Whats wrong with not running an engine?
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Aledo/Waco Tx
Whats wrong with not running an engine?
I was gonna post this in the "To Start or Not" thread, but figured I'd start a new one rather than threadjack...
I've heard that not running a car for a long time is one of the worst things you can do. Why is this, or why is it said to be so? I know the battery will die, but what else can hurt it? No lubrication when you do start the engine up due to oil falling to the bottom? What else?
I've heard that not running a car for a long time is one of the worst things you can do. Why is this, or why is it said to be so? I know the battery will die, but what else can hurt it? No lubrication when you do start the engine up due to oil falling to the bottom? What else?
Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: W.V.C. Utah
Often the rings go bad and the valve seals. all being said my Iroc sat in a field for 3 years with a blown intake gasket fixed it last spring fired it up and it ran like a champ as strong as it did when I parked it
Race Director
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From: San Jose Pat Tillman - American Hero
Rings and seals/gaskets...pretty much biggies. This is always a hot topic in the Exotic Car community (esp. Ferrari). So much of a premium is placed on "low mile" cars, yet it's pretty well agreed that "driven" cars perform much better and are far more reliable than garage queens - at least in that segment. Keep in mind, too, that they have timing belts to rot...we have timing chains.
All in all, I think it's a good thing to start the car fairly regularly and let it get up to full operating temps to keep the wear/tear items lubed up...
All in all, I think it's a good thing to start the car fairly regularly and let it get up to full operating temps to keep the wear/tear items lubed up...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Aledo/Waco Tx
so how is this prevented? when I hear of people putting their cars in storage, all they are told is to change the fluids, put it on a battery tender, throw in some moisture absorbers and cover it...but none of that seems to address the issues of the valve seals rotting/rings & cylinders rusting?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Nashua NH
I had a old '86 Camaro with an automatic transmission that would sit for months at a time. When it sat the transmission fluid would eventually start dripping from some seal or gasket. When I would drive it for a while it would seem to seal up and stop dripping.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Lecanto Florida
Moving over from the engine....don't/won't the seals in the air-conditioning system dry out from lack of use? That's what I was always led to believe and was told to run the cold air system a couple times during the winter months (when I lived up north) to keep everything lubricated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
The seals....
The seals age much faster when sitting that when running on a daily basis. Also ALL the fluids break down when not in use. Daily drivers tend to do better than garage queens.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 311
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From: Houston, Texas
The other problem you will find, if you let it sit long enough, is problems with bearing surfaces. It's going to take a while for that to happen. We rehab older Dodge 383's and 440's. Some have sat for several years. We've turned more than one crank and replaced bearings in almost every one. The other information above, re: seals, valves and injectors is also good advice. Transmissions sometimes go bad from seals and fluid--sometimes not. That depends.
Race Director
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From: San Jose Pat Tillman - American Hero
Originally Posted by aeronautica86
so how is this prevented? when I hear of people putting their cars in storage, all they are told is to change the fluids, put it on a battery tender, throw in some moisture absorbers and cover it...but none of that seems to address the issues of the valve seals rotting/rings & cylinders rusting?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
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From: Aledo/Waco Tx
Originally Posted by Perfusion
You are correct...
Race Director
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From: San Jose Pat Tillman - American Hero
Originally Posted by aeronautica86
so basically the original assumption is correct, it is bad to leave an engine not running for a long time, and those other things are only to minimize the damage to the other parts of the car?