What Happens If a Car Is Left Unused for a Week?
3 Answers
It is generally fine to leave a car unused for a week. However, there are several issues to be aware of when a car is left unused for an extended period: It is best to park the car in a garage for long-term storage: The first priority when leaving a car unused for a long time is to protect the paintwork. Leaves, dust, rain, snow, and even fireworks during holidays can damage the paint. If the paint is chipped, exposing the metal body, it can easily lead to rust. Appropriately increase tire pressure: After a car is parked for an extended period, the four tires can develop flat spots where they contact the ground. The longer the car remains stationary, the harder it is for these deformed areas to recover, eventually making the tires unusable. If not replaced in time, driving at high speeds can cause vibrations, posing a safety risk. Many manufacturers intentionally inflate tires to a higher pressure before shipping new cars to prevent deformation due to underinflation during long-term storage. Therefore, before leaving a car unused for a long time, it is advisable to inflate the tires to a higher pressure to ensure they can withstand the load. Prevent battery drain: The car battery is charged by the alternator while driving. However, when a car is left unused for a long time, the battery can easily discharge, especially since many cars come with built-in alarms that slowly drain the battery over time. This can eventually make it impossible to start the car.
Leaving a car parked without moving for a week definitely has some impacts, as I've seen plenty from my years of driving since youth. For example, the battery is prone to draining because the engine isn't running to recharge it, which might result in no response when trying to start the car, requiring jump cables. Tire issues are also quite common—pressure points from staying stationary can cause deformation, leading to flat spots that create significant vibrations when driving, damaging tire lifespan. Additionally, brake discs and the braking system can rust from prolonged exposure to moisture, affecting braking performance, so it's best to inspect them beforehand. Moreover, engine oil and coolant may accumulate impurities, and internal components could loosen. To avoid these problems, I recommend fully charging the battery before parking or starting the car for a few minutes each week to keep everything in working order, rather than waiting until it won't start to panic.
Last time my car sat for a week, it really gave me a scare: when I got home, it wouldn't start, the dashboard lights didn't come on—turns out the battery was completely drained. I had to ask a friend to help jump-start it. Then there were the tires—the edges felt rock-hard, and the ride was super bumpy. The mechanic said they'd deformed from prolonged pressure. Even more annoying was the rust on the brake discs, which made a squealing noise when braking, costing money and peace of mind. My advice: park in a cool, dry spot and use a protective cover, or ask a neighbor to move the car occasionally. Short-term parking isn't a big deal, but let these issues pile up, and you'll hurt both your car and your wallet—plus it affects driving safety. Better to prevent problems early.
