Is it okay to leave a car unused for two weeks?
3 Answers
It's okay. You can start the vehicle for 5-10 minutes every one or two weeks to charge the battery. Here are the relevant details: Long-term parking: During long-term parking, continuous battery discharge can easily lead to battery depletion. In mild cases, it may affect the next vehicle startup, while severe cases can directly cause battery damage. Each instance of excessive discharge causes irreversible damage to the battery. Impact on rubber products: Rubber components in cars, such as tires and door/window sealing strips, are highly susceptible to premature aging due to sunlight and humidity changes, leading to performance degradation and shortened lifespan. The aging of rubber products mainly occurs because rubber is an unsaturated hydrocarbon polymer that easily absorbs oxygen from the air and oxidizes. Additionally, vulcanized rubber has certain permeability, allowing oxygen to penetrate and cause internal oxidation.
I'm usually busy with work, and it's quite common for my car to sit idle for two weeks without being driven, but I have to be careful about battery issues. Once when I came back from a business trip, the car wouldn't start at all, and I had to call for roadside assistance only to find out the battery was completely drained. Modern cars have a lot of electronic devices, like the central control screen and anti-theft system, which quietly consume power. If the car sits too long, the battery can drain completely, and in severe cases, the battery may need to be replaced, costing a few hundred dollars. Additionally, tires under prolonged pressure can develop localized deformations, especially in hot weather when tire pressure is low, making them more prone to bulges or cracks, increasing the risk of a blowout. I recommend disconnecting the battery's negative terminal before parking for long periods or buying a charger to periodically recharge the battery. I've since developed a habit of asking a friend to start the car and let it run for a few minutes if it's going to sit for a while, which works really well.
As someone who frequently commutes by car, I think leaving a car parked for two weeks is really not ideal. It's not just about the battery; for example, engine oil tends to settle at the bottom, leading to insufficient lubrication during startup and potentially damaging engine components. The tires, under prolonged fixed pressure, may experience permanent deformation in areas where the rubber has aged, affecting balance and grip—especially dangerous for old or damaged tires when driving at high speeds. Brake discs might also rust and seize, causing abnormal noises and significant wear during startup. I remember a friend's car shook violently when driven after being parked for three weeks, requiring an immediate wheel alignment costing a couple thousand. It's advisable to check all fluid levels before parking, including coolant and windshield washer fluid, and if time permits, start the car every few days to idle for about ten minutes to keep the mechanical parts active and protect the vehicle.
