What to Do If the Car Is Not Driven for a Period of Time?
2 Answers
Methods for dealing with a car that hasn't been driven for a while: 1. Warm up the car every week and drive for about 15 minutes to ensure lubrication of moving parts and the formation of protective oil films, while also replenishing the battery's charge appropriately; 2. Check the battery every month to see if there are signs of power loss. If signs of power loss appear, the engine can be used to charge the battery appropriately; 3. If you're going on a long trip, you can entrust the car to relatives or friends to take care of it in this manner. Hazards of not driving the car for a long time: 1. If the car is not driven, it will experience severe power loss after 3 months and won't be able to start; 2. If the car is parked for too long, the engine will lose the protection of the lubricating oil film, leading to oxidation and corrosion, which can reduce engine power and shorten its lifespan.
If the car won't be used for a long time, I'll take five protective measures. First, disconnect the negative terminal of the battery to avoid power loss, which saves money on battery replacement. Second, inflate the tires to the standard pressure plus an extra 0.5 bar to prevent deformation. Third, fill up the fuel tank and add a bottle of fuel stabilizer to prevent oxidation for up to six months. Fourth, place several packs of activated charcoal deodorizers inside the car and cover the seats with anti-dust flannel covers. Finally, park in an underground garage and cover the roof with a sunshade car cover. Every month, I'll start the engine and let it idle for ten minutes on a weekend, turn the air conditioning to the defogging mode to dry the pipes, and move the car half a meter forward and backward to shift the tire pressure points. With these steps, the car can start and drive away smoothly even after sitting for half a year.
