The Importance of Maintaining Your Car Even When Driving Less

May 8, 2020 | Blog, Car Maintenance, Total Car Care

Classic Car Maintenance
You may think maintenance becomes less important if you start driving your car less. Whatever the circumstances, there are still a lot of ways in which you still need to keep up with routine car maintenance. Topping off fluids, checking on your battery, and paying attention to the effects of the environment on your car are just a few ways in which you can ensure your car continues to run optimally, even while driving less frequently.

Related: What Does Basic Car Maintenance Include?

Related: Does Manufacturer Maintenance Matter?

Related: What You Need To Know About High Mileage Cars

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    Don’t Neglect Your Car’s Fluids

    When your car sits unused for a while, there’s a risk that moisture can build up in fluid compartments. Condensation from the air and changes in the environment can cause moisture to accumulate if your fuel or any other fluids are not at an optimal level.

    Mechanic checking car fluid's

    Top Off Your Fluids if they Get Low

    It’s easy to check the level of your engine oil, coolant, and wiper fluid. Use the dipstick or measurement lines on the compartments to judge whether they’re getting low or not. If they are, you can top them off yourself. Keep in mind, with engine oil and coolant, finding the fluid at a low level means you probably have a leak that should be addressed by a mechanic. Still, keeping them full will prevent moisture from accumulating and causing damage to your car.

    The Same Goes for Filling Up Your Gas Tank

    If you’ve taken a few drives and your gas tank is getting lower, swing by a gas station on your way home and top it off to prevent condensation building up in the gas tank. Condensation can damage your fuel injectors and even cause rust on metal parts throughout the system, which means a hefty bill to get necessary car repairs done.

    Don’t Put Off a Necessary Oil Change

    With our without regular driving and piling on the miles, your car still needs regular oil changes. Even while sitting stationary, your oil degrades over time and should be replaced at least every six months. Plus, your engine is able to burn off some of the contaminants that build up in engine oil while driving. Your car is still accumulating contaminants from the environment, even while sitting parked, but if you’re driving less, less of those contaminants are getting burned off.

    Check on Your Battery

    Your battery can take the hardest hit from a car sitting stationary for longer periods of time. This is because driving is what charges your battery up again. When it’s sitting stationary, it doesn’t have the opportunity to gain charge.

    Related: Car Care In Tropcial Weather
    Related: Hybrid Car Care & Maintanence

    Old stack of batteries

    A Parasitic Leak Could Drain Your Battery

    If you have an electrical problem you aren’t aware of, you could have a parasitic leak slowly draining your car’s battery while it sits in your garage. This is especially hard on older batteries that struggle to charge properly and hold a charge. If you have a garage with an outlet, you can buy a car battery charger to help your battery hold a charge, but if you’re running into more instances of a dead battery while driving less often, you should have a mechanic take a look at your battery and electrical system.

    Longer Drives Will Help Keep Your Battery Charged

    Your battery charges while you drive, so aim for long drives when you do go out. This will allow your battery to charge more on those occasions when you use your car. The longer the better but getting at least 20-30 minutes of drive time is a good goal if you’re able.

    strong>Related: Common Electrical Problems

    Prevent Damage from Sitting Stationary

    Simply sitting still while exposed to the elements and environmental changes can cause wear on your car’s parts. We’re not just talking about storm damage either. Sitting in the sun or wind alone can gradually wear down and damage your car.

    Keep Tires Full to Prevent Flat Spots

    Changes in temperature can cause your tire pressure to go up or down, meaning you can easily have under-filled tires and not realize it if you aren’t driving regularly. If your car then sits parked with low tires, they could get flat spots, which will mean you need new tires sooner than usual.

    Be Aware of Time in the Sun

    Sitting in direct sun can cause damage and cracks to affected parts like your car’s paint and even windshield wipers. Rubber parts are susceptible to drying out and cracking from overexposure to the sun and harsh elements. Whenever you’re able, take a quick look at outside parts of your car and, if possible, try to keep your car out of the sun with a cover or parking in a garage.

    Go for a Leisurely Drive

    Even if you don’t need to go anywhere, taking a drive without a destination will help your car. Simply take a drive around town without even getting out of the car and it will get fluids circulating as well as giving your battery a boost. Aim for trying to get your car out for a drive at least once every week or two to help keep it happy.

    AAMCO Central Florida Mechanics Are Here to Help

    It’s easy to neglect your car especially when you don’t use it often. Regardless if you have a reason to drive every day or not, maintaining your vehicle is essential to keeping your ride operating as good as you expect. Whatever your car maintenance needs while driving less, give your nearest AAMCO Central Florida location a call. From an oil change to necessary repairs, we can get your car back on the road in no time.

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