How long can I let a car sit without turning it on before it ruins the engine?

Question

1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse 138,000 miles

Answer 1

I am an experienced mechanic and can tell you for fact that a sitting engine can deteriorate over time. Let me explain why, the engine oil begins to develop acidic qualities over time (usually 6 months or more of sitting). Yes acid becomes present in the oil and if it is in contact with metal parts of the engine, it can start to erode it.

Also the antifreeze breaks down after a few years, so if an engine sits for 5 years, the possibility of developing a cracked head/block or worse is increased.

So if you plan on a car sitting take a few precautions, such as starting it once a week, let it warm up to operating temperature. Perhaps drive it around the block to circulate the fluids in the transmission, and engine. If the car is an automatic, have no worries, automatic transmission fluid is detergent based, yes a cleaner. However if it is a manual, the same thing about the gear oil breaks down after 1 1/2 years or so.

So it all depends on you really of what your plans are for the car in general. If its going to sit for 1 month then don't worry about, if it sits for 5 years then take necessary precautions about storing it right, hope it helps!!

Answer 2

Honestly its bad to let a car sit without starting it and at least driving down the block because axels can go bad from constint sitting as my grandmas car did in the garage, the oil does need to keep things lubricated and to prevent rust like the previous guy said. when she started the car and it drove for about 180 miles then the enigin block cracked and broke a piston head.

Answer 3

I doubt you would "ruin" an engine by letting it sit
"without starting" but certain things would happen like the rubber seals (Crank seal, valve seals) would harden and take a "Set"..and would either start leaking when you decided to start up again.
The Engine cylinder "Might " get surface rust, but
that would be minor.
I "Inherited" a 1979 Chevy truck had had been sitting in a garage for 10 years...with "New" gas it started right away..but had a few oil leaks..
I hope this helps..

..Richard..Reno, Nev.

Answer 4

if u plan to leave it for a while, i would either put some additive in the gas tank that is made for long resting engines or take it for a short drive every month or so. you can also do both, follow the directions on the additive as far as time periods and wheather you can run it or not on a regular basis with the additive in the tank. good luck

Answer 5

Is it out of oil, or became it in simple terms so low it did no longer sign up on the dip stick? My Fiance` is infamous for no longer checking her oil on her beater automobile, and that i commonly ought to sell off 2 quarts into it to get it as much as the best mark. maximum vehicles have a 5 quart means, so she nonetheless had 60% of her oil in there, yet nonetheless..it is not particularly healthful for an engine. That automobile has over 310,000 miles on it, so i'm no longer particularly in contact approximately the place the oil's going-i know it relatively is burning it. in actuality, if it relatively is knocking or ticking, or if it smokes blue-those are the signs and warning signs of engine harm from low oil. shop a extra useful eye on your oil point- the justifications it relatively is low must be which you have have been given have been given a bad gasket, it relatively is have been given some themes and it relatively is making use of oil, or it must be ordinary issues like the oil filter out wasn't tight adequate, or the drain plug became unfastened(or there ought to've been airborne dirt and mud around the gasket of the two the oil filter out or drain plug no longer permitting them to get a physically powerful seal). in simple terms get into the habit of checking the oil as quickly as each and every week, till you artwork out how speedily it makes use of oil, then you certainly can tremendously lots tell whilst it's time to offload in a quart.

Answer 6

they need to be started at least once week,and let run to warm up,this keeps the oil up in the main parts of it,,and also helps prevent inside rust from forming on important parts of the engine,and it also helps keep the lifters built up good in it,,one that sets a lot will have an occasional lifter go down on it,,good luck,hope this help,s.

Answer 7

as long as it stays dry and free of excess moisture it should be good for more than 50 years but you will have to change the oil , hoses and belts before restarting .