Cars have always been one of the objects associated with our lives, so it’s not too strange that the frequency that we use this vehicle is extremely high. However, there will still be times when it is imperative to leave the car in the garage without starting for a long time.
So can we leave our vehicle idle, or do we need to start the car often to avoid damage like electronic devices? The answer will be correct in the article below.
How Often Should You Start Your Car?
Although there are some cases where leaving the car in the garage for a long time without problems, you should not follow it because it is not worth it to bet your money on a few minutes of laziness.
Because the failure rate of components will increase gradually over time, lying still without working. It’s best to start the car once a week in case you don’t use it often. However, some modern vehicles can sit still for 2 to 3 weeks or even a month without too many problems.
During each engine start, we will need to let the engine operate continuously for 5 to 10 minutes to ensure that sensitive parts such as batteries, accumulators, or electrical circuits have enough time to warm up.
And about every 3 weeks or 1 month, you should sit in the driver’s seat once to test drive the car and see if there is any problem with the internal components. With older models, the waiting time will be shortened to only about 2 weeks.
What Happens If You Don’t Start The Engine For A Long Time?
Many problems can happen if you leave your car in the garage for too long. And unfortunately, these problems are often challenging to solve and will bring you a lot of trouble.
Fuel tank problem
Gasoline, the primary fuel of many car models, is a substance capable of degrading and evaporating very quickly under normal conditions.
So if you leave this type of fuel in the tank for too long, it is likely that the gasoline will turn into vapors or other toxins and, when released into the environment, will cause us a very uncomfortable feeling.
Not only that, these agents also accumulate in the tank on the vehicle causing damage. But the most dangerous is still the risk of an explosion from gasoline vapor is exceptionally high because they are very flammable. In addition, the fuel pump is also straightforward to damage if not operated for a long time.
Metamorphic lubricating oil
Besides gasoline, lubricating oil is also a very easy to degrade solution if left to stand for a long time.
At this time, chemical reactions will reduce or even disable the oil’s lubricating ability and cause the engine to no longer operate smoothly. Besides, cleaning the degraded lubricating oil is also not an easy job.
Damage to batteries, accumulators
Battery or battery problems are widespread with cars that have been idle for a long time. Because even when we turn off the car engine, the energy inside these devices is still lost over time.
And of course, when you need to use the car again, the electricity has long been exhausted, leading to being unable to start the engine or use the horn and lights. However, if you run out of power, you are still fortunate because, in many cases, the battery or battery will die completely due to corrosive reactions or overheating. If this happens accidentally, you will need to replace these parts.
Damage in segment
The deposits from the metamorphic oil can corrode the segment, thereby reducing the protection of this part, leading to impurities falling into the combustion chamber.
What To Do If The Machine A Long Time In The Garage
After a period of inactivity, you decide to restart the car, but unlike usual, there is no movement from this part. Chances are the internal engine has suffered a breakdown while you’ve left the car in the garage. What you need to do now is to check a few details below.
Check the fuel tank
The gasoline has likely evaporated, and there is no longer enough to operate. In this case, you can open the fuel tank cap to see, but remember to be careful.
Check the battery
Not having enough power due to the battery or the battery being accidentally discharged while leaving the car in the garage is something that many users encounter.
At this point, you can try by turning on the turn signal, horn, or other equipment that requires the car battery. If it does not activate, there is a high chance that the battery or battery has a problem.
Check wiring
Rats, cockroaches, and some insects can break the wires in the motor system, resulting in this part not working. If you have a little knowledge, you can open the lid of the car to check. However, it is still best to bring the car to a mechanic.
Some Tips For Cars That Have Not Been Used For A Long Time
With a few actions, you can help your vehicle minimize problems when lying in the garage for too long.
- Choose a suitable location to park the car: Most battery or battery death cases come from the action of chemicals under the effect of accelerating the reaction rate from the hot outside environment. So stay away from areas with extreme temperatures when storing your car
- Take the gas out of the car: Remember to leave 10 to 20% in the tank to prevent the fuel pump from failing.
- Clean parts with specialized cleaners such as carb cleaner vs brake cleaner: These operations will help you remove some of the old dirt to avoid too much dirt and residue that can easily create rust or prevent the process of parts.
- Seal the gaps and cover the car with specialized tarpaulins: This method will help the car not get too much dust and prevent harmful species such as mice, ants, and cockroaches.
Conclusion
So through this article, we have learned about the harmful effects of keeping the car too long without starting. So do not forget to start the engine regularly to avoid damage to your vehicle.
