Barely driven - help
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Barely driven - help
Hi,
I know that barely driving the car is bad for it. Right now I usually drive it once every two weeks but someone told me that is not enough as the oil from the engine will be all at the pan at that time. So my question, if in addition to driving her once every two weeks, let's say I start her up (idle not drive) every 3 or so days, will that alleviate the issue? Any tips or advice you all can give me?
Yes I barely drive my car, but when I do drive, I enjoy it... A LOT. Thus, I am having second thoughts every time I want to sell her. However, if I can't find a solution to this, I'd rather sell her...
I know that barely driving the car is bad for it. Right now I usually drive it once every two weeks but someone told me that is not enough as the oil from the engine will be all at the pan at that time. So my question, if in addition to driving her once every two weeks, let's say I start her up (idle not drive) every 3 or so days, will that alleviate the issue? Any tips or advice you all can give me?
Yes I barely drive my car, but when I do drive, I enjoy it... A LOT. Thus, I am having second thoughts every time I want to sell her. However, if I can't find a solution to this, I'd rather sell her...
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Originally Posted by RickIsYoDaddy,Dec 17 2009, 10:55 PM
that should allevate any issues with oil settling at the bottom, but so would taking it out more often 
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Does your car look, sound, feel, and drive totally fine? If so, there's nothing wrong with your car. What you're doing here is conjuring up a problem that doesn't exist.
But if it makes you feel better to go out and idle your car every couple days for no reason, go right ahead. If this imaginary problem is stressing you out, please do sell the car to someone who will enjoy it more.
BTW. My car sits undriven for 4 months straight every winter. It's fine. And then my winter car sits undriven for 8 months straight every summer. It's also fine.
But if it makes you feel better to go out and idle your car every couple days for no reason, go right ahead. If this imaginary problem is stressing you out, please do sell the car to someone who will enjoy it more.
BTW. My car sits undriven for 4 months straight every winter. It's fine. And then my winter car sits undriven for 8 months straight every summer. It's also fine.
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ROTFLMAO Posted on Dec 18 2009, 08:32 AM
So?
Once you stop a warm engine the oil will drain back into the sump.
After, lets say, 3-4 hours, 99% of the oil that can drain will have drained.
Some oil will stay up on the head, no matter how long you wait.
So there is little to no difference between a 3-4 hours drain or 2 weeks drain period when it comes to oil level.
That is the LAST thing you want to do.
Idling a cold engine to operating temp is VERY BAD!
#1 - you get lots of unburned fuel from running extra rich (cold engine), that will wash the oil of the cilinder walls, that is BAD.
#2 - you will get lots of harmfull chemicals from all the unburned fuel, doing damage to the cilinder walls and pistons and they will get into the oil, breaking it down causing corrosion in the rest of the engine, also BAD.
#3 - idling without driving is bad for the transmission, the trans oil pump does not pump (you're not driving) so the trans is only lubricated by splashing some thick oil around.
#4 - it takes a very long time to get the whole engine & trans warm, it will take a lot of fuel = create pollution.
Drive it every 2 weeks for at least half an hour or so, get the oil warm, let the fuel & moisture in it evaporate and you're fine.
Right now I usually drive it once every two weeks but someone told me that is not enough as the oil from the engine will be all at the pan at that time.
Once you stop a warm engine the oil will drain back into the sump.
After, lets say, 3-4 hours, 99% of the oil that can drain will have drained.
Some oil will stay up on the head, no matter how long you wait.
So there is little to no difference between a 3-4 hours drain or 2 weeks drain period when it comes to oil level.
So my question, if in addition to driving her once every two weeks, let's say I start her up (idle not drive) every 3 or so days, will that alleviate the issue?
Idling a cold engine to operating temp is VERY BAD!
#1 - you get lots of unburned fuel from running extra rich (cold engine), that will wash the oil of the cilinder walls, that is BAD.
#2 - you will get lots of harmfull chemicals from all the unburned fuel, doing damage to the cilinder walls and pistons and they will get into the oil, breaking it down causing corrosion in the rest of the engine, also BAD.
#3 - idling without driving is bad for the transmission, the trans oil pump does not pump (you're not driving) so the trans is only lubricated by splashing some thick oil around.
#4 - it takes a very long time to get the whole engine & trans warm, it will take a lot of fuel = create pollution.
Drive it every 2 weeks for at least half an hour or so, get the oil warm, let the fuel & moisture in it evaporate and you're fine.
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Originally Posted by SpitfireS,Dec 18 2009, 04:55 AM
ROTFLMAO Posted on Dec 18 2009, 08:32 AM
So?
Once you stop a warm engine the oil will drain back into the sump.
After, lets say, 3-4 hours, 99% of the oil that can drain will have drained.
Some oil will stay up on the head, no matter how long you wait.
So there is little to no difference between a 3-4 hours drain or 2 weeks drain period when it comes to oil level.
That is the LAST thing you want to do.
Idling a cold engine to operating temp is VERY BAD!
#1 - you get lots of unburned fuel from running extra rich (cold engine), that will wash the oil of the cilinder walls, that is BAD.
#2 - you will get lots of harmfull chemicals from all the unburned fuel, doing damage to the cilinder walls and pistons and they will get into the oil, breaking it down causing corrosion in the rest of the engine, also BAD.
#3 - idling without driving is bad for the transmission, the trans oil pump does not pump (you're not driving) so the trans is only lubricated by splashing some thick oil around.
#4 - it takes a very long time to get the whole engine & trans warm, it will take a lot of fuel = create pollution.
Drive it every 2 weeks for at least half an hour or so, get the oil warm, let the fuel & moisture in it evaporate and you're fine.
So?
Once you stop a warm engine the oil will drain back into the sump.
After, lets say, 3-4 hours, 99% of the oil that can drain will have drained.
