. If the car is driven infrequently, issues may arise, such as the battery being prone to draining, making it difficult to start the car. Tires are also susceptible to deformation; if left unmoved for a long time, they can develop flat spots. The lubrication system can face problems too—engine oil may thicken or not coat evenly, affecting engine longevity. My advice is, if you drive as infrequently as I do, it's best to start the engine once a week and let it run for about ten minutes or take a short drive. This helps keep everything in working order and prevents minor issues from escalating into major problems. Regularly checking fluid levels, such as brake fluid and coolant, is also crucial to avoid unexpected issues.
