Covid 19 and car sitting idle

[musicegbdf]

I know small issue in the current crisis.
I cannot justify using my S3 as local supermarket is 7 mins walk away.
I have been thinking of starting it every couple of weeks and sitting at fast idle till oil is up to temp.
What do you all think ?

 

[WOLF]

Sitting at fast idle won’t keep the moving parts moving,steering,brakes,tyres etc.id use it !

 

[AllanG]

Personally, I wouldn’t recommend doing what you propose as, even though you would be running it at fast idle, there would be no actual ‘load’ on the engine to produce the necessary pressure on the piston rings to prevent ‘blow by’. I would suggest just making sure your battery remain charged, if necessary, by connecting it to a ‘smart’ charger, is sufficient.

 

[musicegbdf]

Thks for fast replies. Cant justify using it Wolf in current climate
Alan , i did wonder about that. I do have a Accumate battery conditioner I use for my classic car. I wasn't sure how safe it is to use on modern car with all the electronics .

 

[pburv]

Just think how long a car might be in a showroom or forecourt?...
Really no need to warm it up.As mentioned above just make sure battery doesn't go flat.

 

[PaulWhitt82]

at least it entertained me for all of 5 seconds

my car used to sit in an airport car park for up to a month at a time - started first time

would be better not starting it rather than just letting it idle

 

[eribaMotters]

Must admit mine usually only gets used once week anyway as I don't like to do short trips in it. [The annual 8K is made up of long runs]
My problem is sea air as only 1/2 mile form coast and disc rust up over night. 20 mile round trip to mothers gets engine hot and battery charged no problem.

Colin

 

[wab172uk]

I know small issue in the current crisis.
I cannot justify using my S3 as local supermarket is 7 mins walk away.
I have been thinking of starting it every couple of weeks and sitting at fast idle till oil is up to temp.
What do you all think ?

I think the AA / RAC & Halfords will be very busy in weeks / months to come. They're be a shortage of new batteries.

Luckily, I live on the outskirts of town, so any road blocks by Plod have been to the main roads within the town. Had the Twingo out to take a bit of shopping to my mother yesterday. Will do the same with the X3 next weekend.

 

[HertS3]

I had a (short) blast on the M1 today to Costco. Missed driving it, been using the Missus' Mini for the occasional drive to the office (a mile at best lol).
Saw RAC attending someone on the side of the motorway

 

[Wibbly]

I got a CTEK MSX 5.0. Gave me something to do wiring it up. 1. Adding a waterproof mains socket on outside wall of my house (finally goot round to it). 2. Added CTEK cable to battery so charger is plug-in, not requiring aligator clips. Not a cheap charger, but thought of a replacement battery cost made decision to get new 'toy' easy.

 

[John Pilkington]

I got a CTEK MSX 5.0. Gave me something to do wiring it up. 1. Adding a waterproof mains socket on outside wall of my house (finally goot round to it). 2. Added CTEK cable to battery so charger is plug-in, not requiring aligator clips. Not a cheap charger, but thought of a replacement battery cost made decision to get new 'toy' easy.

Hi what is the charging time involved.my s3 regularly sits at 12.1 volts..

 

[Wibbly]

Never had it flat enough to know. But it follows a series of 8 stages and checks. Max charging is 5A, so it couldn't ever replenish your battery quicker than 5A/h per hr. So it depends on your starting state of charge and total battery capacity, as well as the battery's condition. Might take many hrs (like more than 10 or even 30 if the charger has a full program it feels it needs to follow). My battery is good at the moment and charged & the charger gets to 'float' stage in minutes, not hrs.

See here
https://www.ctek.com/products/vehicle/mxs-5-0

These are supposed to be kind to your battery, get the most out of it, & can be left connected all the time, and claim they can even extend battery service life into the bargain.

By the way, take note of how Audi say you must connect a charger - for my A3, the user manual says positive battery terminal and earth point on the car, DON'T use the negative battery terminal. Another thread explains why this is important. https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/earth-negative-tag-in-engine-bay-for-charging.416025/

 

[RS3 S.]

I know small issue in the current crisis.
I cannot justify using my S3 as local supermarket is 7 mins walk away.
I have been thinking of starting it every couple of weeks and sitting at fast idle till oil is up to temp.
What do you all think ?

