What Are the Effects of Leaving a Car Unused for a Long Time?
2 Answers
Oil seal aging, battery premature failure, tire deformation, engine failure, oil oxidation corroding mechanical parts, etc. The damage to a car left unused for a long time is as follows: 1. Oil seal aging: If a car is left unused for a long time, the contact force around the oil seal will become uneven, and the direction with greater force will experience more deformation of the oil seal. The longer the car remains stationary, the harder it is for the deformation to recover, eventually leading to permanent deformation of the oil seal, which can easily cause oil leakage. 2. Battery premature failure: The car battery charges while the vehicle is in motion. If the car is left unused for a month, the battery may be harmed and could lose all its charge within that month. For older vehicles, the battery might die within 2-3 weeks. More seriously, long-term self-discharge of the battery can lead to the formation of sulfides on the electrode plates, affecting the battery's recharging efficiency and ultimately causing premature battery failure. 3. Tire deformation: When a car is stationary, the weight is borne by the parts of the four tires in contact with the ground, causing these contact areas to compress and deform. The longer the car remains unused, the harder it is for the deformed areas to recover, altering the weight distribution around the tires and creating uneven rolling radii, leading to tire imbalance. Once the car enters high-speed driving, body vibrations may occur, accelerating tire wear and posing safety risks. 4. Engine failure: If a car is left unused for a long time, the engine oil can deteriorate. Without timely replacement, the lubrication and wear levels will be compromised, affecting engine performance. Besides engine oil, prolonged parking can also cause issues with coolant, antifreeze, etc., ultimately leading to engine failure. 5. Oil oxidation corroding mechanical parts: When a car is left unused for an extended period, oil oxidation becomes severe. Oxidized oil not only loses its lubricating effectiveness but also produces acidic substances that can corrode mechanical parts. The longer the car remains stationary, the worse the deterioration becomes. When the engine is restarted, dry or semi-dry friction may occur between the cylinders and pistons, accelerating part wear and significantly increasing startup resistance, making it difficult to start the engine.
As someone with ten years of car ownership experience, I learned a hard lesson last year when I left my car unused for two months while traveling abroad. Upon returning, I found the battery completely dead and had to call for roadside assistance to jump-start it. Even worse, the tires had developed flat spots, which the mechanic explained were deformations caused by prolonged single-point pressure, forcing me to replace two tires. There was also a musty smell inside the car, and upon inspecting the air conditioning, I discovered the evaporator had mold growth. Now, I always ask my neighbor to start the car once a week, shift gears, and move the wheels slightly. When parking for extended periods, I inflate the tires to 1.5 times the standard pressure and apply protective agents to the rubber seals—these steps save a lot on repair costs.
