{"id":11979,"date":"2021-12-09T11:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-09T11:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carpages.ca\/blog\/?post_type=cp_guides&p=11979"},"modified":"2021-12-17T17:05:52","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T17:05:52","slug":"how-long-can-you-leave-a-car-without-starting-it","status":"publish","type":"cp_guides","link":"https:\/\/www.carpages.ca\/blog\/how-long-can-you-leave-a-car-without-starting-it\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Can You Leave a Car Without Starting It?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A lot of people fear driving in the winter, and that\u2019s totally understandable. With slippery roads, decreased visibility, and the potential for getting your car stuck in some snow, winter driving poses a ton of hazards. And whether you\u2019re driving a new or used car<\/strong><\/a> or are driving an old winter beater, you might not be willing to deal with the expenses that come with all those risks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As such, it makes sense if you want to drive less during the winter. However, you have to bear in mind that leaving your car to sit for too long can also lead to problems \u2013 problems that could cost thousands of dollars in repairs as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this guide, we answer the age-old question: \u201cHow long can you leave a car without starting it?\u201d By the end of this article, you should feel confident enough about storing your car indefinitely, whether it\u2019s just for a few weeks or throughout the entire cold season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What happens when you let your car sit for too long?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"dead<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Most car owners know that you shouldn\u2019t leave your car untouched for too long, but many don\u2019t exactly know why<\/em>. Here are four things that can happen when you let your car sit without starting for too long:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your battery will die<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is the problem that is most likely to happen if you don\u2019t use your car regularly. Disuse can cause batteries to lose their charge over time, and batteries tend to drain faster in colder temperatures. In fact, driving actually lets the battery recharge <\/em>and helps it last as long as its expected battery life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your tires will lose air<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tires hold up the entire weight of the vehicle. Naturally, they will tend to deflate over time. This shouldn\u2019t be a problem if you use your car regularly \u2013 you can just fill the tires up with the correct air pressure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if a car just sits in a garage for weeks, its tires can develop \u201cflat spots\u201d or hard patches in the rubber where the tire has been in contact with the ground. Flat spots aren\u2019t just unsightly; they can also affect handling and put drivers at greater risk of accidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your fluids can go bad<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Auto fluids are essential to the safe and efficient functioning of a vehicle:<\/p>\n\n\n\n