Guide to Maintaining an Unused Car

Whatever your situation, it’s likely that you’ve been driving less around Kirkland due to recent quarantine and social distancing precautions. If so, you may be wondering how to maintain a car that is not driven as much it typically would be. For example, how long can a car battery sit unused? Does gas go bad? There are plenty of questions that may arise. Luckily, the following guide will address many of these coronavirus car care questions!

How Long Can a Car Battery Sit Unused? 

If you’ve been mandated to work from home or stay home as much as possible, you may be curious to know how long can a car battery sit unused in your Redmond garage or driveway. Here are a few points that will help you determine how long your battery health will last: 

• Modern Honda models have advanced technologies that are always on. They can slowly drain your battery in as little as a couple of weeks.
• Driving your car is actually what charges the battery, so a short 10-15 minute drive can recharge your battery. 
• Take temperature into account — if the vehicle was stored in your garage, it may have sat in more optimum temperatures. If it was parked outside in the driveway, street, or parking lot, colder temperatures will have drained the battery faster. 
• Utilize a battery tender or trickle charger that plugs into a regular outlet in your garage to keep your battery charge topped off if you know it will be sitting for long periods of time.

Does Gas Go Bad?

In most modern cars like your new Honda Passport or Honda Accord, your fuel system is sealed and greatly decreases the chance that gas will go bad. The more full your fuel tank, the better. A full tank reduces the risk of degradation and any gas tank condensation. If your fuel level is fairly full, you’re good to go for your short drives around Woodinville to keep the battery charged. You could top off your tank with a fuel stabilizer as a preventive measure regarding how to maintain a car that is not driven as much.

Get More Coronavirus Car Care Tips From Honda of Kirkland

Learning how to maintain a car that is not driven is an important part of being a responsible car owner. Whether it’s part of your coronavirus car care routine, or you have a car you only drive throughout Seattle during a certain season, these tips and tricks will help keep your Honda in its optimal condition. With any more questions, our service team is here as a resource!