............go the long way round & drive !!!.

 

[eribaMotters]

I think you will find the CTEK is the charger of choice used by the premium brand dealerships. When cars are in the showroom they are often plugged into one of these.
https://www.plymouthbattery.co.uk/ used to be about the best place to buy from. It is worth buying the wander leads to permanently leave setup on the car as mentioned above. You can also get a lead to charge through the "cigar" lighter in the car, although I cannot recall if this is live without the ignition on in the A3.

Colin

Would you believe it. Just gone out to do the weekly shop in the wifes 6 yr old VW UP and the battery is dead. I've pluged my CTEK onto it.

 

[Wibbly]

............go the long way round & drive !!!.

Please don't encourage 'bending the rules'. I know that staying in a car and driving 1/2 a mile or 20 miles should make no difference in terms of exposure, but think about the impact as more folk do this assuming it's ok, more petrol station visits etc etc. And think how you'll feel when/if it's your parent/child/partner who can't breathe... :-(

There is a reason for making the 'rules' so simple, and not making exceptions for some things that are probably ok. It's really not important or necessary to go for a ride for the joy of it or to 'excersise' your car. Please get a perpective, quite literally 1000's are dying not far from you now.

I realise your sentiment may well have been said in jest, but please engage you brain before your typing fingers and think about what may be funny or appropriate at this time.

 

[RS3 S.]

Please don't encourage 'bending the rules'. I know that staying in a car and driving 1/2 a mile or 20 miles should make no difference in terms of exposure, but think about the impact as more folk do this assuming it's ok, more petrol station visits etc etc. And think how you'll feel when/if it's your parent/child/partner who can't breathe... :-(

There is a reason for making the 'rules' so simple, and not making exceptions for some things that are probably ok. It's really not important or necessary to go for a ride for the joy of it or to 'excersise' your car. Please get a perpective, quite literally 1000's are dying not far from you now.

I realise your sentiment may well have been said in jest, but please engage you brain before your typing fingers and think about what may be funny or appropriate at this time.

...........it was meant in jest but does it really matter if you stick a few extra miles on your trip when going out for shopping ?.I think not. I understand people are very worried at this difficult time but the long way round to the shops won't change thing,he won't get out the car any sooner & come into contact with people any sooner so no harm done & anyway cars really don't want to be left parked & not used for weeks on end.

 

[Damo S]

my weekly visit to the local farm shop for food does the job

 

[DJAlix]

I think you will find the CTEK is the charger of choice used by the premium brand dealerships. When cars are in the showroom they are often plugged into one of these.
https://www.plymouthbattery.co.uk/ used to be about the best place to buy from. It is worth buying the wander leads to permanently leave setup on the car as mentioned above. You can also get a lead to charge through the "cigar" lighter in the car, although I cannot recall if this is live without the ignition on in the A3.

Colin

Would you believe it. Just gone out to do the weekly shop in the wifes 6 yr old VW UP and the battery is dead. I've pluged my CTEK onto it.

I work with a number of premium brands. Lamborghini's, Ferrari's and Mclaren's come with a rebranded CTEK in their tool kits and most have the quick connect leads installed. I myself have a CTEK MXS 5.0 + quick connect which I use at home and its a great little unit. I paid around £60.00 when I purchased it, with rubber bumper, but believe they are around £80.00 now.

 

[Wibbly]

...........it was meant in jest but does it really matter if you stick a few extra miles on your trip when going out for shopping ?.I think not. I understand people are very worried at this difficult time but the long way round to the shops won't change thing,he won't get out the car any sooner & come into contact with people any sooner so no harm done & anyway cars really don't want to be left parked & not used for weeks on end.

Yes it does. And a car doesn't "want" anything. As others have said, just keep the battery charged if you're worried, as it's the principle component that may degrade if left for long periods.

You completely missed my point. What I really want to say about your approach and attitude will get me banned here, and you should know better by now, so I will just stop.