Some oil will stay up on the head, no matter how long you wait.
So there is little to no difference between a 3-4 hours drain or 2 weeks drain period when it comes to oil level.
That is the LAST thing you want to do.
Idling a cold engine to operating temp is VERY BAD!
#1 - you get lots of unburned fuel from running extra rich (cold engine), that will wash the oil of the cilinder walls, that is BAD.
#2 - you will get lots of harmfull chemicals from all the unburned fuel, doing damage to the cilinder walls and pistons and they will get into the oil, breaking it down causing corrosion in the rest of the engine, also BAD.
#3 - idling without driving is bad for the transmission, the trans oil pump does not pump (you're not driving) so the trans is only lubricated by splashing some thick oil around.
#4 - it takes a very long time to get the whole engine & trans warm, it will take a lot of fuel = create pollution.
Drive it every 2 weeks for at least half an hour or so, get the oil warm, let the fuel & moisture in it evaporate and you're fine.
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Originally Posted by SpitfireS,Dec 18 2009, 04:55 AM
ROTFLMAO Posted on Dec 18 2009, 08:32 AM
So?
Once you stop a warm engine the oil will drain back into the sump.
After, lets say, 3-4 hours, 99% of the oil that can drain will have drained.
Some oil will stay up on the head, no matter how long you wait.
So there is little to no difference between a 3-4 hours drain or 2 weeks drain period when it comes to oil level.
That is the LAST thing you want to do.
Idling a cold engine to operating temp is VERY BAD!
#1 - you get lots of unburned fuel from running extra rich (cold engine), that will wash the oil of the cilinder walls, that is BAD.
#2 - you will get lots of harmfull chemicals from all the unburned fuel, doing damage to the cilinder walls and pistons and they will get into the oil, breaking it down causing corrosion in the rest of the engine, also BAD.
#3 - idling without driving is bad for the transmission, the trans oil pump does not pump (you're not driving) so the trans is only lubricated by splashing some thick oil around.
#4 - it takes a very long time to get the whole engine & trans warm, it will take a lot of fuel = create pollution.
Drive it every 2 weeks for at least half an hour or so, get the oil warm, let the fuel & moisture in it evaporate and you're fine.
So?
Once you stop a warm engine the oil will drain back into the sump.
After, lets say, 3-4 hours, 99% of the oil that can drain will have drained.
Some oil will stay up on the head, no matter how long you wait.
So there is little to no difference between a 3-4 hours drain or 2 weeks drain period when it comes to oil level.
That is the LAST thing you want to do.
Idling a cold engine to operating temp is VERY BAD!
#1 - you get lots of unburned fuel from running extra rich (cold engine), that will wash the oil of the cilinder walls, that is BAD.
#2 - you will get lots of harmfull chemicals from all the unburned fuel, doing damage to the cilinder walls and pistons and they will get into the oil, breaking it down causing corrosion in the rest of the engine, also BAD.
#3 - idling without driving is bad for the transmission, the trans oil pump does not pump (you're not driving) so the trans is only lubricated by splashing some thick oil around.
#4 - it takes a very long time to get the whole engine & trans warm, it will take a lot of fuel = create pollution.
Drive it every 2 weeks for at least half an hour or so, get the oil warm, let the fuel & moisture in it evaporate and you're fine.
another thing I wanted to add is that if you just idle the car, the catalytic converter will never get hot enough to properly operate. You will likely end up with a rusty exhaust system due to water collecting in the piping.
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Originally Posted by SpitfireS,Dec 18 2009, 07:55 AM
ROTFLMAO Posted on Dec 18 2009, 08:32 AM
So?
Once you stop a warm engine the oil will drain back into the sump.
After, lets say, 3-4 hours, 99% of the oil that can drain will have drained.
Some oil will stay up on the head, no matter how long you wait.
So there is little to no difference between a 3-4 hours drain or 2 weeks drain period when it comes to oil level.
That is the LAST thing you want to do.
Idling a cold engine to operating temp is VERY BAD!
#1 - you get lots of unburned fuel from running extra rich (cold engine), that will wash the oil of the cilinder walls, that is BAD.
#2 - you will get lots of harmfull chemicals from all the unburned fuel, doing damage to the cilinder walls and pistons and they will get into the oil, breaking it down causing corrosion in the rest of the engine, also BAD.
#3 - idling without driving is bad for the transmission, the trans oil pump does not pump (you're not driving) so the trans is only lubricated by splashing some thick oil around.
#4 - it takes a very long time to get the whole engine & trans warm, it will take a lot of fuel = create pollution.
Drive it every 2 weeks for at least half an hour or so, get the oil warm, let the fuel & moisture in it evaporate and you're fine.
So?
Once you stop a warm engine the oil will drain back into the sump.
After, lets say, 3-4 hours, 99% of the oil that can drain will have drained.
Some oil will stay up on the head, no matter how long you wait.
So there is little to no difference between a 3-4 hours drain or 2 weeks drain period when it comes to oil level.
That is the LAST thing you want to do.
Idling a cold engine to operating temp is VERY BAD!
#1 - you get lots of unburned fuel from running extra rich (cold engine), that will wash the oil of the cilinder walls, that is BAD.
#2 - you will get lots of harmfull chemicals from all the unburned fuel, doing damage to the cilinder walls and pistons and they will get into the oil, breaking it down causing corrosion in the rest of the engine, also BAD.
#3 - idling without driving is bad for the transmission, the trans oil pump does not pump (you're not driving) so the trans is only lubricated by splashing some thick oil around.
#4 - it takes a very long time to get the whole engine & trans warm, it will take a lot of fuel = create pollution.
Drive it every 2 weeks for at least half an hour or so, get the oil warm, let the fuel & moisture in it evaporate and you're fine.