Is it truly bad to warm a car in idle daily? What about the battery?
(2011-01-10 16:20:22) 1. Says: My mother rarely drives her car, probably twice a month. Because of that, she has me start it up for her daily for 2 to 3 minutes in regular weather, and up to 8 minutes in extreme cold. She was told it was necessary for the battery.However, now everyone keeps saying that it's bad for the car. Who is right? The car is a Honda Civic 2004 in case you need to know.2. Says: Daily is more often than needed and 2 to 3 minutes is way too short. The reasons are different however. The worst part is the 2 to 3 minutes. This causes condensation in the engine which causes water to mix into the oil and onto internal parts of the engine and exhaust system which in turn causes corrosion/rust. It would be best to actually drive the car for 15 minutes once every month. This would allow the car to get up to operating temperature and drive off any condensation. If you are concerned about the battery, you can get a "battery tender" which is a very low trickle charger for the battery and will help to maintain the battery without overcharging or boiling it dry. Many people use these on their motorcycles over the winter months for example. Running the car is only needed once every month or two to maintain seals and gaskets. You should also use Sta-Bil, a fuel stabilizer to prevent the gas from going bad and causing even more damage. Gasoline can turn bad in a month or two and also absorb moisture from the air. Sta-Bil will help to prevent damage.3. Says: Idling it for that amount of time won't recharge the battery but it will waste gas and leave harmful deposits in the engine. Better to go to the local auto parts store and ask for a battery maintainer. That is a trickle charger that will keep the battery up and uses very little electricity. Idling for 3 to 5 minutes a day will burn about 20 gallons of gas in a years time. That will more than pay for a maintenance charger and it's electricity.4. Says: You may be doing more damage than good. The engine won't get hot enough to burn off the condensation caused by short run periods. Take that car out for a long highway run 50 miles maybe. On the way back stop and buy a battery maintainer,not a trickle charger. when you get home hook up the maintainer and just let it sit until mom needs to use it. Change the oil in spring regardless of miles driven. All your doing is wasting gas and damaging the engine5. Says: Its bad for a car to sit period. You dont need to start it daily unless its cold out like minnesota winters have. Plus starting a car and idling it then shutting it down isnt good. When you start it. Drive it a litle. If she is worried bout the battery, put a trickle charger on the battery when shes not driving it.6. Says: It's ok to let it idle before you drive, but it's not good just to start it and not get it up to operating temperature as it creates condensation, and degrades the oil. Get a trickle charger or one of those solar chargers.7. Says: You don't need to do that for a car that new. its the 1989 ones and older that have to be done that way. the honda will drive long ways. I just had a sensor put in it at 40,000. i have it covered but if you dont' have the coverage will cost you about 200. to have it done.8. Says: Oh sure - that's fine. That gives her a nice warm car when she gets in. But it's unnecessary. It won't hurt the battery. As soon as the car starts, the battery is being recharged by the alternator.9. Says: its hard on the gas tank because she is draining it with little to no reason. she should look into a battery charger, a trickle charger would be ideal for that.10. Says: u should start if up once a week for 15-30 minutes
2-8 minutes would be too short to recharge the battery....11. Says: I don't know if it is bad for the car but I do it everyday, especially when its cold. Tag: Is it truly bad to warm a car in idle daily? What about the battery?