What to do if car hasn't been ran for about a month?
01-29-2007, 07:17 PM
#1
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What to do if car hasn't been ran for about a month?
Normally I start car every few days during winter. Otherwise it sits in garage covered. It goes out on nice days every once in a while. Due to tons of stuff in the last month, the Audi hasn't been started since about Christmas. Do I need to do anything special before I start it up now?
01-29-2007, 08:16 PM
#4
You are better off not starting it for short idle periods.
Starting and idling just mixes up the condensation in the oil. Old oil + water warmed and mixed is pretty nasty. It needs to be driven for LONG periods to start burning away that gunk. Better to disconnect the + battery terminal and let it sit unstarted. A dash of Sta-bil fuel stabilizer will prevent varnish and fuel probs. Keep the tank full when storing. Take it for a ride and get the oil changed AFTER a 1 hour drive. Better bet would to be cold drain the existing oil and start it with some cheap fresh stuff then do a full change after a few good drives. That's how I'd ressurect it. It likely will be a dead battery anyway. Get a trickle charger slapped on it if stored in private. If sitting on the street, disconnect the battery, keeping the radio code handy. I recommend a hi-miles oil or even better a marine engine oil for storage.
01-29-2007, 09:55 PM
#6
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What about around 2 weeks?
I've never not driven my cars for a long period of time, but pretty soon I may not drive my cars for about 2 weeks. Will be ok just to do nothing?
01-30-2007, 03:46 AM
#7
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Two weeks shouldn't be an issue. If possible, just take it around the block once
a week for the fluids to get moving and lubricate parts but I wouldn't worry about it too much.
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01-30-2007, 06:15 AM
#10
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I saw that...but wouldn't it be better to at least drive it around for 10-15 minutes once a
week if the car were not to be used for an extended period of time? That way, seals get lubricated and the fluids moved around instead of sitting at the bottom of a pan doing nothing. I didn't mean to idle the car for 10 minutes but actually drive it around. I know idling won't be good for it.
I wouldn't think if a car was sitting for 2 weeks, the oil should be changed out because it wasn't used for two weeks at a time, that'd be crazy =P One month I could understand had it not been used at all. But what about driving it once a week for 10-15 min to get it up to operating temps?
I wouldn't think if a car was sitting for 2 weeks, the oil should be changed out because it wasn't used for two weeks at a time, that'd be crazy =P One month I could understand had it not been used at all. But what about driving it once a week for 10-15 min to get it up to operating temps?