Importance of Service Even While Driving Less

How Time Affects Your Vehicle

Time marches on, even if the mileage on your vehicle stops rolling. In other words, your car still suffers from wear and tear even as it sits still. For instance, anything on your vehicle that’s made from rubber, including your belts, hoses, and tires, will deteriorate even if you stop driving your vehicle. Tires can slowly lose tire pressure while hoses and belts harden and lose their flexibility over time. Rust can also build up on moving metal parts, making them much harder to work correctly when the time comes.

Service Intervals Still Matter

Services like oil and air filter changes aren’t just mileage-based, but they’re also based on time. That’s because engine oil and other fluids will still deteriorate if given enough time. It’s also not unusual for fluids to leak during long periods of disuse. Even if you don’t have any plans on using your vehicle anytime soon, you should still have your fluids checked and changed according to the recommendations in your vehicle owner’s manual. It’s also a good idea to check all of your car’s fluids on a weekly basis.

Weekly Drives Can Benefit Your Vehicle

Time can also take its toll on other components of your vehicle. Take your battery, for instance. Ordinary car batteries tend to lose their charge in as little as a week without constant charging. The gasoline in your fuel tank can also degrade within weeks of sitting still. Cranking up and driving your vehicle at least once a week will help prevent these and other issues from happening.