 

[NevMan]

I work with a number of premium brands. Lamborghini's, Ferrari's and Mclaren's come with a rebranded CTEK in their tool kits and most have the quick connect leads installed. I myself have a CTEK MXS 5.0 + quick connect which I use at home and its a great little unit. I paid around £60.00 when I purchased it, with rubber bumper, but believe they are around £80.00 now.

Have ordered one of these MXS 5.0

 

[SPIKE_]

Have ordered one of these MXS 5.0

Where from @X3man?

 

[Nelka]

Where from @X3man?

I got one from Demon Tweeks the other day, arrived yesterday

 

[TYb]

I wonder if this guy was charging his battery..

 

[Bells]

I wonder if this guy was charging his battery..

160mph and drink driving! Never deserves to have another car like that again...

 

[TYb]

160mph and drink driving! Never deserves to have another car like that again...

Nope absolute idiot.

 

[pburv]

I wonder if this guy was charging his battery..

I wonder if he is a member on here???
I hope not. lol

 

[Wibbly]

I wonder if this guy was charging his battery..

The car wanted it. He was taking the long route to Asda.

 

[Wibbly]

160mph and drink driving! Never deserves to have another car like that again...

Like that? Not any car.

 

[Bells]

Like that? Not any car.

I agree unfortunately our justice system doesn’t...

 

[MELenium]

Has anyone tried tyre trainers to protect your tyres when the car sits for many weeks?

 

[Wibbly]

Has anyone tried tyre trainers to protect your tyres when the car sits for many weeks?

Just pump up your tires up a fraction
https://www.continental-tires.com/car/tire-knowledge/tire-damage-age-repair/flat-spotting

Maybe roll the car forward or back a foot or so. But choosing to use it to go straight to Tesco and back next time you shop would also work, I suspect.

 

[eribaMotters]

Has anyone tried tyre trainers to protect your tyres when the car sits for many weeks?

If the car was left for two or three months I would not bother, just roll it back or forwards a few inches every couple of weeks I use this method or the caravan, but on a 6 month winter lay up it goes on axle stands. This is when some owners do as you are thinking.

Colin

 

[wab172uk]

Please don't encourage 'bending the rules'. I know that staying in a car and driving 1/2 a mile or 20 miles should make no difference in terms of exposure, but think about the impact as more folk do this assuming it's ok, more petrol station visits etc etc. And think how you'll feel when/if it's your parent/child/partner who can't breathe... :-(

There is a reason for making the 'rules' so simple, and not making exceptions for some things that are probably ok. It's really not important or necessary to go for a ride for the joy of it or to 'excersise' your car. Please get a perpective, quite literally 1000's are dying not far from you now.

I realise your sentiment may well have been said in jest, but please engage you brain before your typing fingers and think about what may be funny or appropriate at this time.

Not wishing to start an argument, but taking a few extra miles to go to the shops will not kill anyone. I have local shops I can walk to, but my Mam is over 70, and lives in a village with no shops. So either me or my sister go shopping for her, then need to drive over to her house to deliver. And I do take the longer back road route, rather than the shortest route. As far I as know, no one died in me taking the back road.

Yes, people will scream "What if you have an accident?". Well, I've never had one in over 20 years, so taking it easy in lighter than usual traffic, will not increase my chances.

Statistically, there is more chance you having an accident in your home, and anyone taking their car out for 20 minutes.

We all need to be sensible, but one mans sensible, is another mans hysteria. Social media is full of people in hysterics because someone they know went outside for a walk. People honestly think you are not allowed outside. We are. Just be sensible about it.

 

[TYb]

Not wishing to start an argument, but taking a few extra miles to go to the shops will not kill anyone. I have local shops I can walk to, but my Mam is over 70, and lives in a village with no shops. So either me or my sister go shopping for her, then need to drive over to her house to deliver. And I do take the longer back road route, rather than the shortest route. As far I as know, no one died in me taking the back road.

Yes, people will scream "What if you have an accident?". Well, I've never had one in over 20 years, so taking it easy in lighter than usual traffic, will not increase my chances.

Statistically, there is more chance you having an accident in your home, and anyone taking their car out for 20 minutes.

We all need to be sensible, but one mans sensible, is another mans hysteria. Social media is full of people in hysterics because someone they know went outside for a walk. People honestly think you are not allowed outside. We are. Just be sensible about it.

