How often does a car need to be run?

[OceanRuns]

I have a few vehicles which aren't being driven much. They are lubricated with conventional oil.

How often should they be run in order to keep the engines lubricated? Is idling ok or driven? How frequently and how much time?

Also, will fuel sitting also cause problems?

Thanks

 

[Barkleymut]

I would not just idle a car, the charging system needs get a few rpms to work well. As far as the oil sitting, generally as long as you change the oil every year you should be fine, the challenge is that the oil will collect a lot of moisture and it will not burn off unless you get the engine to full operating temp and keep it there for around 30 mins. Fuel is another potential bad spot as fuel does have a finite shelf life. I would not want to have fuel in a car for more than 60 days, 90 at the most.

Is it just not possible to rotate which car you drive every day?

 

[demarpaint]

Once a month should be fine. Idling is not a good idea. If you are going to start a vehicle that typically sits then drive it for at least half an hour.

 

[David S.]

When taking these seldom-driven vehicles out for a periodic drive, run the air conditioner once in a while to keep the AC system healthy.

 

[Astro14]

Drive it - don't just idle it...built up a lot of carbon in the Packard's cylinders and a lot of gas in the oil just idling it...it was way better for the car to be driven. I would rather keep the battery maintainer on it, drain the fuel and just put a bit of oil in the cylinders and turn it over than idle it.

Driving it removes corrosion from the brakes and distributes oil in the trans and axles as well.

Though, for the record, it idles so smooth at about 400 RPM...that it's a joy to sit and watch that straight 8 idle...better watching than most of what's on TV...

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: David S.
run the air conditioner once in a while to keep the AC system healthy.


That`s something I`ve always heard to do as well. How often should you run the AC?

 

[Loobed]

I think every 6 months at the minimum. Once a month is better. You don't need to run the engine more than once a month. As Astro said, you should drive it. All the moving parts need to be worked and re-lubed: Shock seal, axle seals, gears, brake caliper and master cylinder pistons, control arm bushings, steering linkage, etc.

 

[CATERHAM]

A lot depends on the engine design but in an engine with iron bores that is garaged, 3 or 4 months in storage is not an issue if it is shut down properly.
That means the last time the engine is run it is thoroughly brought up to temperature with a good long run. If the engine oil is always brought up to temperature every time the engine is run it will last for years.

Fuel will start to go stale after a few months but that is usually not noticeable in most engines that don't require premium gas.

 

[Torino]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Once a month should be fine. Idling is not a good idea. If you are going to start a vehicle that typically sits then drive it for at least half an hour.
I have a collector muscle car. It is driven once a month and the airconditioner is run at the same time. No issues in 16+ years. John--Las Vegas

 

[OceanRuns]

Thanks for the replies so far. As a follow-up, how often should the oil be changed (conventional oil). If it's driven once a month or once a week how long can the oil go for?

 

[Tempest]

I would use Marine oil, appropriate to your engines, as it has extra corrosion inhibitor to protect the metal parts.

 

[CATERHAM]

As I mentioned if you alway get the oil hot whenever you start and drive your cars time is not as issue just mileage.
So at least 3,000 to 5,000 miles without issue.

 

[Scott88]

+1 on running the A/C, as everyone should in the winter too if not using the defroster much. I would also run the heat at least once a month for a minute or so when the car is at operating temp. That goes for everyone in the summer months too.

May want to consider a fuel stablizer for those keeping gas in the tank for more than a month too.

 

[Michael_P]

Quote:
How often should they be run in order to keep the engines lubricated?


Constantly.

 

[SteveSRT8]

I once had a friend with dozens of classics in a huge storage shed.

He was adamant about this: If you can't DRIVE it for at least 30 minutes then don't even crank it up!

 

[demarpaint]

I had vehicles see little use, never a problem. The key is if you start the car, drive it a good half hour. Another tip is add a UCL to the gas, MMO, or TCW3, take your pick. The UCL leaves its own thin film of oil on the cylinder walls and keeps the injectors from sticking. This will help stop flash rusting in the cylinders, especially in areas near salt water. MMO also has properties similar to a gas stabilizer.

 

[cmf]

+2 on running the air conditioning, keeps the system lubricated. Even people who do not let their cars sit should run the AC once a week in the winter.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8

He was adamant about this: If you can't DRIVE it for at least 30 minutes then don't even crank it up!

That's the way I generally do with my '69 Cobra Jet Fairlane... A few times I have run it at 2K RPMs for approx same time, but that's rare... No A/C to worry about, real muscle cars don't have such frills, mine doesn't even have P/S...

 

[Trvlr500]

It would depend on your climate as far as temperature extremes and humidity and whether or not it's carbureted or injected and computer controlled.

A carbed engine dumps far more raw gas into the oil and temperature extremes during the end of the winter or the start of winter can cause a LOT of condensation in the oil. It depends on where you live and the climate.

I left a firearm in my trunk one time and parked the car for about 2 weeks. The firearm was as wet as if I dipped it in a lake when I opened the trunk. I could only imagune what built up in the oil pan.

If you live in a humid area and it gets hot during the day and cold at night during certain times of year I'd drive the car for AT LEAST 30 minutes at operating temp or just don't start it until you can.

As far as the gas is concerned. Just add some Stabil or MMO and you will be fine. I used NOS octane booster for years and the car ALWAYS started even after a month of sitting. Nos takes care of the water AND it cleans. The cost is just too high though. However, I have an old relic with a carb.

The above is what I did for a 10 year period when my car sat outside (that makes a difference as well) for 2 to 3 weeks at a time in every kind of weather you can imagine.

It would get snowed on and the temp would drop to 30 degrees and then the sun would come up the next morning and the temp would hit 60 degrees. Great for making condensation.

I used to flush my brake system with new fluid every year as well. I changed the oil every 3 months or so depending on how much I drove it. Also, keep the gas tank full at ALL times when you are not driving the car regularly. Unless you want water in your gas. That is what I always did.

If I didn't have time to drive the car for at least 30 minutes I ran it at a fast idle for 15 or 20 minutes.

 

[Trvlr500]

I may also add that I have seen many oil pans over the years with a faint "rust ring" inside of them. It's pretty easy to figure out what caused that.

Living in a humid area that has wide temperature swings at certain times of the year and/or driving the car for short trips.