How Long Can You Automobile Sit Without Being Driven?

The time it takes for your vehicle to be damaged by storage will vary. Factors including the location of your parked car and how well you prepared it are contributing factors. The negative effects of time on an undriven auto can be observed sooner than you may think: Fuel: Did you know that gasoline can go bad? When it’s not in an airtight container, fuel reacts with oxygen, which causes it to degrade. This process begins in about about 30 days. It only takes three-to-six months for a tank of gas to go bad. Old gasoline loses its engine-igniting abilities and develops gummy deposits as well as varnish which can damage other components of your vehicle’s fuel system. Battery: When you drive your automobile frequently, a battery should last between three and five years. When your vehicle is sitting, your battery will likely go dead in just two or three months. Why? Because when you drive your car, the vehicle's alternator continually recharges the battery to replenish the power you’re using. Not driving means no charging — and a dead battery. Rust: Rust is another byproduct of oxidation — It requires water to form. Damp conditions will often lead to rusted metal. Chemicals, like the salt used on winter roads can accelerate the process. You can expect bare metal to start forming surface rust in less than a week. The more time your vehicle is left unprotected, the deeper the rust can form. Tires: When your car sits for an extended period of time, flat spots may start to form in the tires. Tires develop a type of memory that prevents them from being completely round. This causes vibration when you drive the car after storage. Flat spots can begin to form after a month of a car sitting parked — and they’re made worse by low tire pressures. In many cases, driving a car for a while after storage can remove the flat spots. Often the damage can be permanent, requiring a new set of rubber. Belts and Hoses: As rubber ages it can start to dry out and crack. Because drivers are accustomed to replacing most vehicle parts based on mileage, many neglect to inspect their belts and hoses. When a vehicle is in storage, these parts may need to be replaced in as little as three-to-five years. Pests: For those critters in your garage, a parked vehicle may become a ready-made home. When they move in they can do major damage to a vehicle — chewing wires, plastic and insulation to build their nest. Rodents can move in overnight. The longer they’re left undisturbed, the more damage they can do.