Rather than a 2 mile drive to my girlfriends stables we are taking the 8 mile route, it’s nice just to clear the head and keep the cars ticking over, is that more dangerous than going for an hour run or bike ride?

I’ve got a load of weights so exercising in the garden 7 am every morning rather than risk running and bumping into people. I live in the countryside and the lanes are part of a official cycle route, they are busier than ever, cyclist aren’t taking any notice of guidance around here, just using it as an extended bank holiday.

A lot of the farmers have padlocked the kissing gates etc on the public right of ways as all of a sudden people who’ve never thought of walking with their kids want to travel to our village to go for a walk, there’s the Covid risk and they’re so stupid they don’t close gates and are walking dogs off of leads near cattle.

Like you said, just be sensible, stick to your local area, avoid common areas where possible, it’s not difficult and you don’t have to board the windows and doors.

 

[Wibbly]

Not wishing to start an argument, but taking a few extra miles to go to the shops will not kill anyone.

Point is, indirectly it just might. For example, more people drive more than necessary they will need to go to fill up more often, increasing the risk. You can't avoid risk, and there are essential things we all have to do at this time to maintain our physical and mental health and the same for loved ones around us, but "excersising" your car is definately not one of them. That's just unneccesary and simply an avoidable risk, like the 3000 idiots in London who decided that meeting up in a park yesterday was presumably and selfishly an acceptable risk for them. There's no benefit to your damn car which people seem to be treating as if it was family member . If you want to protect your wallet, save the fuel, keep the battery charged and maybe roll the car a few inches periodically.

It's such a shame that some people simply won't get the gravity of what's going on until something bad happens to them personally - just how may people does it take to be dead every day? Obviously > 700 yesterday here isn't enough for some to still be more concerned about thier cars than the next 700 today Doesn't removing any risk that's not essential make sense?

is that more dangerous than going for an hour run or bike ride?

At least it would give you more excersise than just your right foot. Might clear your brian too.

People honestly think you are not allowed outside.

You may have said in that in jest too, but with all the idiots trying to win the next Dawin Award, that may yet happen ... https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...h-queen-speech-cases-map-deaths-a9447836.html

Whilst we're still allowed to, chill out and get some car therapy if you need it by giving it an extra clean and wax inside and out...

 

[Wibbly]

Like you said, just be sensible, stick to your local area, avoid common areas where possible, it’s not difficult and you don’t have to board the windows and doors.

Or in words that some folk here may understand better... "Don't be a d**k"

 

[MELenium]

I have also ordered the MXS 5.0 for my A1, I would like to connect the supplied m6 eyelet connector but from the manual it shows the negative must be connected to the large nut on the body in the engine compartment which is obviously too big for the m6 eyelet, if I undid this large nut will there be a thread exposed so that I could connect the m6 eyelet too and then put the larger nut back on to tighten it up. Are all Audi's similar where you connect the negative.

 

[Wibbly]

I think you're fine so long as you do NOT connect direct to the negative terminal. I used a bolt holding the battery tray on, which seems well grounded. Actually I think the tray bolt on mine is bigger than m6 too, so had to crimp on an alternative.

https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/earth-negative-tag-in-engine-bay-for-charging.416025/

 

[Wibbly]

I wonder if this guy was charging his battery..

More idiots with equal measures of arrogance and ignorance. Up the motorway at 110MPH to get a loaf of bread. Right...

https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2020/04/coronavirus-fines/

 

[Harvey]

I do have a Accumate battery conditioner I use for my classic car. I wasn't sure how safe it is to use on modern car with all the electronics .

I've got 4x Accumate that I use on my various vehicles and currently have an Accumate Pro connected to my 2 year old Amarok which hasn't been used for the last three weeks. As you probably know the Accumate is a trick piece of kit and was available before the CTEK came to market, it's not your standard off the shelf battery charger. As long as you connect it correctly to the -ve post next to the battery and directly to the +ve battery terminal your S3 vehicle electronics will be perfectly safe. I've used my Accumate on my mk3 FL S3 which has had no detrimental affects and the battery has charged just fine. If you still want further piece of mind have a read of the Accumate technical documentation here.