Just how often does a car need to be started so its battery won't die?

badblue1 · Dec 30, 2012

Very good thread here ... +1 on frequent oil changes and battery tender, but everyone is overlooking your fuel! Gasoline goes bad quicker than most people realize. In less than a months time fuel starts breaking down.

I would recommend filling your tank up and put in a bottle of Stabil (found in most parts stores) and keep your tank above half full at all times.

MoodyBlues · Dec 30, 2012

badblue1 said:
Very good thread here ... +1 on frequent oil changes and battery tender, but everyone is overlooking your fuel! Gasoline goes bad quicker than most people realize. In less than a months time fuel starts breaking down.

I would recommend filling your tank up and put in a bottle of Stabil (found in most parts stores) and keep your tank above half full at all times.

One thing I actually *DO* is keep the tank almost full. Yay me!

I've never heard of Stabil but will look into it. Thanks for the suggestions.

badblue1 · Dec 30, 2012

Stabil is a fuel stabilizer, they have a stabilizer for long term use ( if you store your vehicle over a couple months and for use in lawnmowers over the winter) .

But you need the one you add every other tankful or so.

Letting your vehicle sit for long periods of time will gum up the internals of the engine and foul spark plugs.

I found out the hard way when my trans am sat over the winter months, i had fouled plugs and clogged injectors (not cheap) ,i had to drain the tank, flush everything out, you should have smelled that gas, it was bad!!!

PyroSporker · Dec 30, 2012

There is some great suggestions here in this thread. I love my Battery Tender.

When bringing my car out of storage, 5-6 months (winter), after running all the stabilized gas through fully, and getting an oil change, etc. On my second or third fill up I've added a fuel injector cleaner with a near empty tank fill up. A fresh full tank of gas with Injector cleaner (Lucas Oil) added to it gives a good clean feeling.

While the need for a fuel stabilizer for only 5-6 months gas storage can be argued, and the overall efficacy of fuel additive injector cleaners can be questioned, both are good tips for prolonged car storage if for nothing else than relative peace of mind.

Speed Daemon · Jan 1, 2013

badblue1 said:
Very good thread here ... +1 on frequent oil changes and battery tender, but everyone is overlooking your fuel! Gasoline goes bad quicker than most people realize. In less than a months time fuel starts breaking down.

I would recommend filling your tank up and put in a bottle of Stabil (found in most parts stores) and keep your tank above half full at all times.

Second that! Since I have a summer car and a 4x4 for Winter, hauling and longer trips. At any time, one or the other is sitting idle for extended periods of time, especially the summer car, a 2000 Mustang GT with UHP summer tires that go hard as a rock below 40

Speed Daemon · Jan 1, 2013

badblue1 said:
Letting your vehicle sit for long periods of time will gum up the internals of the engine and foul spark plugs.

Modern spark plugs that use noble metals like platinum or iridium and resist fouling, which is caused by unburned fuel. This is less of a problem with newer fuel injected cars, and you can get noble metal tip plugs for older cars.

Changing oil (and a good oil system flush) prior to storage is done to keep the internals nice and clean. The more preventive maintenance you do before storing the car, the better it will run when you take it out of storage.

badblue1 · Jan 1, 2013

+ 1 ^

-_-

MoodyBlues · Jan 1, 2013

I [heart] thread drift.

So many helpful ideas and suggestions, and so much helpful information, in this thread because of it.

The whole idea of storing vehicles for months out of the year due to cold weather makes me *SO* happy to be back home. Now if I could just get back into the habit of actually using my NON-stored car more often...things would be better.

Oh, the battery tender appears to be doing its job. So far, so good!

TarekElsakka · Jan 4, 2013

Well, I usually start the car and let it heat up until it reaches the correct temperature and then take off. If I don't do that and drive while it's still cold, the engine makes weird noises and just doesn't sound comfortable.

MoodyBlues · Jan 23, 2013

I am VERY pleased to report that today--which was the first time I'd attempted to start my car since hooking up the battery tender--it started up just like that!

And it got a nice long workout, too, since I had to drive into LA to see my internist. Total driving time: about 1-1/2 hours, most of which was spent sailing along on the freeway. And tomorrow I must go to CVS to pick up some prescriptions--so it'll get used twice in two days. :eek:

Gmash · Jan 24, 2013

MoodyBlues said:
I am VERY pleased to report that today--which was the first time I'd attempted to start my car since hooking up the battery tender--it started up just like that!

And it got a nice long workout, too, since I had to drive into LA to see my internist. Total driving time: about 1-1/2 hours, most of which was spent sailing along on the freeway. And tomorrow I must go to CVS to pick up some prescriptions--so it'll get used twice in two days.

Glad to hear it's working out for you, and that you gave her a good workout! Hope all went well at the doc!

MoodyBlues · Jan 24, 2013

Gmash said:
Glad to hear it's working out for you, and that you gave her a good workout!

Thanks. It was such a relief to just hop in and have it start up right away.

Hope all went well at the doc!

It was okay. Just routine followup care for various issues, some related to brain surgery and some not. This doctor was the internist on my brain surgery team, and I liked him so much--and saw him so often post-craniotomy--that I ended up having him as my primary care doc.

nesetceri · Apr 11, 2013

Solar charger ..a small panel sits inside at the bottom of your windscreen.Make sure your windscreen gets some sunlight during the daytime, it will trickle charge your battery during daylight hours

Speed Daemon · Apr 11, 2013

nesetceri said:
Solar charger ..a small panel sits inside at the bottom of your windscreen.Make sure your windscreen gets some sunlight during the daytime, it will trickle charge your battery during daylight hours

I have one of those. Unfortunately they don't work very well indoors, where I park now. Not quite enough in winter months either. At least not the affordable ones.

Speed Daemon · Apr 12, 2013

In SoCal, getting enough sun shouldn't be a problem. :laugh:

Up here in WI it's a different story...

SiempreTuna · Apr 23, 2013

My brother once looked after a DB5 for a friend (at the time, worth more than my brother's house) and he was under strict instructions to take it out for a drive every other week - a real imposition. Not

Obviously, that's a 1960s car so I guess the electrics would not have been as efficient at charging the battery as a modern vehicle.

Just how often does a car need to be started so its battery won't die?

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