Proper Car Maintenance: Starting a Parked Vehicle

Maintaining your vehicle's health, especially when it's parked for extended periods, is crucial to ensure it functions optimally. Regular car maintenance tasks, such as starting your vehicle, play a significant role in preserving its longevity and performance. The frequency of starting a parked car can vary depending on the climate and the vehicle's age.

Optimal Frequency of Starting a Parked Car

For warm climates, starting your vehicle at least once a month is ideal. In colder environments, you should start your car approximately every two weeks to maintain its internal components and keep the engine well-lubricated. During these starts, allow the engine to heat up and let the internal fans run to ensure all parts are adequately lubricated and protected. This regimen helps keep your battery healthy and the engine interior properly oiled.

Engine Bleedout and Tire Maintenance

Believe it or not, leaving a parked vehicle for too long can cause bleeding dry of internal engine parts. In particular, older vehicles with mechanical fans may require more frequent monitoring. Pay attention to your engine's temperature gauge, as internal components can dry out and lead to significant damage. To prevent this, regularly cycle the engine by starting the car and driving it around the block if you can. This ensures that fluids circulate and joints are lubricated.

Other Essential Maintenance Tasks

When starting your parked car, consider additional maintenance tasks such as checking tire pressure and ensuring it is at the optimal level. Driving the car around the block can also help circulate fluids and maintain the overall health of the vehicle. If you live in a northern state where the roads are salted, flushing the undercarriage before storing the car is a must. This step is especially important after winter as salt can cause rust and corrosion.

Winter Engine Care

In regions where winters are harsh and extended, starting your parked car once a week is recommended. If possible, take the car for a short drive around the block to further circulate fluids and lubricate moving parts. Additionally, leaving your car parked for an entire winter without starting it, as some have done, can be risky. However, using a battery tender to maintain a charged battery is a good practice. For extremely cold environments, restarting the car every few hours might be necessary to prevent the internal engine from drying out.

Sealing Up with Quality Undercarriage Flushing

Maintaining your car's undercarriage is another critical aspect of regular maintenance. You can purchase a quality undercarriage flushing device from online retailers for about fifty bucks. This device, which attaches to your garden hose, is effective in cleaning away dirt and debris from underneath the vehicle. For a more thorough cleaning, a pressure washer can be used, which can be easily connected to the undercarriage flushing device with a coupler. Investing in these tools can make the maintenance process more efficient and easier to manage.

Proper maintenance and care of your vehicle can save you significant costs in the long run. Regularly checking and maintaining your car, especially during extended periods of inactivity, can prevent costly repairs and keep your vehicle in top condition.